THE SPIRIT LETTERS

Message Forty - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eleven

Continuing the Second of The Hillel Letters Regarding God’s Providence To The Jews, Written by Hillel the Third.

It appears that in Abraham’s time no such thing as alphabetic writing existed, for we read that he took no other evidence of his purchase of his family’s burying ground than living witnesses of the bargain. In that period, therefore, divine communication must have been confined to individuals. The fulness of time had not yet come even for the partial revelation that was made by Moses; there was no mode by which it could be recorded and preserved. The invention of writing was necessary to prepare the world for it. That invention took place some time within the five hundred years which elapsed between Abraham and Moses.

The posterity of Abraham were sent into Egypt – the mother of the arts – as if to school; not to divine things, for in those matters the shepherds of Canaan as far exceeded the refined Egyptians as light exceeds darkness; but, rather, in the knowledge of those things by which life is rendered more livable and comfortable. When they had become sufficiently numerous to take possession of the destined territory – as noted in Genesis 15:13,16 – a leader, Moses, was raised up for that special purpose. He was the child of a slave, his life exposed to the perils of infancy in a frail cradle tossed about on rushes floating upon waters, yet destined, or predestined, to become the mightiest agent in the affairs of men that the Almighty had ever – until then – employed on the earth. Who can but admire the wisdom of Divine Providence in the education of this great founder of nations, this prophet of divine truth and enlightener of the world? Who can apprehend the glorious position which he holds in the world’s history? What a distinction, to have framed the constitution of a nation which lasted fifteen hundred years, and stamped the people with the marks of nationality which time itself has not obliterated! To have written a book which has been read with interest and ardor through passing ages and by growing millions of the human race!. To have imparted to nations and continents the saving knowledge of the one true God! And what a glory to have laid-by in one sentence the foundation of true religion in so many millions of minds: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The more I contemplate the mission of Moses, the higher it rises in moral sublimity in my estimation. If I contemplate him during the forty years of his sojourn in the wilderness, he is the sole depository of the true religion on earth – with the exception of the tribe he led. The whole world has sunk in the debasement of idolatry of one kind or another. What a noble use did the Almighty make of the recent invention of man’s ingenuity: the invention of letters by which to engrave upon stone His awful testimony against the great fundamental and all-polluting sin of the world – the worship of idols: “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me: thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images of the likeness of anying in the heaven or in the earth beneath; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them!”

To realize and carry out this one thing was the purpose of separating Jews from the rest of the world. Even with all the seals and signs, and God’s special judgments, it took fourteen hundred years to accomplish it: so prone are we to worship those things that are seen, rather then the unseen! – as starkly noted by the writer to the Hebrews in verses 11:1-6 .And this is one of the great troubles in the present day. This is one reason for our desolation. We thought too much of our holy city and temple, rather then those far greater things that are unseen! But if this was our sin now, what we might have expected from men in the state of spiritual ignorance and darkness in the days of Moses?! Is ask you, brethren: are we not still today more inclined to worship the created things than we are to worship Him who created them?!

Look at this people to whom I am referring: forty days had not elapsed from the utterance from Sinai of the fundamental precept: “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me,” when the very people to whom this command was given, made for themselves a golden calf – after the manner of the idolatrous Egyptians – and danced before it with great joy! This, despite the fact that the entire great and fundamental point – the worship of man’s true God – was the fundamental point around which the whole Mosaic Law was modeled. That is what God wanted to get across to the people He had chosen from all others on the earth. For this purpose we were forbidden to marry foreigners who might not understand what we had learned a very hard way. It was for this purpose that our sacrifices were all to be offered in one place by one particular family of priests, lest we should wander away and become corrupted by associating with idolaters.

For this purpose we were forbidden from eating certain kinds of foods, such as were offered in sacrifice to heathen deities. We were not to be present at idolatrous feasts, nor to become accustomed to those moral abominations with which heathen worship was invariably accompanied. More effectually to secure this point, Divine Providence so arranged it that our national existence and prosperity depended upon our fidelity to the great purpose for which we were set apart from others. Whenever we worshiped the true God and obeyed His laws, temporal prosperity resulted: then we enjoyed union, peace and industry and prosperity. But whenever we forsook God and worshiped idols, a corresponding degeneracy of morals and manners took place. This was inevitably followed by discord, weakness, poverty, and subjection to foreign nations.

But the event which exerted the most decisive influence upon the national existence of us Jews was the erection of Solomon’s temple at Jerusalem. Before that time our sacred rites had been conducted in a very humble manner. Our sacred utensils had no better covering than a tent. Often they were in private custody; and at one time the sacred ark itself – which contained the heaven-derived charter of our national existence – was taken captive and remained for months in the country of the Phallistines. That ark was for about four hundred years almost the only bond of our national union; the only object around which gathered our national reverence. Although in our younger years we wee apt to regard the ark and it contents with a childish curiosity, in after years we came to look upon it as an object of higher significance. It is the written testimony of God against idolatry It containrd the fundamental articles of our nation’s establishment and independence. It is a declaration of principles, borne before us like a banner, proclaiming to the world for what we were to live, fight and to die. It was our confession of faith, which we upheld before the world as sacred, true, and vital to the best interest of humanity – the only hope of our final success. On the tables in the ark are written: “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me,” and, “Thou shalt not make any graven image, nor the likeness of anything; thou shalt not bow down to anything to serve them.” There it remains from age to age as a memorial of the purpose of our national existence: and how mightily it has worked in the earth!

Series to be Continued in Message 41 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Nine - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eleven

Continuing Peter’s Discourse, taken from the First of The Hillel Letters Regarding God’s Providence To The Jews, by Hillel the Third.

In Peter’s story, the son was delighted with the changes in his life that his father had made for him, whereas the father was equally delighted, so they both rejoiced. And the father said to the son: “‘I delight to dwell with my children when they choose to live in a manner that I know is best for them, and know to be one result of my own work. Now be content and use care not to soil your white robe that is so clean, for exposing it to a very little dirt will soon contaminate it so it will not be fit to be seen [Ed Note: Lk. 9:62; Rom. 6:11-15; Gal. 2:16-18; 2 Cor. 6:11-18; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26] As long as you keep your robe unspotted from the world it will distinguish you from the world and make you a welcome visitor into the company of all who are dressed in the same way – for this is merely the outward manifestation, or showing, of the principles that live within the flesh; which principles are illustrated by outward actions. And it will be admired by those who may reject it; yet inwardly they must respect it. Though they may covet it, and even raise the spirit of persecution against you, it is not because they dislike you, but because they are not like you; and this is always a cause of envy.’”

“This, said Peter, “is the way God our Father has treated us spiritually. He has prepared us a holy habitation where our immortal souls can live and be happy throughout all eternity; and then has given us the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the same that Jesus promised – the same that descended upon people the other day [Note: Jn. 16:12-15]. This powerful Spirit renews and begets within us holy desires to love God and to serve Him by obeying all of His commands and doing honor to his name. And this same Spirit begets within us holy desires to see all men embrace the offering of this good and noble Father, that they may be happy now and happy forever – far more so after death of the flesh body than before; for it is the dread of meeting an interminable doom as the result of our sins that makes our lives intolerable, as noted in second Hebrews verse 25.

“Now,” declared Peter, “behold the riches offered on terms so easy by our Father. All we need to do is accept!” And, he asked, almost as an afterthought: “Who will accept?” Two our three hundred cried out, “We will!” and then followed a mighty rising-up and rejoicing, all of which made a strong impression on my mind.

I will make a most thorough examination of these things to ascertain the truth in them – to establish whether or not God has provided some easier and better way to save the souls of men than the Jewish understanding. It has often occurred to me – and to my father before me – that the ways of God’s service are exacting, and inclined to make men become indifferent – almost to view God as a haughty tyrant, whereas Peter’s discourse conversely shows Him in such a lovely light that it makes me hove God more than ever!

HILLEL’S SECOND LETTER

After having viewed our present condition, it may be well for us to look back and review our former history, and revive a knowledge of the state of the world in former times. If we look at the world from the pages of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Haggai, the last of God’s prophets on the earth, we will discern a period of nearly five hundred years to the present, during which time the world underwent more radical changes than ever before. We will see out nation returning from seventy years of captivity to recommence their national existence after having been overrun and absorbed into a great monarchy that swept over the earth. Our acquaintance with the rest of the world was severely limited, extending only to the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians, the Egyptians, and a few unimportant tribes. Our ideas seem to have been likewise limited, extending little beyond the principles of the Mosaic religion, which had been promulgated about fifteen hundred years before.

I am informed that the accusations against Jesus of Nazareth were written over him as he hung suspended on the cross – written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. From whence came these dialects? When the prophets closed their writings nearly five hundred years ago, the Greek language was scarcely written anywhere. It was confined to a small part of Europe; and also Rome, where the Latin language originated in a straggling village on the banks of the Tiber River.

During this whole period, in which nations and monarchies were born, flourished and decayed – foreshadowing a providential preparation for things to come – the intermingling of the various languages indicated the onset of some crucially-important predestined event. To my mind, the conjunction of these events was opportune for the introduction of a universal religion. That is – if I understand these matters correctly – God has arranged the position and the existence of several nations of the earth in such a propitious manner as to promote the recognition, establishment and propagation of the true religion on the earth of the knowledge and worship of THE TRUE GOD.

What ever knowledge may have been imparted to our ancestors, or however long it may have lasted, certain it is that at the time of Abraham the nations generally had fallen into idolatry. To him, God was pleased to make Himself known; and to promise that He would make of him a great nation, and that in him, and his seed, all the nations of earth were predestined to be blessed.

That is, that through Abraham and his posterity, He would impart the greatest possible good – including the knowledge of the one true God. To accomplish this purpose, God selected the particular place in which Abraham and his posterity were to be placed – and no spot on earth could have been better suited for the purpose. The land of Canaan, afterward called Judea, and after that called Palestine, was situated about midway between the three great divisions of the earth: Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was on the great highway of nations, situated in the very pathway of conquest, commerce and travel, and was equally accessible to all parts of the then known world.

But those circumstances which afterward made Judea so favorably located as the radiating point of the true faith did not even exist in the time of Abraham. In that time there was not conquest, commerce, nor extensive travel. In fact, the world was overrun by wandering tribes, scarcely having defined boundaries or fixed habitations. Chaldea, the cradle of the human race, and Egypt, the birthplace of human learning and the arts, were the only nations of consequence at that time.

Series to be Continued in Message 40 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Eight - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eleven

Continuing the First of The Hillel Letters Regarding God’s ProvidenceTo The Jews, by Hillel the Third.

Let us, as honest Jews endeavoring to do the right thing, look into our own natures, and examine our actions, in the light of God’s own holy revelation, and see if our present condition is not deserving on our part. If we find that our present condition is not deserving on our part – if we find that it is we who have forsaken God, rather than His having forsaken us – then let us do as our fathers did long ago in Egypt – even as our fathers did in Babylon. They hung their harps; they clothed themselves in sackcloth and ashes, and mourned as do the dove and the pelican. So did they seek rest until the Lord God Jehovah was moved to compassion. They not only ceased to act wickedly, but they showed by their regrets and acknowledgment that they would continue to act differently in the future. It was then that God had compassion on them, and moved the heart of their wicked king to pity them, that they might return and rebuild their destroyed temple – as related in Ezra 1:1-6. These were the ways in which they conducted themselves; and consider the results that followed! Now these things were for their own good, and they were recorded for the future, so that we might learn what to do should we be brought into the same deplorable condition.

Now, I wish my Jewish brethren to understand that I am not a follower of this Nazarene that has created so much strife among the people – neither do I endorse his new doctrines – yet I think it would be well for us not to be too hasty as yet in forming our own conclusions on this or any other aspect of this particular subject. I heard Peter preach the other day, and as he and John came out of the temple there was a man there who had been lying around at the gates and public crossings for years. He was unable to walk, having no soundness in his feet and ankle bones. As they were passing by him he asked them for help. Peter told him that he had nothing to give, but he said, “In the name of Jesus the Son of God, I say unto thee, ‘rise up and walk!’” The man literally sprang to his feet, seemingly perfectly sound, and commenced praising God at the top of his voice. The police came and took Peter and John to prison, accusing them of being peace-breakers. I thought I had never seen such an outrage! It is right to arrest men and imprison them for doing evil, but to arrest men and imprison them for doing good is something beyond my comprehension. This has been the fault of the Jews in all time. No odds what good was done, if it was not done just as the priest thought it ought to be done, it was considered wrong.

When I saw the act of Peter toward the helpless man, I said to myself, There is the power of Moses; there is the power of Jehovah manifest in human flesh; there is the power needed by us Jews to reinstate the kingdom of heaven – the power that has followed the Jews in times past, and the only distinguishing mark that makes us different from the other nations of the earth. This was the peculiar power of Jesus of Nazareth; but because he did not work according to Jewish rules they condemned him to die. It was not because his works were not good works, but because he did not do them according to Jewish custom.

I was forcibly impressed with Peter’s sermon. He declared, “There was a rich man who had one son, who had for a long time been trying to build himself a house. He was homeless and exposed to many dangers and troubles for want of a house, until he was almost exhausted and felt himself ready to perish. Then his father had compassion on his son, and built him a house, with everything needed for the necessities and comfort of his child. When it was finished, he went and brought his son to see it. And his son was delighted, and declared that it was much better than he could have built himself. His father said, “Son, I love you, I give you this house. Will you accept it?” “With all my heart, dear father, with grateful acknowledgment.”

“Now,” said Peter, “Here we have a picture of the world, which has been working, struggling, and striving for ages to build them a home for the soul of man. They have worked by the laws of man, by constructing fine temples, by offering sacrifices, by paying tithes to the Lord, by walking hundreds of miles to the temple – often bareheaded and barefooted – and by keeping holy days and festivals, all to no purpose. The soul has become wearied out of patience, and still no rest, until it has reached a point where man has become dissatisfied, not only with himself, but with his God and with his own service. And while in this despairing condition, God our Father comes in the person of Jesus – whom the Jews crucified – and in his death he has prepared an eternal house of rest; and now proposes that His children accept what He has done for them, and stop working and worrying to try to fit themselves for a higher station and happier life.” And Peter then asked his stilled listeners, “Who will accept it?”

Peter then continued, “This house was beautiful to look at, and was in every way suited to the son, yet he could not enjoy it, owing to the fact that it had no furniture. So, the son went out and toiled and labored trying to make furniture that would suit himself, but he was unable to make a piece that would last. Then his father went to work and made all manner of ware, and presented it to his son. Every piece of it fitted the house and suited the purpose for which it was made, so that the son was well pleased. His father then declared, ‘All this I will give you, my son, because I love you. Will you accept?’ The son replied, ‘With all my heart, dear father; this pleases me even more than if I had had the power to make it myself!’

“Now,” exclaimed Peter, “This what God has done for the world. Instead of purifying ourselves by washing, fasting, and by prayers, by penitence, and all the works of the law, God has given us a purity that will last forever – that will suit us and at the same time please Him!”

Peter continued with his narrative: “This son was all ragged, clothes worn and threadbare from trying to build and fit him out a decent house, and he felt ashamed of his condition. So, he set about trying to better clothe himself, but he found that the harder he tried the less success rewarded his efforts. After he had worked a it a while, his skilled father wove his son a seamless robe and presented it to him, saying, ‘My son, I love you and have prepared a white robe, will you accept it?’

‘With many thanks I will accept it,’ replied his grateful son. ‘How beautiful it is – so snowy white and pure! And it fits me perfectly. Father, I can never feel grateful enough! I thought you were angry with me and hated me because I was poor, homeless, miserable and ragged – but if you were able to love me in my misery, I know you can love me now with all you have done for me, and I will make my abode with you forever – I don’t know how I can sufficiently show my gratitude to you!

Series to be Continued in Message 39 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS.

Message Thirty-Seven - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eleven

The Hillel Letters Regarding God’s Providence To The Jews, by Hillel the Third.

Rev. W. D. Mahan reported in his book, HISTORICAL RECORDS, that the following letters were translated by his assistants, and then forwarded to him after he returned home to the United States:

FIRST LETTER

To: the noble and persecuted sons of my Father, God, who is too wise to err in His judgment, and too mighty to permit His Kingdom to suffer, or His children to be persecuted beyond what it good for them:

Beholding our desolate condition, we must know there is good reason for it somewhere. From our former history, and the dealings with our forefathers, it is evident that it is not because He is neglectful of the interests of His children. It must, therefore, be somehow on our own account.

By directing your thoughts to these subjects, it is needful to call your attention to the acts of God in the history of the world. By studying this we may learn the cause of our present condition. When He was dissatisfied with the wicked world, His eyes rested on one good man, Noah , as disclosed in Gen. 6:1-9. Now it is useless for us to begin the controversy as to how Noah became good: that is nothing to us now. The great question for us, is: are WE good? – and if not, why are we wicked?! No doubt, this is the reason why we are forsaken. If we could not help ourselves from being wicked, then we are assuredly being persecuted wrongly. But it was the goodness of Noah that preserved his life, and made him a great and happy man – whereas it was wickedness that caused the rest of the world to be drowned!.

Then we follow along the line to Abraham. God found him faithful, and on that account He made him the father of all that are faithful and good. And so with hundreds of others I could name in our former history. I would ask all the Jews in their dispersed condition to read the history of our race and observe His dealings to the good, and His corresponding judgments upon the evil!

Now, God makes selections of certain individuals to relieve others. These chosen ones may not be good, but those for whom the are selected must be good, or they can receive no favor from God.

Consider Moses. He was an infant, and could neither be good nor bad in that state, because he was at that time powerless – in a powerless condition – as seen in the case of Prophet Jeremiah when he was born – Jer. 1:4. But Israel was good, and – as strange as it may seem to the “natural man” – of whom Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 2:9-14 – it was by reason of Israel’s goodness that Moses was selected to do what the Lord guided, moved, and directed him to do! Great spiritual leaders accumulate their spirituality life after life on the earth. God knows them all, and quickens the spirit in those who are obedient to Him and do His Will, as did Moses. [Ed. Note:The Lord clearly revealed this principle when he made Jeremiah a prophet even before he was formed in his mother’s womb – as disclosed in Jer. 1:4-5. He doubtless knew what Jeremiah had done in previous earth experiences, which foreshadowed what he would most likely do in his earth experience as Jeremiah. And God had foreseen what Archangel Satan would do in the wake of what he had done as "covering angel" over the earth – as noted by the Lord through His Prophet Ezekiel in Ezek. 28:14:18.]

Hence, speaking of Moses: from this babe in the basket we find the long chain of displays of God’s mighty works in saving and defending and comforting the good, simply and only because they had been good. This is the one reason why God has ever bestowed special favors upon anyone – just because He Himself is good; and I am sure that it is all that is necessary to justify Him in His dealings with the sons of men.

He creates men, and gives them all the necessary power and opportunities to be good, and if they refuse, then they are themselves to blame, and not He. It was for this reason that He condemned the world to suffer the Flood. It explains why the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, and why the Sodomites were burned; why the Canaanites were destroyed, as described in Genesis 15:16. It explains why we were sold into Exile in Babylon. And oh! For a master Spirit to rise up, as did Samuel to Saul, to explain to us the reason why we are forsaken and cast away; why is it that our city and the holy temple are forsaken and desolate? Why is it that God no more battles for Israel?! Why is it that we have no leader who it would be safe for our people to follow? Why has Israel turned against herself – that every bird is permitted to pluck her, and that her friends have turned to become her enemies? Even more so, why is it that Josephus sold Gililee to the Romans? Why has the sanctifying of the spirit been withdrawn? And I ask, why is it that the Urim and Thummim in the temple has not changed color in thirty years?! And why is it that the light of the threshold of the temple has ceased to burn – and Jews have lost their feeling of brotherhood and now fight one another like beasts of hell? Need I ask why it is that God as given us over, and permitted the Romans to devour our heritage, to burn our city, to destroy our beloved temple, and drench it with the blood of its devotees?

I am aware that many of my brethren – more particularly the priests – will bring charges against the ministration, and, of course, indirectly impeach God; but it may be, my brethren, that we mistake God’s designs in this matter. Why may we not be equally mistaken in regard to what we deserve, or our demerit in His dealing with us? We know that the guilty party is apt to think the law is too severe; but we never think so when others are to suffer! This is especially true if we are the party against whom the criminal has offended or done wrong! When a Jew becomes mean and wicked, and violates Jewish law and injures us personally, then we propose to stone him until he is dead – if his actions have been such as to deserve such a sentence; and we are equally guilty if we in any way try to screen the criminal from suffering the just penalty of the law.

Series to be Continued in Message 38 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Six - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Nine

Herod Antipater’s Defense Before The Roman

Senate in Regard To The Execution of John the Baptist

Insofar as Agrippa’s having accused me of possessing arms for seventy thousand soldiers, that is correct, but keep in mind that they were left to me by my father, Herod the Great. Because they were needed to defend the province, I was not aware that it was necessary to report them; but I never thought of keeping them secret! As to my being in league with Serjonius, I appeal to the virtue of my conduct, and demand a thorough investigation.

As for Pontius Pilate’s accusation that I am a disobedient coward because of my actions in regard to Jesus of Nazareth, I say in my own defense that I was informed by the Jews that this was the same Jesus that my father had intended to destroy when he was an infant. In fact, I have it in my father’s private writings and accounts of his life, showing that when the report was circulated by three men inquiring where was he who was born to be king of the Jews, he called together the Hillel and Shammai schools, and demanded a reading of the sacred scrolls; and that it had been foretold that he was to be born in Bethlehem of Judeas – which was read and interpreted that very night by Hillel. So, when my father learned that there was the birth of a male child in Bethlehem under strange and unusual circumstances, and he was unable to learn the whereabouts of that child, he immediately ordered all the male infants in that place slain.

It was only afterward that Herod learned that Jesus’ mother had taken him and fled into the wilderness. For Herod’s attempt to uphold the Roman authority in the land of Judea, the world has unceasingly cursed him to this day; and yet the Caesars have done a thousand worse things – and not only that, but have done them a thousand times, and it was all widely accepted. Just compare how many lives have been lost through so many years to save the Roman Empire – compare that alongside those infants who were only removed in their innocence from the evil foreseen and predestined to come.

The proper way to judge an action is to let the actor judge; or the one with whom the action terminates. If this should be done, and there is a life of happiness beyond this earth in which innocense may dwell, those infants – as well as Rachel’s children; written of in Mt. 2:12-18 – should be thankful to my father, Herod, for the change that has come.

Again, my Lords, Pilate is a higher officer than I; and you know that in our law the lower court always has the right of appeal to the higher. But as to Pilate’s saying that Jesus was a Galilean, in that he is mistaken. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, as the records show. And as for his citizenship, he had none. He wandered about from one place to another, having no home, making his abode principally with the poor. In our view, he was a wild fanatic who had taken up the doctrines of John the Baptist, but had not adopted John’s rite of water baptism, having instead brought in his own baptism, which he claimed was administered by Spirit, rather then water [Note: See Mt. 3:11-12; Jn. 20:22; Acts Chapters 2, 9, 22; Acts:11:16; 1 Cor. 1:14-17].

Jesus was what one would call an enthusiast. He had apparently learned to perfection in Egypt the art of soothsaying. I attempted to induce him to perform some of his miracles while he was in my Court, but he was too wise to be caught in a trap. I concluded that, like all necromancers, he was afraid to show off before intelligent people. From what I was able to learn, he had gone so far as to reprimand some of the wealthy Jews for their meanness, and his reproaches were not beyond reason – in fact, from what I heard of his actions, Jews would have been much better off if they had elected to practice what he preached!

So, this constitutes my defense. I submit it for your consideration, praying for clemency.

Signed,

Herod Antipas

Series to be Continued in Message 37 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Five - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Nine

Herod Antipater’s Defense Before The Roman

Senate in Regard To The Execution of John the Baptist

[Rev. W. D. Mahan and his two experienced and skilled assistants, found in the records of the Roman Senate, Herod Antipater’s defense respecting the various accusations preferred against him by different persons. In his defense are found some important items regarding the Christian Church. It should be apparent to the reader that the related events were recorded with no intention of establishing other facts. The piece is in three parts: (1) The history of John the Baptist; (2) the history of Jesus Christ; and (3) the killing of the children by his – Herod Antipater’s – father at Bethlehem.]

This following letter was addressed to Tiberius Caesar And the Senate at Rome.

My Noble Lords, Greeting:

It is true, as my opponent asserts, that I was defeated in the battle with Aretas, King of Arabia, but I was forced to fight when unprepared for the conflict. I either had to fight, or have the country overrun by this wicked people. It is true that I was defeated, but it was owing to the want of time and better preparation. Aretas came upon me without warning. Notwithstanding that I was defeated, his army was so crippled that he had to withdraw his forces from the field, and has not been able to rally them since. So, our country was saved from devastation by a foreign foe.

I understand that the superstitious Jews claim that my defeat was because of my wickedness in beheading John the Baptist. My understanding of the God of the Jews is, that he does not chastise the innocent for the crimes of the guilty. What did my actions have to do with the poor suffering soldier? But if their God had to punish all in order to reach me, then where is his almighty power of which they boats to much? I do not know whether their God was angry at me or not. There is one thing I do know, however; that the act was done with the holy intention of bringing the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of people – and if this is so, no court can gainsay or condemn it.

The facts in this case are about as follows: John the Baptist had set up a new mode of religion, altogether different from the Jewish religion, teaching baptism instead of circumcision; which had been the belief and custom of Jews in all ages past. According to their idea, God had appeared to Abraham hundreds of years before, and told him with his own lips how and what to do to be saved into eternity; and the Jews had lived according to these precepts until it had become a part of their nature – their forefathers had lived in this way.

David, Solomon, Isaac, Jacob, and all the holy prophets had gone to heaven by this way of God’s own appointment. [But note Acts 2:34-36, which verses assert that, as of the time before Jesus Christ became man’s Savior, David had not ascended into the heavens.]

Now, the question came to them, as they suggested to me: Has God found that He was wrong? Has His wisdom failed Him? or, had the unchangeable changed? and is He wavering in His purpose? Of course not! but such would be the natural conclusion of a sensible man under the circumstances. Now, John the Baptist had no authority whatever from God for what he was doing, as Abraham had. All he could say was, “He that sent me to baptize is true, but he cannot even tell who it was who sent him! Then, as to his going back into the wilderness: God had ordered Solomon to build the finest temple that was ever built in the world, and made promises that whosoever came to that house with his offerings, his prayers should be heard and answered. This temple had been the place of their meeting for hundreds of years, for the Jews believe this temple to be the next place to heaven itself. Now, let me point out the difference:

(1^st) John has no authorized authority.

(2^nd) He arbitrarily changes God’s place of worship.

(3^rd) He changes the doctrines.

(4^th) He changes the mode of application. [But note Jer. 31-31-33, in which the Lord, speaking through His Prophet Jeremiah, foretold that a time was predestined to come when He would make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with Judah, which would not be according to the covenant He had made with their fathers when radical changes had been made when He brought them out of Egypt, which promises they had broken: that He would put His New Covenant in their hearts, and would remember their sins no more. He had brought about radical changes – the removal of spiritual power from Egypt and bestowed it upon Abraham’s children, through Jacob, thereby commencing the Hebraic Age.]

It was the idea of Gamaliel that John the Baptist wanted to be some great man, for which reason he adopted his eccentric mode of life to establish a new way. There was no better way than the course he chose to follow to make an impression upon the ignorant and unlearned – to go away out into the wilderness by himself, gather a few friends from Jerusalem to go out there to hear him, and to return and tell of the great wonders which they seen and experienced there.

Add to this John’s unsightly appearance – his long uncombed hair and beard, his fantastic clothing, and his food nothing but bugs and beans – such a course and such a character are well qualified to lead the illiterate astray. These troubles on the Jewish mind were very heavy, and gave such men as Hilderium, Shammai, Hillel, and others great concern. And it was no wonder, for in their judgment it was vacating the temple of religious worship; it was blocking the road to heaven, and driving the poor unsuspecting people to ruin, as well as working destruction on the whole nation. [John the Baptist’s baptismal doctrine of repentance stemmed directly from Prophet Ezekiel’s remarkable prophecy pointedly stated in Ezek. 18:1-32, which had foretold changes to come. It was a stepping stone that led from John’s initial baptism through the medium of water, to Jesus Christ’s Baptism by the Holy Ghost; as subsequently disclosed in the Book of Acts, starting at Chapter Two. It became the ONE BAPTISM confirmed by Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:5]

So it was by the Jews request that I ordered the execution of John the Baptist: in my view, it was better to execute one man to save many others from a worse fate. And that is the true reason why I ordered John the Baptist’s beheading. It was not to please the whim of a dancing girl, as has been rumored, Caius can write to any of the more leaned Jews to confirm the accuracy of my statement.

Series to be Continued in Message 36 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Four - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Nine

Herod Antipater’s Defense Before The Roman

Senate in Regard To His Condiuct At Bethlehem

When this man in strange garb, who claimed he was from Egypt, spoke of the infant Jesus, I asked him how he knew of the child. He replied that all three of them had experienced a dream about it on t he same night. I advised him that the devil plays with our brains when while we sleep. At that, he drew a parchment roll from beneath his bosom and read it aloud in the Hebrew language: “Thou, Bethlehem, least among the kingdoms of the world, out of thee shall come a man that should rule all the people.” [Ed Note: cf. Micah 5:2-3].

I asked him who had written that, and he replied that the God of heaven had done so. I asked him where he had obtained that parchment, which he replied was the law of the covenant of the Jews. He explained that a star had seemed to travel before the three of them, all the way to Jerusalem. I, of course, advised him that his God was mistaken; that Bethlehem was not a kingdom, neither was it the least of the kingdom of Judah. I told him that all three of them were superstitious fanatics, and unceremoniously ordered them out of my presence.

But the excitement continued to grow until it became so intense I was unable to control it. I called the Hillel court, which was the most learned body of talent in Jerusalem. They read out of their laws that Jesus was to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem; that he was to rule all nations, and that ultimately all the kingdoms of the world were to be subject to him; and that his kingdom should never end, but that his appointees should continue to rule forever.

I found this court is just as sanguine as those three strangers, and, in fact, it was in everybody’s mouth: in fact, I thought I could discern already a sort of deririding and mocking spirit among the lower classes in regard to the Roman authority. Now, I have to say that the scene that occurred in Bethlehem was nothing more than a meteor traveling through the air, or the rising vapor from the foot of the mountains out of the low, earthy ground, as is often observed. And, as to the noise heard by Melker and those shepherd boys who reported it, it was only the echo of the shepherds on the other side of the mountain calling the night watch, or scaring preying wolves from their flocks.

But, although this was nothing more than a phenomenon of nature and the whole episode a delusion, it did not better the condition I found myself in. A man will contend for a false faith stronger than he will for a true one, from the fact that the truth defends itself, whereas a falsehood must be defended by its adherents; first to prove it to themselves, and, secondly, that they appear right in the estimation of their friends.. But, the fact is that this case is about as follows: the Roman taxation was cutting off the support of the priests, and they were smarting under it! Again, the double taxation – that is, the tithes to the priests and the tax to the Romans – was earing heavily on the common people, so that they could not stand it, and the priests saw that one of them would have to go unpaid, which was unthinkable. As they saw the Romans were the stronger, they wrote these things in the “Tosephta,” and read it daily in all their synagogues and temples, in order that the Jewish mind might be prepared for the event, knowing that they could magnify a mote into a mountain, when it came to anything outside of the common laws of their nature, and knowing that if they could get the common people to believe in these things, there would be no end to their fighting. And from the appearances the excitement was fast driving the people that way. It had already become a by-word with the children of Bethlehem and Jerusalem that the Jews had a new king, so that neither Caesar nor Herod would reign any more: which meant that they, the people, would no longer have to pay taxes to maintain the Roman government. Such talk and sayings were already common among the poorer classes of society.

In the face of all this, I saw an insurrection swiftly brewing, and that nothing but a bloody war as a direct consequence. Now, I ask sincerely: under these unstable circumstances, what was I go do? In my honest judgment it was best to pluck the as yet undeveloped flower in its bud, lest it should grow, strengthen, and finally burst, shedding its deadly poison over both nations, and impoverish and ruin them forever. My enemies can see that I could have no malice toward the infants of Bethlehem. I took no delight in listening to the cries of the innocent mothers. May all the gods forbid! No. I saw nothing ahead but an insurrection and a bloody war were our doom, and in this the overthrow and downfall, to some extent, of our nation.

These are the grounds for my action in this matter. I am satisfied that I did the best that could be done under the circumstances. As my motive was purely to do the best I could for my whole country, I hope you will consider it, and I submit this statement for your consideration, promising faithfulness and submission to your judgment.

Signed,

Herod Antipater

Series to be Continued in Rev. W. D. Mahan’s Message 35 of HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Three - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Nine

Herod Antipater’s Defense Before The Roman

Senate in Regard To His Condiuct At Bethlehem

Rev. Mahan Notes: In the scrolls in the Library of the Vatican, I found the following record, marked: “Herod Antipater’s Defense:”

NOBLE ROMANS:

In the case whereof I am accused, these Jews are of all people the most superstitious, no more to be trusted and relied-upon than the Hindoos. They have taught themselves to believe in but one God, who, they say, dwells in another world, so they can neither see nor hear him, nor in any way approach him by their natural senses. They believe that he is unchangeable and unapproachable; that he can only manifest himself through some angel of spirit, or some light, or the thunder, or any strange and uncommon phenomenon. Hence, they are so superstitious that they can be made to believe just about anything.

In order that you may know the kind of people I have to deal with, I will give you some of their maxims: (1) When the sun shines, they say that their God smiles; (2) and that when it is cloudy, they say that he frowns; and when it thunders they say that he is angry, and they hide themselves; (4) when it rains, they say that he weeps, and there are a great many other similar sayings. Now, my lords, you can see at once how this people might be led astray, if they could be made to believe that this strange God was at their head, and took up their cause.

Now, as a foundation for all this foolishness, they have a book, and a set of men called priests, who read and expound this book to them, and they will believe anything these priests tell them. To show how far they may be led, these priests tell them that some thousands of years ago a man named Moses died, and went to where this strange God dwelt. He was gone forty years, and when he came back he brought this book, which was written by their God for their government. To prove that the whole thing is a forgery: the book is wholly for the benefit of the priest. The poor have to work and toil continually, and pay half of what they make, and sometimes almost starve to support the lazy priests and furnish them and their women with plenty of fine garments, wine, and the best of food [Ed. Note: cf. Ezek. Chapter 24; Mal. 2:1-9)]

The priests tell these poor Jews that this God requires them to bring their best calf, their best lamb, and the best flour and oil to the temple, to offer in sacrifice; and the priests and their party get all this for themselves. I often tell them – when they object to Roman taxation – that they could keep up to a thousand Caesars for much less than it costs to keep up their God and his priests!

Add to that, that their leaders are always quarreling and fighting among themselves, and dividing off into different sects. Miracles are as common as poor physicians. The Essenes are noted for both! They prophesy, work miracles, see visions, and have remarkable dreams, and stand in reputation as quack doctors. They pretend to know all about angels, ghosts, and spirits; they profess the art of managing ethereal citizens of trans-atmospheric regions. They live together in colonies, some of them are cenobitic and some are celibate communities. They maintain that they are all priests and high priests; therefore explaining their daily baptisms, as priests on duty.

They wear Levitical garments. Their tables are their altars, and their meals only sacrifices. With this sanctimonious misanthropy – which is their highest virtue – they use the allegorical method of expounding the Scriptures [Ed. Note: cf. 1 Cor. 2:9-14; 13:9; 14:30-23; 2 Cor. 3:3-6].

While we Romans think, reason and reflect, using our faculties to obtain our ideas of duty, they shut their eyes and fold their hands, waiting to be endued with power from their God; and when they get it, it proves to be all to their own advantage and interests, to the ruin of their fellow citizens.

The Sadducees are another party, equally absurd. They get their peculiar doctrine from Antigonus Sochaeus, who was President of the Sanhedrum. They reject all the traditions of the scribes and the Pharisees. Then we find the “sophers,” or scribes. They are the writers and expounders of the law. These Pharisees [Ed. Note: derived from "Pharash," meaning to separate] from all other men on account of their sanctity. But it is useless to name all these sects, with their peculiar views and ideas, each differing from the others. They are all strict monotheists, yet they differ from each other more than the polytheists do.

I have given this detailed description of the people and their various sects so that the Senate may have an idea of the situation I am in. But if you could be here and see and associate with them as I do – to see them with all their presumed sanctity of life – and then behold their treachery to each other; to see how the lie and steal the one from the other, and then see how low and base are their priests – you would be much better qualified to judge my actions. [Ed. Note: This chronic inability of human priests to maintain a high degree of spirituality from man’s earliest incarnations on the earth, in time brought about GOD’s installation of one eternal heavenly priesthood – that of Melchizedek, who was the Son of GOD, as the Bible divulges in Heb. 5:5-14; Heb. 7:8-28]

As to this great excitement at Bethlehem, there strange fantastic-looking men called on my guards at the gate, and asked them where was the babe that had been born that was to be the King of the Jews? My guards told em of it, and I ordered the men to be brought into court. I asked them who they were. One of them said he was from Egypt. I asked what was their business. He said they were in search of the babe that was born to rule the Jews. I told them that I ruled the Jews under Augustus Caesar. But he said that this babe is to rule after I was gone! I told him that it would not happen unless the child was born under the purple [Note: purple was the national color of Rome].

At that I began to question him further.

Series to be Continued in Message 34 of Rev. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-Two - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[ Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eight:

Continuation of Valleus’ Notes – “Acta Pilati”, or, Pilate’s

Report To Caesar of the Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth

Joseph of Arimathea buried the body of Jesus of Nazareth in his own tomb. Whether he conte4mplated Jesus’ resurrection, or had in mind to cut another burying place for himself, I cannot tell. The day after Jesus was buried, one of the priests came to the Praetorium advising that some of Jesus’ Disciples were planning to steal his body and hide it somewhere, and then make it appear that the had risen from the dead, of which, of course, they were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard [Ed. Note: Malkus], ordering him to take the Jewish soldiers and place as many of them around the sepulcher as needed, so that if anything happened to change the normal course of events, Jews would have themselves to blame, and not the Romans.

When the great excitement arose at the time the sepulcher, in which the body of Jesus had been buried, was found empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who assured me that he had placed his Lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the sepulcher. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what had occurred that morning. I sent for this man, Isham, who related to me, as near as I can now recall, the following events.

He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch, they saw a soft beautiful light appear over the sepulcher. He at first thought that probably the women had come to embalm the body of Jesus in accordance with their custom, but he could not understand how they had managed to slip through the protective ring of guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold, the whole place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their graveclothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstacy, while all around and above sounded the most beautiful music he had ever heard, and the whole air seemed to be filled with voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he could not stand on his feet. He said that the earth seemed to swim from underneath him, and that his senses left him shaken so he did not know for certain what had occurred.

I asked him in what condition he was when he regained his senses. He said that he was lying on the ground with his face down. I asked him if he might not have been mistaken as to the light – was it not daylight coming in the east? He replied that at first he had thought of that, but at a stone’s throw away it was exceedingly dark; and then he recalled that it was too early for the day to begin. I asked if he had not arisen too quickly and was dizzy, but he replied that he had been awake all night; that he had let some of the soldiers sleep, but that he had to stay awake – that the penalty for sleeping while on watch was death. He thought that the light had lasted for an hour, but could not be sure; that they had all gone to their quarters; and he said that the priests had questioned him, and wanted him to say that an earthquake had caused it all. He declared that some of the priests believed that Jesus was not a man – not human – that he and his mother Mary were the same as had been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and in many other times and places. It seems to me that if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are correct, for they are in accord with this man’s life. The elements were in his hands like clay in the hands of a potter; he could change wine into water and death into life, and even still the wild raging storms. In fact, it was performing miracles like these and others that had created enmity against him. Considering these matter, it was clear to me that he had not been charged with any criminal offenses, breaking any laws, nor of any harmful wrongdoing to any individual’s person, I am almost ready to say – as did Manlius at the Cross – “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Now, noble soverign, this is as near to the facts in this case as I can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make this a full statement so that that you may effectively judge my conduct upon the whole of these important matters – because I hear that Antipater has made many hard accusations of me in this matter.. With the promise of faithfulness and good wishes to my noble Sovereign, I am your obedient servant,

Pontius Pilate.

Series to be Continued in Message 33 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty-One - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eight:

Continuation of Valleus’ Notes – “Acta Pilati”, or, Pilate’s

Report To Caesar of the Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth

According to Jewish Law, a man was stationed at the door of the court with a flag, and another a short way off on horseback, to cry out the name of the criminal and his crime, and the name of his witnesses, and to know if anyone could testify in his favor; and also, the prisoner on his way to execution had the right to turn back three times, and to plead any new thing in his favor. I urged all these pleas, hoping they might be awed into subjection, but they still continued to cry, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping that it might satisfy them, but it only increased their fury. Then I called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment, Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving death; but it was in vain. I was his life for which these wretches thirsted.

Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared to what I witnessed on this occasion. It might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the Praetorium, even unto Mt. Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonioa, or in the tumultuous evens of the forum.

By degrees the day darkened into winter’s twilight, such as had been seen at the death of the great Julius Caesar – and it was likewise on the Ides of March! I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning against a column of my basilic, contemplating athwart the dreary gloom of these fiends of Tartarus pressing for the execution of the innocent Nazarene. All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited out her in-dwellers through the funeral gate that leads to Germonica. An air of desolation and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the Centurion, with a display of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at this moment appertained rather to the history of the gods than to that of man. A loud clamor was heard proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds hung over the pinnacle of the temple, and settling over the city, covered it with a veil. So dreadful were the signs – both in the heavens and on the earth – that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed, “Either the author of nature is suffering, or the universe is falling apart!”

While these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earthquake in lower

Egypt, which filled everybody with fear, and scared superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said that Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement was over. Whether he had died from alarm of grief is not known. He was a close friend of the Nazarene.

Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and walked down into the city, toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice had been consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohort pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in token of grief; and I overheard some of the Jewish soldiers muttering strange words which I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those which have so often smitten the Romans by the will of the gods. Sometimes groups of men would halt, and then, looking back toward Mount Calvary, remain motionless in expectation of perhaps seeing some new prodigy.

I returned to the Praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs – the steps of which were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept most bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and – my heart being already overcharged with grief – we, even though strangers – wept there together. And in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I perceived in the vast contours of people. I had never witnessed such an extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold out Jesus, those who had testified against him and had cried, “Crucify him, we have his blood!” slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth in vinegar! I am told that Jesus taught a resurrection and a separation after death; and if that means what I understand it to mean, I am sure it must have commenced this day, in this crowd!

“Father,” said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings,”who are you, and what is your request?”

“I am Joseph of Arimathea,” replied he, ‘and I am come to beg of you upon my knees permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth.”

“Your prayer is granted,” I replied, and I forthwith ordered Manlius to take some solders with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be profaned.

A few days after the sepulcher was found empty, Jesus’ disciples proclaimed all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had foretold. This of course created more excitement, even, than had the crucifixion. As to the truth of it I cannot say for certain, but I have made an investigation of the matter, the results of which you can examine for yourself, and decide if I am at fault, as Herod claims.

Series to be Continued in Message 32 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Thirty - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF

[Continuation of Valleus’ Notes – “Acta Pilatie”, or, Pilate’s Report to Caesar Concerning the Arrest, Trial, and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.

In the days when Herod reigned in Galilee, those who opposed Jesus set themselves to wreak vengeance upon him. Had Herod followed his own inclinations, he would have immediately ordered Jesus to be put to death; but though proud of his royal dignity, he hesitated to commit such an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate; either that, or, like me, he was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer to be publicly showing fear of a Jew. Some time previously, Herod had called on me at the praetorium, and, upon rising to take leave after some trifling conversation, he asked me for my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes produced – that his doctrines were by no means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to that freedom of speech that was justified by his actions. Herod smiled, I thought, maliciously, and, saluting me with ironical respect, departed.

The great feast of the Jews was approaching, and with it the intention to avail themselves of the popular exultation which always manifests itself at the solemnities of a Passover. The city was overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple has been employed in bribing the people, and that danger was pressing. A Roman centurion had been insulted. I wrote to the Prefect of Syria for a hundred foot-soldiers and as many cavalry, but he declined my request. I saw myself standing alone with a handful of veterans in the midst of the rebellious city; too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious rabble – although they had nothing to fear from the Praetorium, but believing as their leaders had told them – that I had winked at their sedition – continued shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Three powerful parties had combined at that time against Jesus: First, the Herodians and the Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives. They hated the Nazarene and were impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered the holy city with banners that bore the image of a Roman emperor; although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance also rankled their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. My proposal was scorned. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus, and cared not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands for which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them wherever he went. Timid, and too weak to act by themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. In addition to these three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate populace, always ready to join a sedition, and to profit from the disorder and confusion that inevitably resulted.

Jesus was dragged before the high priest and condemned to death. It was then that the high priest, Caiaphas, performed a divisive act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me, to confirm his condemnation, and secure his execution. I answered him that – because Jesus was a Galilean – the affair came under Herod’s jurisdiction, and ordered him to be sent thither. The wily tetrarch instead professed humility, and – protesting his deference to the Lieutenant of Caesar – he committed the fate of the man to my hands! Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Jerusalem was inundated with the crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judea appeared to be pouring into the city.!

I had taken a wife from among the Gauls, who pretended to see into futurity – a seer. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet, she implored me: “Beware! Beware! And touch not that man Jesus, for he is holy. Last night I saw him in a vision, and he was walking on the waters! He was flying on the wings of the wind! He spoke to the tempest and even to the fishes in the lake, and all were obedient to him! Behold, the torrent in Mount Kedron flows with blood – the statues of Caesar are filled with gemonide, the columns of the interium have given away, and the sun is veiled in mourning, like a vestal in the tomb. Ah, Pilate! evil awaits you! If you will not listen to the vows of your wife, then dread the curse of the Roman Senate! Dread the frown of Caesar!”

By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back before me. I proceeded to the halls of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a grave voice what it was they demanded.

“The death of the Nazarene” was the sharp reply.

“For what crime?”

“He has blasphemed – he has prophesied the ruin of the temple! He calls himself the son of God, as if he were King of the Jews!”

I replied to the crowd in a severe tone, “Roman justice does not punish for such offenses with death!”

But the relentless rabble screamed, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” The shouts of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its very foundations!

The only one present who remained calm in the whole multitude was Jesus. After many fruitless attempts to protect him from the fury of his relentless persecutors, I adopted a measure that for the moment seemed to me to be the only way to possibly save his life. I proposed – as was their custom to deliver a prisoner on such occasions – to simply release Jesus and let him go free, in order that he might be considered a “scapegoat,” as they called it. But they demanded, “Jesus must be crucified!” I then spoke of the great inconsistency in the course of action they were taking, pointing out that it was incompatible with their own laws, because no criminal court judge could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted for one whole day; and further that the sentence must have the consent of the Sahhedrim, as well as the signature of of the president of the court. Further, that no criminal could be executed on the same day that his sentence was handed -down, and that the next day, on the day of his execution, the Sanhedrim was required to review the whole proceeding. I also warned about other illegal aspects of the procedure being followed, as noted in the next message.

Series to be Continued in Message 31 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS.

Message Twenty-Nine - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eight:

Continuation of Valleus’ Notes – “Acta Pilati”, or, Pilate’s

Report To Caesar of the Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth

It was on account of the wisdom or Jesus’ sayings that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it was within my power to have had him arrested and exiled to Pontius; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Roman government in all its dealings with men. This man Jesus was neither seditious nor rebellious, so I extended to him my protection – unknown, perhaps, to him. He was at liberty to act, speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by any praetorian mandate. Should it ever happen – may the gods avert the omen, I say – that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be this noble declaration that to me shall owe her premature death, while I – miserable wretch – will have been the unwitting instrument of what the Jews call Providence, and we Romans call destiny.

This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus, provoked the Jews – not the poor, but rather the rich and powerful. It is true that Jesus was severe on the latter, and this, in my opinion, was a political reason for not restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. “Scribes and Pharisees,” he would declare to them, “You are a race of vipers! You resemble painted sepulchers! You appear well unto men, but you have death within you!” [Ed. Note: Cf. Jn. 8:41-47]. At other times he would appear to sneer at the alms of the rich and proud, admonishing them that the mite of the poor was much more precious in the sight of God. At the praetorium, complaints were daily heard against the so-called insolence of Jesus.

I was even informed that some misfortune would befall him – that it would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called themselves prophets, and appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my conduct was approved by Caesar, and I was promised a reinforcement after the termination of the Parthian war.

Having too little force to suppress an insurrection, I resolved upon adopting a measure that promised to restore the tranquility of the city without subjecting the praetorium to humiliating concession. I sent a note to Jesus requesting an interview with him at the praetorium, and he appeared as requested. You know that in my veins flows the Spanish mixed with Roman blood – as incapable of fear as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance, I was at the time walking in my basilica, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement: I trembled in every limb as does a guilty culprit, while the Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself. When he came into my presence he stopped, and by some kind of signal-sign he seemed to communicate to me, “I am here,” though he did not speak a word. For some time I contemplated with admiration and awe this extraordinary man – a type of man unknown to our numerous painters, who have given form and figure to all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing about Jesus that was repelling in its character, yet for some reason I felt too awed and tremulous to approach him.

“Jesus,” I said to him at last – and my tongue faltered – “Jesus of Nazareth, for the past three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage, I know not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know: there is in your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble representative in this country, am glad at having allowed you that libery of which you are so worthy.

However, I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies. Nor is this surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell victim to their hatred. Your enemies are doubly incensed against you, on account of your discourses being so severe against their conduct; and against me on account of the libery I have afforded you. They even accuse me of being indirectly in league with you for the purpose of deceiving the Hebrews of the little power which Rome has left them. My request – I do not say my order – is that you be more circumspect and moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of them, lest you raise the pride of your enemies, and they against you the stupid populace, and compel me to employ instruments of the law.”

“The Nazarene calmly replied, “Prince of the earth, your words proceed not from true wisdom. If you say to the torrent to stop in the midst of the mountain gorge because it will uproot the trees in the valley, the torrent will answer you that it is obliged to obey the law of nature and the creator! God alone knows whither flow the waters of a torrent! Verily, I say unto you, that before the rose of Sharon blossoms, the blood of the just shall be spilt!”

“Your blood shall not be spilt,” I replied, with deep emotion; “you are more precious in my estimation, on account of your wisdom, than all the turbulent proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted to them by the Romans. They conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear, impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant who seeks their ruin. Insolent wretches! They are unaware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin of the sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My praetorium shall be an asylum, sacred both day and night.”

Jesuis shook his head and replied with a grave divine smile: “When the day shall come there will be no asylum for the son of man, neither in the earth nor under it. The asylum of the just is there [pointing up] That which is written in the books of the prophets must be accomplished”

“Young man,” I answered mildly, “you will oblige me to convert my request into an order. The safety of the province which has been confided to my care requires it. You must observe more moderation in your discourses. Farewell, and may happiness attend you.”

“Prince of the earth,” replied Jesus, “I come not to bring war to the world, but peace, love and charity. Note that I was born on the same day which Augustus Caesar gave peace to the Roman world! Persecutions will proceed not from me; I expect it from others, who will meet it in obedience to the will of my Father, who has shown me The Way. Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the foot of the tabernacle of expiation.”

So saying, Jesus disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the basilic – to my great relief. But then I felt a heavy burden on me, of which I could not relieve myself while in his presence.

Series to be Continued in Message 30 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Twenty-Eight - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Eight:

Valleus’ Notes – “Acta Pilati”, or, Pilate’s

Report To Caesar of the Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth

Valleus Paterculus, a Roman historian, was nineteen years old when Jesus was born. His works have been thought to be extinct. I know of but two historians who make reference to his writings – Priscian and Tacitus – who speak of him as a descendent of an equestrian family of Campania. From what we gather from these writers, Valleus must have been a close friend of Caesar, who raised him by degrees until he became one of the great men of Rome, commanding the army for sixteen years. He returned to Rome in the year 31 and finished his work, which was called “Historia Romania.” He held the office of praetor when Augustus died, and while Vinceus was consul.

Valleus says that in Judea he met a man called Jesus of Nazareth, who was one of the most remarkable characters he had ever seen; that he conceded he feared Jesus more than a whole army, for he not only cured all manner of diseases and raised the dead, and when he for some reason put a curse on one of the orchards, or fruit-trees, for their barrenness, they instantly withered down to their roots (cf. Mk. 11:21-22].

After referring to the astonishing works of Jesus, he says that – although Jesus had such unique powers, he did not use them injure anyone, but seemed always to help the poor. Valleus says that the Jews were divided in their opinion of him, the poorer class outrightly claiming him as their king and their deliverer from Roman authority; they declared that if Jesus should raise and army and bless it, he could sweep the world in a single day; yet the rich Jews hated and cursed him behind his back and called him an Egyptian necromancer, although they were as afraid of him as they were afraid of death [Quoted from a document taken from Velleus Paterculus, B.72; among records found by Rev. Mahan in the Vatican at Rome.]

PILATE’S REPORT

To Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome: Noble Sovereign, Greeting:

The events of the last few days in my province have been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred; as I should not be surprised if, in the course of time, the may change the destiny of our nation; for it seems that of late the gods have ceased to be propitious. I am almost ready to say, ‘Cursed is the day that I succeeded Vellarius Flaceus in the government of Judea,’ for since then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.

Upon my arrival at Jerusalem, I took possession of the Praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the Tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed hour no guests appeared! This I considered an insult offered against my dignity, as well as to the whole government that I represent. A few days afterward, the high priest deigned to pay me a visit. His deportment was both grave and deceitful. He pretended that his religion had forbade him and his attendants to sit at the table of the Romans, and to eat and offer libations with them; but this was only sanctimonious scheming, for his very countenance betrayed his hypocrisy.

Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of their conquerors; and I would warn Romans to be beware of the high priests of this country. They would betray their own mothers to gain office and a luxurious living! It seems to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to govern. So turbulent are the people who live in continual dread of an insurrection. I have not sufficient soldiers to suppress it: only one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested a reinforcement from the prefect of Syria, who informed me he had scarcely enough troops sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate thrist for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our whole government. I live secluded from the masses, not knowing what those priests might do to influence the rabble; yet I endeavored to ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the people.

Among the various rumors that came to my ears, there was one in particular that caught my attention. A young man, it was said, had appeared in Galilee preaching a noble unction, purportedly in the name of the God that had sent him! At first, I was apprehensive that his real design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. This Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans more so than of the Jews. One day in passing the place of Siloe, where there was a great concourse of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young man leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told that it was Jesus. This I might well have suspected, so great was the difference between him and those listening to him. His golden colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years of age. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a contrast between him and his listeners, with their black beards and tawny complexions!

Unwilling to interrupt by my presence, I continued my walk, but signified to my secretary to join the group to listen. My secretary’s name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who encamped in Eturia, waiting for Cataline. Manlius had been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering the praetorium, I found Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of philosophers anything to compare with the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious Jews, so numerous in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he replied, “Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Series to be Continued in W. D. Mahan’s Message 29 of his HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Twenty Seven - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Seven:

Continuing the Second Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

I recall one occasion when a young man, who was a close friend of Jesus, had died. He had two sisters, one of whom accompanied Jesus to the deceased’s bomb. The Master commanded that the tomb be uncovered, but the sister protested, saying, “Master, by this time the body is offensive, this man has been dead for four days.” Jesus said only, “Have faith!” and he called the young man by name, and he came forth out of the tomb, and is still living today: Peter insisted that I see him for myself. [Ed. Note: this brings to mind the phenomenon of near death experiences (NDE’s) in which a human body may be "dead" and yet somehow remain alive – sometimes for extended periods of time.]

Peter and John contend that because Jesus had such power over nature and nature’s laws, and even power over the death of others, that he would be able to lay down his own life and take it up again, as he declared that he could do. (Cf. Jn. 10:17-18). As he proposes to bring hundreds of witnesses to prove all he foretells he can do – witnesses whose veracity cannot be doubted, and he having already done many such things before, as observed by men who are both his friends and foes – I think we must accept such corroborative evidence. These things should not be abruptly denied out of hand, although I personally feel a great agitation, a weight upon my heart.

I cannot permit myself to feel like a criminal from the fact that I was acting in my best judgment with the evidence before me. I was acting in defense of my country, which I love better than my own life. If I was mistaken, it was an honest mistake. And as we teach that honesty of purpose gives character to the action, on this basis I shall try to clear myself of any charge; yet there is a conscious fear about my heart so that I have no rest, day or night. I feel sure that if I should meet Jesus I would fall dead at his feet; and it seems to me that if I went out I would be sure to meet him.

In this state of conscious dread I remained investigating the Scriptures to know more about the prophesies concerning this man, but I found nothing to satisfy my mind. I locked my door and gave the guards orders to let no one in without notifying me. While thus engaged, with no one in the room but my wife Annas, her father, when I lifted my eyes, behold Jesus of Nazareth stood before me! My breath stopped, my blood ran cold, and I was in the act of falling when he spoke, saying, ” Be not afraid, it is I. You condemned me in order that you might go free. This is the work of my Father. Your only wrong is that you have a wicked heart. This you must repent of. This last lamb you have slain is the one that was appointed before the foundation

This sacrifice is made for all men. Your other lambs of the flocks were sacrificed on behalf of those who offered them: this is the last “lamb” forever. It is for you, if you will accept it. I died that you and all mankind might be saved.”

At this he looked at me with such tenderness that it seemed to me I was nothing but tears, and my strength was completely drained. I fell on my face at his feet as one who was dead. When Annas lifted me up, Jesus was gone, but the door was still locked! And, adding to the mystery, no one knew where he had gone.

So, noble Masters, I do not feel that I can officiate as priest any more. If this strange personage is from God, and should prove to be the Savior we have looked-for, for so long a time, and I have been the means of crucifying him, I have no further offerings to make for sin; but I will wait and see how these things develop. And if he proves to be the ruler we are looking for, they will soon develop into something more grand in the future. His glory – should that be the case – and his influence must spread wider and wider until the whole earth shall be full of his glory, and all the kingdoms of the world shall be his dominion. Such are the teaching and preaching of the prophets on this subject. Therefore, you will appoint Jonathan, or someone, to fill the holy place.

[We found that, although history teaches us differently, Jonathan did indeed become the high priest – Mahan]

Series to be Continued in Message 28 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Twenty-Six - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Seven:

Continuing the Second Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

After questioning the soldiers and officers to my satisfaction – my mind being so disturbed by all that had taken place that I could neither sleep nor eat – I sent for John and Peter. The came, and brought along Mary and Joanna, the women who went to embalm Jesus’ body the morning of the resurrection, as it is being called. They were very interesting as they related the circumstances. Mary says that when they went there, daylight was just breaking. They met the soldiers returning from the sepulcher, and saw nothing strange until they came to the tomb and found it empty. The stone that had covered the sepulcher was rolled to one side, and two men dressed in flowing white were seated, one at each end of the tomb. Mary asked them where was her Lord? to which they answered, “He is risen from the dead – did he not tell you he would rise on the third day and show himself to the people, to show them he was the lord of life? “Go tell the disciples,” said they.

Joanna said she saw but one man, but this disagreement must have been due to their excitement, because they report being much alarmed. They agree that as they returned, they met t he Master, who told them he was the Resurrection and The Life…that all who will accept will be resurrected from the “second death.” She related that they had fallen at his feet, all bathed in tears, and that when they rose up again he was gone.

Both these women wept for joy while relating these occurrences, and John shouted aloud, which made me tremble in every limb, for it came strongly into my mind that something that was the exclusive work of God had occurred, although what it all meant remained a mystery to me. It might be, I said, that God had sent this message by the mouth of this stranger; it might even be that he was the seed of the woman [see Gen. 3:15; Rev. 12:1-5,17)], and that we, his people, had indeed executed him!

I asked John and Peter if they could give me any further evidence in regard to this man so that I could be informed of his private history. Peter said that Jesus had passed by where he was, and bade him to follow him, and that he felt somehow drawn to follow him, although he thought that at first it was a matter of curiosity, more so than anything about the man. He related that he had soon become acquainted with Mary, who told him Jesus was her son, and related to her the strange circumstances of his birth, which convinced her that he was to be king of the Jews. She spoke of many strange things concerning his life, which made Peter feel more interested in him than he would otherwise have been. He said that Jesus was a man so pleasant in his character, and so like a child in his innocence, that no one could help liking him after being near him for even a short time. He was exceedingly kind, especially to the poor, but that he would make any sacrifice for the sick or needy, and would spare no effort to impart knowledge to anyone who would call upon him. He said that his knowledge was so profound that he had seen him interrogated by the most learned doctors of the law, and he always left them satisfied: in fact, that the “sophers,” or scribes, and Hillelites, and Shammaites, were afraid to open their mouths in his prsence. They had attacked him so often, and had been repelled just as often, that they shunned him as they would a wolf; but when he had repelled them he did not enjoy the triumph as they did when they had gotten ascendency.

As to his private life, he seemed not to be a man of pleasure, nor of sorrow. He mingled with society to benefit it, yet took no part in what was going on. I had heard many tell of what occurred when he was baptized; and because of what his mother told me I was watching for a display of his divine power – if he actually had any – for I knew that he could never be king of the Jews unless he did have help from on high.

On one occasion when we were attending a marriage-feast, wine gave out, and his mother Mary told him of it, and he said to the man to fill up some water in the empty pots that were sitting nearby, and I and others watched them as they poured in nothing but water. But when they poured it out, it had somehow turned to wine! Everyone tasted it, but when the master of the house called for Jesus to honor him, he had disappeared. It seemed that he did not want to be popular, and this spirit displeased us because we knew that if he was to be kind of the Jews, he would have to become popular with the Jews.

Another time, while we were passing through Jericho, I saw a blind man who cried out to Jesus, pleading for mercy, and Jesus said to me, “Go, bring him near,” and when I did so, Jesus asked him what he wanted, to which he said he wanted to see again. Jesus said, “Receive thy sight,” even when he was not near enough to Jesus to lay his hands on him or use any art. In that way he performed all of his miracles; he did not act as do the Egyptian necromancers, who use vessels such as cups, bags, jugs and many other things to deceive. Jesus used nothing but his simple speech [Ed. Note: cf. Jn. 6:63]. It seemed as it the laws of nature were his main instruments of action, and that nature was as obedient to him as a slave to its master.

Series to be Continued with Rev. W. D. Mahan’s Message 27. HISTORICAL RECORDS.

Message Twenty-Five - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Six:

Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

Caiphas, High Priest of the Most High God, to

Pontius Pilate, Governor of the Roman Province:

Jesus of Nazareth is thus charged by the High Court of the Jews:

“First: with teaching the doctrine that there are more gods than one; which is contrary to the teachings of the Jewish Law, which he most positively refuses to desist from, in the presence of this Court. [But cf.: Ex.17:14-16; Psalms 82:6-8; 86:8; 95:3; 101:1; 136:2; 138:1; Zech. 3:2; and note Jn. 10:34-35]

“Second: he teaches that he is a god: which is contrary to the Jewish Law, and that he is visible and comprehensible, which we understand that GOD is not! And, after being repeatedly asked to cease and desist by this Court, he most positively affirms that he is the Son of GOD [Cf. Ps. 2:6-12]

“Third: he teaches and affirms that the “Bath kole” – the Holy Ghost – cannot come until he, Jesus, goes away – that it all hinges on that event! which of course is contrary to the teachings of the Jews, because it was GOD who “brooded over the waters,” and has been the eternal Light of the world ever since; from all of which this man Jesus refuses to desist.

“Moreover, he teaches baptism as the seal of GOD, rather than circumcision, which was long ago established by the Doctrines of GOD with Abraham as a seal of the Jews; and when abjured to cease and desist by this Court, he declared that he would not.

“As if that was not enough, he teaches ascetism as the means of salvation, contrary to the Jewish custom; and he affirmed in the presence of this Court that he would not desist from so teaching.

“Even over and above that, he teaches that the Levitical Ablution is really of no service; whereas we Jews hold that the outward washing is the true sign of inward purity. Again, when abjured to desist from so teaching, he emphatically refuses.

“In addition to all this, he has abrogated the ordinance – given by GOD to Moses – of the Pascal Supper, in which we should roast a lamb and eat it with unleavened bread. But in the face of that, Jesus has introduced some common bread and wine [Ed. Note: first used by Melchizedec – Gen. 14-18 – and long afterward made a part of Jesus’ establishment of the Holy Eucharist], which in fact is forbidden because wine is well qualified to excite men’s passions and induce them to forget GOD, more so than to remember and trust HIM. The original feast with roasted lamb was introduced so that we would remember to trust GOD in hours of trouble; but hen Jesus was asked why he made this change, all he would answer is: “Hitherto I work and my Father works”

“He has abrogated the priesthood, and set the temple at naught! which is the very life’s blood of the Jewish Faith [[Ed. Note: cf. 1 Peter 2:5,9].

“Were it not that GOD our Father has given us these holy ordinances we would not be so tenacious about them. But we know that they are the pillars upon which the Jewish Theocracy is constructed, and that we cannot expect to live without them. Even though Jesus has been abjured time and again to stop teaching these ways of death, he has just as often declared that he will not. Therefore it devolves upon me as the proper and only officer designated to pronounce sentence upon him.”

These above charges were written by my scribe, and sent with the officer to Pilate for his consent. Of course, I did not expect him to surreptitiously execute Jesus as he did; but apparently the mob was so great that Pilate never received the above message. I fully expected Pilate to order Jesus sent back to me so that I could send him before you for your approval; after which I would, in the normal course of events, have proceeded to try him with Urim and Thummim, with the lactees on guard as our law requires. But apparently Pilate thirsted for Jesus’ blood, and, like all guilt-ridden tyrants, he was fearful of his own shadow, and hastened to destroy everything that he thought might threaten his power.

With these reasons for my actions, I submit this case; which I am certain will be considered favorably by my Masters of Israel.

Series to be Continued in Message Twenty-Six, Chapter Seven [A Second Report to Caiaphas to the Sanhedrim, Concerning the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth]

Message Twenty-Four - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Six:

Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

As the Jews became ever more divided and confused, the tyranny of the Romans increased proportionately. They wanted an excuse to slaughter Jews and confiscate their property. At this time, both the doctrine and the religion of the Jews was spreading rapidly over Rome, which gave the Romans considerable alarm. Sejane undertook to have an ordinance passed in the Senate abolishing the Jewish religion from Rome; and when they banished all Jews from Rome, back they came to Judea with all their idolatry and heresy, and many other corrupt principles gleaned from the Romans, thus fitting them to join any party for profit.

Up to this time, the Roman governors had shown great kindness to the Jews. There never was a better man than Hrycan. The Jews enjoyed a calming peace during his administration. But Tiberias has turned against us; Pilate has removed the army from Caesarea to Jerusalem. I say that no nation with any self respect, or one with any energy left, would or could tolerate it without a struggle.

Now, it was the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth that had brought all these troubles upon us. When Herod Antipas captured John the Baptist, it momentarily quieted the chaos in Galilee, so peace reigned until Jesus started it all up afresh. I had issued orders to Jesus to desist from preaching, unless he taught as Jews taught, but he sent me the impertinent response that his word was not of this world, but referred to the world to come. Actually, all the time he was doing all he could to destroy the peace and harmony of this world.

Now, according to our law in the “Saphra“ by Jose B. Talmud, it devolves upon me to see that the people have sound doctrine taught to them. Hence it is my duty to examine all the “midrasham,” or sermons, of all the preaching priests, and if anyone should have the temerity to teach the people wrongly, or conduct himself in ways not in correspondence with his profession so as to cause him to disregard the holy laws of ablution, or in any way defile himself, I should adjudge him and pronounce sentence for his crime. This is what I did upon Jesus of Nazareth, to save the church from heresy, and to save the cause of the Jewish Commonwealth from ruin. But understand that I did not act rashly nor illegally in his case, as I have been accused. I only passed sentence under the protest and order of the whole court belonging to the high priest, containing twelve members, or elders and priests. Thus you can see that it was not simply an arbitrary personal voluntary act on my part, but an impartial legal one, in fulfillment of our law.

After I had carefully examined Jesus as to the various charges, he said – in the presence of the entire court – that each and all of them were true. I then reasoned with him, asking him that if the court of the high priest should forgive him of the charges against him, would he cease and desist from repeating his actions in all time to come? He replied most emphatically that he would not.

Under these circumstances, I was compelled, according to law, to sentence him to die; for if he continued to promulgate his pernicious heresies the Jews as a nation would perish with their religion, And as you find in the toseppta, the nation has always the right of self-preservation, and as we Jews had conceded the right to the Romans of executing our criminal law, it became my painful duty to send him to Pontius Pilate under the following specific set of leveled charges.

Series to be Continued in Message Twenty-Five: Caiaphas’ Charges Against Jesus, Sent to Pilate:

Message Twenty-Three - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF [Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Six:

Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

Jesus taught the revelation, and the prophets, but it is appears that he contradicted all they teach. He taught the election of Israel by the Almighty GOD, but ignored all the doctrines of Israel.. He taught the eternity of GOD’s laws, and promises in the super-importance of the humanitarian over the ritual laws and doctrines, but I do not think that he wished to abolish the latter, or even the traditional laws. It seems to me that he merely wanted to supercede them by a higher life.

But the natural result of all this was that he disregarded the laws of Levitical cleanness, which are considered so important by the Shammaites and Essenes, and by the Hillelites. It was at this point of disagreement where division commenced; and where the breach grew ever wider until an insurrection must have resulted. Jesus so far cut himself loose from the Jews that he ate with unclean sinners, publican, and lepers, and what is even more shocking, he permitted harlots to touch him. His disciples went so far as to eat their meals without even washing themselves! As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus looked upon the whole of the Levitical institutions, temples, sacrifices, and priesthood included, as being no longer necessary at all – not even worth the life of the sacrificed animal! This is what we Jews have found to be so incredulous as to be out of the question.

This was certainly the opinion of the Hillelites. It seems that Jesus discovered in this Hillelite school of thought a party furnished to hand, ready and prepared to take up with his heresy – and a large party they are, virtually sufficient to divide the whole Jewish Commonwealth. They taught the repentance of sin, the practice of benevolence and charity, the education of the young, and good will toward all mankind, as possessing much more moral worth than all the Levitical cleanness, or compliance with the whole moral law given to us by our GOD to govern us.

Jesus’ teaching was of the parabolic style. He relied upon a text of the Scripture, for he seemed to hold the Scriptures in high veneration, so that his preaching was on the “midrash” style of the scribes – a maxim expressed in the style of Solon, or of Sirach’s son. His primary intention was to come as near to the Jewish Theology as possible, in order to entirely destroy the Jewish belief, and to establish his own in its place. Hence, he resorted to what is known as the allegorical method of the Egyptian Hebrews, uttering many good and wise sayings which were not new to the learned, but which were taken from the common wisdom of the country. Of course, this was known by all who were acquainted with the literature of the rabbis (cf. Mt. 13:10-17). But they were new to Jesus’ class of disciples, who were not accustomed to listening to the wise.

This man Jesus had no education, comparatively speaking. He was full of nervous excitement, which I think was mistaken by his disciples to be the Spirit of GOD. But then, he took little care of his health or person and seemed not to care much for his own relatives. He traveled mostly on foot in the company of his disciples, and even suspicious women, while living off the charity of his friends.

Jesus appeared to take no notice of political affairs in his country; would as soon be governed by one nation as another. In fact, it seemed that if he had any preference it was for the Romans. It seems that he became so infatuated with his own powers that he actually thought he was head of GOD’s kingdom in heaven! This manner of preaching, along with his presumption, aroused his enemies to a frenetic pitch, so it was all I could do to keep the zealots from mobbing him in the temple. Of course, they had no confidence in any doctrine that set the Jewish laws at naught, and even went so far as to mock the priesthood of GOD. They, along with the Saducees and scribes, were unwilling to submit themselves to a man who acknowledged no higher authority than himself and who appeared to be endeavoring to overturn everything that Jews held more sacred and dearer than life – even though he referred often to his Father in heaven.

Jesus’ mode and manner were well qualified to deceive the unsuspecting. “Let us have all things in common,” and: “he that would be the greatest among you will prove his greatness by rendering the greatest service to all.” And then he advised: “If any of the higher powers compel you to go a mile, let him that is so compelled go even ten miles.” This naturally caused him to be attacked more in his policy then in his doctrine.

The great question with us Jews became: here are the Romans upon our backs; how can we get rid of them? Jesus’ idea was to leave the Romans alone: that it matters not who rules or governs the nations. He says that if they abuse you, love them in return and they will not be your enemies for very long! He advised that no man can abuse another who returns injuries with love; that we should pray in secret for the return of the kingdom of heaven and GOD’s forgiveness, Grace and Mercy, and that this will soon make all things right! He would exhort, “Pay your taxes, it is only Caesars’s money you spend, which is unlawful for you to have anyway – unlawful on account of its idolatrous effigies.”

Again, he would counsel: “You cannot conquer the Romans by force of arms; better to convert them, and they will be your enemies no longer. They already have your temple in their possession; their yoke is becoming heavier every day, and the more you battle against them, the more they will abuse you. Your only chance is to love them, and try to make your yoke easy and your burden light by having them your friends.” Indeed, the conduct of Jesus was so strange, and incompatible with the interests of the Jews as a nation, that it seemed to me that he was actually as subject employed by the Romans to keep Jews submissive and obedient to all their despicable tyranny and abuse.

This policy was most powerfully attacked by the officiating priest, by the Shammaites and Zealots, and, in fact, the whole Jewish nation was aroused to a wartime heat. The reprimands of Jesus were so severe against the rich and highly educated that they turned against him, and brought all their power, wealth and talent to bear, so that I saw that a blood insurrection was swiftly brewing. The public mind of the Jews was becoming increasingly divided and corrupt, with heretical doctrines diffused throughout the land. The temple was forsaken and the holy sacraments neglected. The people divided themselves into sects, and these breaches were like a rent in a garment, unrelentingly tearing wider apart. It seemed to me that the entire Jewish Theocracy was about to be blown away as a mere bubble on an ocean breaker!

Series to be Continued in Message 24 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Twenty- Two - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH]

Chapter Six:

Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

Now consider that the insinuating plan adopted by Jesus was well qualified to deceive the common people. It had already led many to forsake the temple, and hold other ordinances in derision, and not only that, but also to neglect the teachings of the priest and in some cases to refuse to pay tithes for their supplies. Jesus had already inculcated into the Jewish cause a losing attitude.

There are two reasons for this: First, the people to whom he preached were an ignorant set who knew very little about doctrine of any kind (cf. Mt. 11:25-26; Acts 4:13). They are a restless sort of men who are always finding fault with former things and wanting something new, never associating with the more enlightened part of the community, from whom they might learn. Another reason why he has so many followers is that his doctrines are congenial to unsanctified flesh. They are so suited to human nature that they do not require sacrifices on the part of the people (cf. 1 Pet. 2:5); who do not even need to go to the temple to worship GOD. [Ed Note: It is understood that the Spirit-Church is the Spirit-body of Christ, so for so long as they are "in Him" they are in Church!] They are not required to fast, but they can do so when and where they please; which is unheard-of! Even worse, they do not need to pay tithes to sustain the temple or priesthood. In fact, every man can serve as his own priest and worship GOD as he chooses, which we Jews consider ridiculous on the face of it!

But all this is so compatible with human nature that, although this Jesus has been preaching just over three years, he already has more followers today than Abraham. Worse than that, they have become perfectly hostile towards the Jews that are faithful to their GOD (cf. Jn. 8:41-47). If it had not been for the protection of the Roman soldiers on the day of Jesus’ execution, there would have been one of the bloodiest insurrections ever known to the Jewish Commonwealth.

I am told that there never was seen a concourse of people assembled at Jerusalem as at the cross. One of my guards informs me that there that there were several hundred thousand on hand, and that although two others were crucified at the same time, Jesus was the great center of attraction. They would call out, “Who is this Jesus of Nazareth and what is his crime?” Some of his followers would shout, “Nothing! He is being executed because he is a friend to the poor! Take him down, take him down!” The soldiers would then have to use their spears to prod them back. But when he yielded up the ghost, it became clear that he was hypostatical – a human body – that the iclandic covenant, and his “trinitatus unitas” was all a sham. I ask you: how could GOD’s un-pronounced name suffer to be captured by mere men? or, if by some chance it is the case that Jesus is the one foretold to die for many, it accomplishes GOD’s Holy Purpose, which, as I understand it, exonerates me from guilt in the matter of his death.

But I have to say that it seems to me necessary that Jesus was removed. In order that this may be evident to your minds, I ask you to contrast our present condition with that of the past. Keep in mind that Jesus of Nazareth spent two years in Egypt under the instruction of Rabbi Joshua, from whom he learned the art of thaumaturgy to perfection, such as has never been taught in any of the schools of necromancy among the heathen. If the healing miracles of Jesus are real – as they must be, for they are acknowledged by both his friends and foes – he must have learned it all from Horus and Serapis, as it was practiced by those heathen priests. He afterward returned to Palestine as a physician, and was by nature an enthusiast as well as a Hebrew patriarch.

Of course, we Jews understand that when John the Baptist’s preaching excited idealistic Jews, Jesus was attracted to go to him as a way to promulgate his own doctrines. Notwithstanding his youth and inexperience, Jesus started out as a public orator and teacher of the doctrines of the Baptist, and in that capacity he referred exclusively to his authority; just as every public teacher these days has to be ordained by some acknowledged authority.

For as long as John was at large, Jesus, in the capacity of an itinerant teacher and physician, roused the people of Galilee to “Metanoia” [repentance of sins] to bring about a restoration of heaven. Of course he met with the same opposition as had John, from those who would not admit that they were more sinful than their progenitors, or that asceticism was the proper means for the restoration of the kingdom of heaven. But he met with the same success among the lower classes, such as foreign harlots, Sodomites, publicans, and other Roman agents, whereas the intelligent portion remained cold and unmoved by his enthusiasm. The seemingly miraculous cures he performed impressed his followers, but they were most ridiculous to the intelligent Jews, men of sober and reflective minds.

Jesus embraced the humanitarian doctrine of the Hillelites, presenting conspicuously the cosmopolitan spirits of Judaism; and he did it almost in the very words of Hillel, who had taught it before. Their faith and doctrine being alike, it was not hard for him to create excitement and to find plenty of followers. In addition to all this, he taught a system of low morals that was so devoid of all ritualistic ideas that it was easy for him to attract any number of followers.

Jesus taught that there was but one living and true GOD, which is true; but he taught that he was that God, and that his Father had merged into Himself in a way that HE could not manifest Himself except through Him, HIS Son. This theory would confute itself if only people would stop to reflect on the matter: Jesus was hypostatical, or corporeal, so we Jews understand that his assistance was necessarily cut off from all that was not immediately in his presence: which is altogether incompatible with the faith of Jews. And then, right in the face of that doctrine, he would teach that there was a special providence, as well as a general providence: as if there could be a general providence without a GOD present in all places at all times, and totally omnipotent – as we learn in pronouncing HIS name.

Jesus taught [that which is known as the law of karma]: that the dead will rise and live again in a future state of happiness or misery, according as they have lived here on earth. (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 3:10-12, 19-21). Therefore he taught a system of future rewards and punishments; but I ask you: he being at that time present in the here-and-now, how did he expect to reward anyone in the future?

Series to be Continued

Message Twenty-One - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH]

Chapter Six:

Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrim

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sanhedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Discovered in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

Oh, ye Masters of Israel, think but once. Jesus calls himself the Son of GOD, claims to have been born “almah,” or virgin: that he and his Father in heaven are one! that they are equal! [But compare Jn. 14:28 and Jn. 17:20-26] in which Jesus declared that His Father was greater than He]

These things will establish the following conclusions, therefore: if Jesus is right, his Father is false, for if they are one then their teachings should be one and the same: or there are not those perfections in GOD that we learn in pronouncing HIS holy name. If we tolerate the teachings of Jesus, we are saying to the Romans, in effect, that all of our former teachings are false. This would insinuate that the Hebrews’ GOD is not to be trusted; that HE is weak and wanting in forethought, and therefore that HE vacillates so much HE cannot be trusted; much less to be honored and obeyed.

Thus the world will lose confidence in our GOD, and confidence in us as a religious people. This is impregnating the whole atmosphere with moral pollution. It does not only cut off, but blocks the way of Jews from heaven; and not only this, it excludes our hope in the salvation of our forefathers, who have obeyed GOD in HIS ordinances, believed in HIS promises, and shouted in the triumphs of the holy life for fourteen hundred years.

Jesus entirely ignores GOD’s holy temple – the house GOD had built by our forefathers under HIS own supervision, where HE promised to dwell with HIS children, to hear their prayers, and to be pleased with their sacrifices. This temple is the bond of the Jews. Here all men can come and be blessed. It is the eathly home of the souls of men – the place where men may hide from the storms of sin and persecution. This temple is where the foolish may learn wisdom; the place where the naked soul can be clothed and where the hungry may be fed. This is, indeed, the grandest gift of our heavenly Father.

But Jesus completely ignores this temple; declares that the priests have made it a den of thieves (cf. Ezek. chapter thirty-four, Mal. 2:1-9, and Heb. 7:27-28). He scoffs at its sacred ordinances, and with a sort of selfish air of triumph, says that it shall be destroyed, and from his manner of speaking, I have no doubt that he would be glad to see it quickly done and over with. But, I ask, what would be the condition of our people if this temple should be destroyed? Where would we find an answer to vexing problems by Urim and Thummim? How would the soul of man be purified if the holy “bathkole,” the “Euroch” of GOD, should depart? There in that sacred temple of GOD HE has been burning to the consuming of sin and the purifying of the heart since our return from bondage in Babylon. My argument is simply this: if this temples is destroyed, or even forsaken by the Jews, we as a nation will be utterly ruined. We might as well put our necks under the feet of idolatry and give up all hope.

One more subject I place before my Masters of Israel. Is it compatible with our religion, or is it consistent with philosophy – or admitted in HIS holy word – that there can be more gods than one? [Ref. Ps. 82:6-8; Jn. 10:34-35]. When we pronounce El Laah Shaddiai-Hhelyon Adonai – which is Jehovah – there can be but one living GOD. By reference to section 6, No. Four, HE says that by the mouth of Moses, when he was all aglow with the glory of GOD – and keep in mind that HE speaks either by mouth or by quill – it is HE that speaks, and not man – He says, “The Lord your GOD is one GOD; there can be but one. I Am and have been with you; I brought you up; I delivered you out of their hand and kept you dry, while your enemies were drowned in the sea. I will not forsake you. I promised your father I would not. But if you forsake ME, then desolation will come upon you, and have you in swift destruction.

Then in section 5, three and four of David’s song of Joy, HE declares: “I am GOD alone. If I turn to the right or to the left – if I go down into the depths of the sea, or into the center of the earth, or over the heavens, I should find no companion.” In section 3 HE says: “I am GOD alone, and alone I Am GOD; beside ME there is no help for man nor angels.” Then in section 13, this command has been given: “Thou shalt pay to the Lord thy GOD once a year a half-shekel of silver, that thou and thy children, and all the strangers that are within thy gate, may know that there is no GOD beside ME, on whom they may call in time of danger.”

Now, having all these commands and teachings from the very lips of GOD Himself before my eyes, and being responsible for the soundness of our doctrine and the proper inculcation of the same among the people of the Jews, what was I to do? Could I stand as the priest of the Most High GOD, and see your blessed religion perverted by an imposter? Could I stand by and see the holy temple of our GOD deserted and forsaken? Could I stand and see all the holy ordinances, which had been appointed by our GOD for securing salvation to Israel, perverted by an imposter? All the blessed doctrines that were appointed for the government and instruction of the priesthood, thence to be imparted to the youth of our land, set asunder; and that by one who could show no authority; only the authority of John the Baptist, who himself could give no authority – being only the one who sent Jesus to baptize, who could not even tell who he was, nor from whence he had come!?

Hence you see the responsible position that I, as the high priest of GOD and of the Jewish Church, occupied. According to our laws, I was made responsible, and stood between GOD and the people, to protect them in doctrine and government.

I refer you to the capitulation made by the Sanhedrim and Augustus Caesar, in the holy Tosephta of the Talmuds. We submitted to taxation by the Romans, and they are to protect our holy religion from foreign foes, in order that the holy temple nor any of its sacred ordinances should ever be molested; nor the holy city, Jerusalem, be polluted by Roman idolatry.

Series to be Continued in Message Twenty-Two of Rev. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Twenty - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Six:

Report of Caiphas To The Sanhedrem

Concerning the Execution of Jesus

Records of the Jerusalem Sahedrim, By Elierzer Miran

Taken in Constantinople, By W. D. Mahan, October 16, 1883

Caiaphas, Priest of the Most High God, to the Masters of Israel: Greeting:

In obedience to your demands for a reason for my action in the case of Jesus of Nazareth, and in defense of my conduct, I beg leave to submit the following for your consideration: I would assure you that it was not on account of personal malice, envy, or hate that existed in my own nature, nor for the want of a willingness on my part to conform to the Jewish law in it strictest sense. I had but very little personal knowledge of the Nazarene. The most I knew of this man was from outside sources. Nor was it because he claimed to be the King of the Jews, nor because he said he was the son of GOD – I would that he were – nor because he he prophesied or ignored the holy temple. No, nor all of these combined.

There is a cause, and a more weighty matter, back of all these things that controlled my action in the matter. Therefore I hope you will investigate strictly on legal principles the reasons that I offer.

In order that you may see and weigh the question fully, and remember the responsibility that rests upon me according to the laws of our nation, I will ask you to go back with me to the chronicles of our history as a commonwealth.

First, our faith is pledged to one living and true GOD, this GOD being indescribable, unchangeable, incomprehensible, and, of course, unnameable. But yet in our daily communions with, and our applications to HIM, HE has been pleased to give us HIS name, or HIS several names, according to HIS relations to us; and they are found nowhere but in the ark of Holy Temple – there where HE presents to us HIS strength and power.

HE calls Himself Eloi (Cf. Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34), which means “Almighty in strength: that HE can do what HE will without effort; that He does the greatest things as easily as HE does the least. This elevates HIM above all other beings. In HIS holy ark, HE records HIMSELF Elaah – existence without beginning, and no contingency as to HIS end. Again, HE writes Himself “Hhelejon” – unchageable; that is, nothing but HIS own Will can change HIM. Still again, HE records HIS name as Jah, or “knowledge hat comprehends without being comprehended. And still again, HE is written Adonai – full and free, and freely full.

Combining these several names, we have JEHOVAH, the Hebrew GOD. A man never can go wrong while he can pronounce this name in its comprehensive sense. This is where the Zealots, the Sadducees, and the Essenes had their origin, and it is the want of being able to pronounce this name in its comprehensive sense that causes so much dissension among us Jews. Jesus could pronounce this name, but I am credibly informed that he stole it out of the temple.

But, the object in calling your attention to pronouncing HIS name, with all its bearings, may be seen even if we turn to the third book of Leviticus, section 10, wherein is the special offer made by our GOD to Moses: that we should offer the bullock, the ram, the flour, and the oil; and the people should fast seven days, and this should be “kaphar,” or atonement for the sins of all people. Now, unless Moses was deceived, or he has deceived us; as we see it, Jesus of Nazareth is a false teacher, for all he teaches is “matanoeite,” as though a man’s being sorry for a crime would make restitution to the offended party.

A man might repent ever so much, but what good would that do toward healing the man he had injured? None in the least. This mode of making atonement was ordained of GOD and revealed to Moses; but if man has nothing to do but repent, the disease carries its own remedy with it. So a man can sin as often as he wishes to [But cf. Rev. 2:25-26; 3:5,10-12,19-21, the thrust of which is that once a man knows the truth he must cease intentionally and knowingly breaking spiritual laws. The Christ Spirit cleanses a man once, and after the it is up to him to refrain from further transgressions (Lk. 9:62; Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:22-23). When that is accomplished, a man’s soul "need not go out again from heavenly dimensions" – need not reincarnate any more.]

Now, consider the first book, section 3 [Gen. 17; 10-14]: “And GOD said to Abraham, by HIS own mouth, that each and all that were circumcised by the cutting of the prepuce, should be saved” THAT should be the seal of the Covenant. Now, if this is not true, GOD must go against HIS own contract, violate HIS own promises, as well as deceive the faith and cheat HIS own children, if Jesus’ teaching be true, for he set up the “table,” or baptism, as the seal of GOD. [This of course disregards the New Covenant Jesus brought in, which fulfilled GOD’s promise of a New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34), to supercede the former Covenant]

I refer you to section 10, division first [Num. 33:4] where GOD said to Moses that HE had changed the laws, converted the elements for the protection of HIS people, and with HIS own arm had delivered them out of a strong compact! that they might remember – and that the generation to be born might remember – and never forget to trust in HIM when in danger. He said that once every year we should roast a kid goat or lamb and eat it with unleavened bread, and this should be the sign that we would trust in HIM in all times of danger.

Now please take note that Jesus teaches that common bread and wine are to be used [as in the Eucharist] instead – a thing unheard of! And not only so, the practice is something altogether repugnant to GOD, and is well qualified to excite men’s passions.

Series to be Continued in Message 21

Message Nineteen - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH]

Chapter Six:

Continuing Gamaliel’s Interview With Joseph and Mary and Others, Concerning Jesus

When I asked Mammalian to describe the person of Jesus should I meet Him, he advised me that if I met Him, I would know Him immediately. He said that while He is not more than a man, there is something about Him that distinguishes Him from every other man. That though He is the picture of His mother, He has not her smooth round face. His hair is a little more golden than hers, though it is as much from sunburn as anything else. He is tall, and his shoulders are a little drooped; his visage is thin and of a somewhat swarthy complexion, though this is from exposure to the weather. His eyes are large and soft blue. The lashes are long, and his eyebrows very large. His nose is that of a Jew. In fact, he puts me in mind of an old-fashioned Jew in every sense of the word.

Jesus is not a great talker, unless something is brought up about heaven and divine matters, at which His tongue moves glibly and His eyes light up with a peculiar brilliancy. But He never argues a question; He never disputes. He will state facts, and they are on such a solid basis that nobody will have the boldness to dispute Him. I have seen Him attacked by the scribes and doctors of the law, and they seemed like little children learning their lessons under a master. His strongest points are in the spiritual power of the law and the intentions of the prophets. The young people tried to get him to select a class of them, but He turned down the suggestion. He is convinced that He is the Messiah of the world.

I went from there to Bethany, but Jesus was not there. They said that Jesus and Lazarus were away, but they could not tell where. I went and saw Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus, and had a long talk with them. They are very pleasant and nice young girls, and Mary is quite handsome. I teased her about Jesus, but they both denied that Jesus was anything like a lover; that He was only a friend. Of course this is common for young maids so I didn’t know whether to believe them or not; until I told them the real reason I had come to visit them. When I told them that this Jesus was the same person that was born of the virgin in Bethlehem some twenty-six years before, and that his mother had told me all the facts in the case, they became deeply interested.

They then told me on their honor, that Jesus never talked or even hinted to either one of them on the subject of marriage. Martha blushed, and said she wished He had, that if He was to be a king, she would like to be queen! I asked them if they had ever seen Him in the company of young virgins, and whether He kept their company. They both declared that they had not, and that He did not remain in their company very long. I asked them what He spoke about when He was with them, and they replied that He was not very much in their company; that He and their brother Lazarus would often go up on the house-top and remain their half the night, sometimes all night, talking about points of interest to them both.

Mary said she had often gone near so she could hear them talk because Jesus was so mild and unpretending, and yet so intelligent that He was different from the other young men. I asked them what was their brother Lazarus’ opinion of Jesus, and they agreed that he thought that there never had been another man on earth like Him – that Lazarus thought Jesus to be one of GOD’s Prophets. They disclosed that Lazarus had told them that when he and Jesus had gone out in the mountains – which they were much of the time – that Jesus tells him many things about the world that are almost unknown. For instance, He had revealed to Lazarus that the wild animals are not afraid of Him, for some reason: that sometimes a stag or even a lion, will let him stroke their mane. They seem almost loath to go away from Him. He says that no poisonous serpent will threaten Him, Lazarus says he always feels perfectly safe when Jesus is with him.

And now, masters of Israel, after having investigated this matter; after tracing Jesus from the time of His conception to the present; after having obtained all the information I could find on this important subject from those who know the truth, I have arrived at the conclusion that this Jesus is indeed the Christ we have been looking-for.

As to the reason for my conclusion, I call attention to the following: first, to the prophecy of Isaiah in section 7 (Isa. 7:13-16), in which it is written, “Hear now, saith the Lord. Oh house of David, it it a small thing for you? Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name GOD with man. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good; for before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good. the land that thou abhor shall be forsaken of both her kings.”

Then, in Section 8 (Isa. 8:16-17): “Bind the testimony; seal the law among [his] disciples; the Lord will hid HIS face from the house of Jacob, and [He] will look for HIM.” This is a literal fulfillment of the Word of the Most High GOD, clear and unmistakable. Then add to these, Jeremiah, 31^st section (Jer. 21:22-23): “Turn, oh virgin, to thy people, for the hand of the Lord is upon thee: for the Lord shall create a new thing in the earth; a woman shall compass a man.”

Here again we set forth the very thing Isaiah speaks of, and the same things that I have learned from Mary. Then, too, consider Micah, section 5 (Micah 5:2-3): “Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, thou are little among the thousands of Judah; out of thee shall come forth unto me him that shall rule my people, He is from everlasting; and I will give them up until the time she travails to bring forth MY firstborn, that He may rule all the people.Here we have the city, the virgin, the office, His manner of life, and the seeking of Him by the Sanhedrim. All these things are under our eyes as full and complete as I now write them, who have all the testimony set forth in this letter. How can we as a people dispute these things?! Add to this the prophecy in the 49^th section of Genesis (Gen. 49:10), making reference to the history that is now upon us. The writer states: “A captive shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawmaker from him, until Shiloh come and gather the people between His feet, and keep them forever.

Under the New Covenant that GOD promised through HIS Prophet Jeremiah (Jer.31:31-36) each soul [incarnated on earth became a spiritualized individual – no longer the “natural carnal man” of whom Apostle Paul wrote at 1 Cor.2:9-14), who could not receive or know the spiritual things of GOD because they are spiritually discerned. Each soul quickened by the Christ Spirit Energy of GOD is “built up a royal priesthood” within itself (1 Peter 2:5,9). Jesus did not eliminate GOD’s Commandments, but codified them (Mt. 22:36-40) for His followers, placing upon each the mantle of responsibility of Children of GOD, responsible for maintaining their flesh temples undefiled, that He may meet them there.

Series to be Continued in Message 20, of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Five:

 

Continuing Gamaliel’s interview with Joseph and Mary and others, Concerning Jesus

Massalian says that Jesus uses the law of nature as a great law book of illustrations showing that every bush is a flame of sorts, every rock a fountain of water, every star a pillar of fire, and among the clouds there is one that leads to GOD. * He envisions all nature as preaching the doctrine of trust in the Divine Fatherhood. He speaks of the lilies as pledges of GOD’s care, and points to the fowls as evidence of HIS watchfulness over human affairs. Who can measure the distance between GOD and the the flowers of the field? He would ask. What connection is there between man and the lily? (Cf. Mt. 6:28-34)

By such illustrations He creates a solicitude in man that seems to awe him into reverence, and he becomes attracted toward heavenly thought, and feels that he is in the presence of one that is infinitely superior. In His talk He brings one to feel he is very near to the Presence of GOD. He says, ‘How much more your Father!’ The plane is one, though the intermediate points are immeasurably distant. Thus by beginning with a flower, He reasons upward to the Absolute, and then descends and teaches lessons about a loving Father.

The lessons of trust in GOD reassure the anxious listener and create an appetite that makes him long for more; and it often seems that when He has brought His hearers to the highest point of anxiety, He suddenly breaks off and leaves His company as if He cared nothing for them. Jesus in His talk brings out illustrations that make a man feel His nearness to his kindred, man, teaching also their relation to, and dependence upon, GOD. Although His method is pleasant – even happy – it does not seem to me that it is the most successful.

He teaches that man and the flowers and birds drink from the same fountain and are fed from the same table; yet at the same time He seems to do things that excite suspicion and prejudice. To those of us who are watching to see His Divine Mission commence He is continually tantalizing our expectations, as well as mocking our natural reasons and desires.

When a man separates from all other men, both in point of doctrine as well as discipline, he takes a great deal of risk on his part – especially when he confines GOD to one channel – and that one of his own dictation. A man who assumes these responsible positions must have vast resources from which to draw, or he will sink in the whirlpool which his own impertinence has created. Through Jesus – in His teachings and talks [his words sound so much like those of Hillel or Shammai that I feel disposed to call it “teaching,” though he has no special scholars – we learn that GOD is a Spirit (Cf. Jn. 4:24), and that GOD the Father and He are the only two things that are essential for man to know! Then He illustrates this to parents, and asks them what they would do for their children. One day He was telling some mothers a circumstance in which a mother was starving herself to feed her child, and then He applied it to GOD as our Father; and they commenced shouting from being so happy. Jesus arose and left the house in seeming disgust.

Mammalian says that he is tempted at times to be impatient with Jesus because He devotes too much time to details. It seems almost a waste of time for a man who came to save the world to be lingering over a special case of disease. Mammalian thinks he could hasten Jesus’ physical deportment. For example, why not speak one word and remove every sick patient from his sick-bed at the same hour? What a triumph THAT would be.

I asked him if Jesus had healed anyone to his knowledge? and He said not that he knew of as yet, but that if He is to be King of the Jews, whose Divine Mission is to heal all nations, Why not do it all at once? If he would do that, there would be nothing more required to establish His kingship. I said to him, “Is it not equally so with GOD’s creative power? Consider the time and labor takes to bring forth a single grain of corn. Why, then, had not GOD caused the earth to “bring forth” every month, instead of every year? Christ was one day talking in defense of GOD the Father, saying that people must learn to love and obey their heavenly Father before they would reverence the Son. “Yes,” He said, “The GOD that Jesus represented was one that the people might love and venerate! That HE was a GOD of love, and had no bloody designs to execute on even a bad man, provided that man ceased his evil ways” (Cf. Ezek. 18:21-24).

Mammmalian says that it is noteworthy that in Jesus’ talks there are manifest references to the future. Many of His statements were like a sealed letter, not to be opened but by time. A grain of mustard seed was to result in a large tree. All of His ideas refer to the future; like the parent helping the child with his burden of today, by telling him of the blessings to come tomorrow; and by making the morrow the day of judgment. (Cf. Mal. 4:5-6). He further states that Jesus was a young man who was the best judge of human character he had ever seen; that he thought that at times Jesus could tell men their thoughts, and even expose their bad principles; yet though he had remarkable spiritual advantages he did not abuse them at all. That rather, he seemed to like all men alike, and has a peculiar temperament, not seeming to care for one any more than for another.

He says that Jesus seemed fond of Mary and Martha, two girls who lived in Bethany, and told me I might find Him there. This Mammalian is a man of very deep thought and most profound judgment. All of his life he has studied the Scriptures. He is an excellent judge of human nature, and he is satisfied that Jesus is the Christ. He says that Jesus seemed to understand the prophecy by intuition. I asked him where Jesus had been taught to read the prophecy, and he told me that Jesus’ mother had told him that Jesus could read it from the beginning; that nobody had ever taught it to Him. He said that sometimes his own memory would fail him about a particular part, and he would think that Jesus was mistaken, but he never in a single instance knew Him to be wrong.

* Cf. Mt. 24:39; Mk. 13:26; Rev. 14:14.

Series to be Continued in Message 19 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

To Be Continued….

 

Message Seventeen - Book Four SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book, drawn from ancient records, entitled [HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH] Chapter Five:

[As previously noted, the main spiritual thrust of our Holy Bible is to regulate man’s human experiences during his testing flesh incarnations on the earth. It serves as a reliable guide-post to show us The Way to heaven made passable by Jesus Christ’s Saving Sacrifice on the Cross. A previous message set forth the important principle discovered in ancient records by Rev. Mahan: that GOD’s regulation of human life commences in the inner life, and then works outward until the outward is like the inward; and this process continues from individuals until entire nations are changed from being "natural men" as described by Apostle Paul at 1 Cor. 2:9-14. This continues until they are "spiritualized," or "quickened" by GOD’s Holy Spirit Energy flowing from HIS Son Jesus Christ’s Holy Spirit into those who believe in Him and follow Him. An example is seen in the benefits of keeping the Sabbath as a Holy Day, during which a faithful believer’s activities are spiritual – different from the average day, which is devoted to carnal activities. In time, the activities and attitudes of the Sabbath tend to infuse themselves into the practicing Christian’s daily life. Step by step, the change from carnal to spiritual takes place in individuals and eventually in nations.]

At this point, we pick up with Gamaliel’s interview with Joseph and Mary and others, as ostensibly discovered by Rev. W. D. Mahan in ancient records:

I asked Mary if she knew anything about John the Baptist. She said that he lived in the mountains of Judea the last she knew of him. When I asked her if he and Jesus were acquainted, or visited one another, she relied that she did not think they knew about each other. I asked her if at the time the Angel visited her,she was “almah” that is, virgin. She did not seem shocked, and replied that she had never showed to any man, nor was known by any man. I asked if her pain was great when she bore Jesus, and she replied that it was what she had expected. She added that Jesus was perfectly healthy, and did not complain of pain or dissatisfaction; that his food always agreed with him, and that he would eat anything set before him.

She said that Joseph was a little hard to please, but that as Jesus had grown more into maturity he had been able to answer him with mild and suitable responses, and in fact, had a knack of resolving questions so easily that nobody often contended against him. She said that his words were always unpretending and spoken as though they were not intended as a rebuke but merely as a decision. I asked if she had often seen him angry or out of humor, to which she replied that he was sometimes vexed and grieved at the disputes and follies of others, but that she had never seen him really angry. I asked if he had shown any worldly aspirations after money, wealth or a great name, but she said that it sometimes tried her patience that he did not take better care of his person; it did not seem to disturb him if he was not properly dressed; any more than he was upset if the family had disagreements, it was all the same to him.

I reminded Mary that the Jewish doctors contended that an amorous disposition is especially peculiar to the male, and she replied that she had never seen anything at all like that in him; that he had no particular fondness for female company; that to the contrary the young “bethau,” (Hebrew for a young woman] showed a fondness for him and sought his company, but he was not impressed by it. That, if anything, he treated them with an abruptness almost suggesting scorn. That sometimes he will simply get up and leave them and wander away somewhere to spend his time in meditation and prayer. His is a perfect ascetic in his life.

Mary ventured: ‘They say that there is a young woman in Bethany whom he intends to marry, but unless he changes his present course it is hard to see how he will ever be qualified to raise a family. He never seems to care anything about girls when he is with me.’

Thus it seems that Joseph and Mary have both lost confidence in Jesus’ becoming of any estate. It appears that they think the Sanhedrin should do something for him, to get him out where the people can see him. I tried to console them by advising them that it is my understanding of prophesy that their son had to first come to the high priesthood, and there work in the spiritual dominion of the heart until he had managed to bring about a unity of heart and a one-ness of aim. That then it would be easier to establish himself with the sword of Joshua or Gideon, to bring the people under his control. But he sees these things in a different way.

As I see it, his parents care nothing about the Jewish government, nor the Roman oppression, but more about their own future estates. I told them that this was a mistaken view; that the building-up of the kingdom of heaven was not to be done by might nor by power, but by the spirit of the Lord; [reflecting a biblical comment found in Zech. 4:6, directed toward Zaubbabel (cf. Haggai 2:22-23). I advised Joseph and Mary that it would not do for us to use carnal weapons, nor to expect carnal pleasures to be derived therefrom; that it was not my understanding of the prophecy that this king predestined to appear was to use such weapons, either for himself or for the benefit of any particular party, but power of the Spirit for the good of all mankind. His universal Law is not to be of a carnal character; that he was being sent to those who were spiritually lost, not the found (Mt. 10:6, but cf. Jn. 10:16).

Jesus and Mary spoke of an old man who lived on the road to Bethany who had once been a priest; a man of great learning and well skilled in the laws and prophets. They said that Jesus was often there with this man, reading the law and the works of the prophets. This man’s name was Massalian, and they told me I might find Jesus there. It turned out that he was not there, but Massalian told said that he was often at Bethany with a young family, and that he thought there might be an attachment of some kind to one of the girls, though he had not seen anything like a courtship deverloping.

I did ask about the character of Jesus,and he advised me that Jesus was the most concise and apt in his answers and solutions of any man nearly his age he had ever known or met: that even the oldest of the philophers would not dispute with him, or join issue with him, or ask a second time.

Baffled, I asked Massalian who had taught Jesus to read and to interpret the law and the prophets. He said that his mother said that he had always known how to read the law; that his mind seemed to have in some way mastered it from the beginning – that it appeared to be in some mysterious way inborn. He understood the laws of nature and the relations of man to his fellows, and that in his talks he gave deeper insights that inspired mutual love and a strengthening of the common trust of society.

Series to be Continued in Message 18, Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS

Message Sixteen - Book Four - SOMEWHERE BEYOND BELIEF[Continuing Rev. W. D. Mahan’s enlightening book written in the 1800's from ancient records, entitled: HISTORICAL RECORDS CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST MESSIAH]:

 [READERS PLEASE NOTE: TO SOME THIS MAY BE A REPEAT OF mESSAGE 15; PLEASE IGNORE IF SO]

CHAPTER FOUR

 

Jonathan’s Interview With The Bethlehem

Shepherds – Letters of Melker, Priest Of The

Synagogue At Bethlehem

 

Sanhedrin, 88 B By R. Jose Order No. 2

 

[Continuing from Message 15: a letter from Jewish High Priest Melker, in Jesus’ time, that he submitted to the Jewish Higher Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. This is taken from Rev. Mahan’s book, HISTORICAL RECORDS, in which it is noted that the Messianic prophecy has no other justification than the idea that GOD regulates human life by HIS commands: that HE works by commencing in the inner life of humans and working outward until the outward is like the inward, in that way advancing human spirituality from individuals to nations.]

The principle purpose of Jesus Christ’s New Covenant was to ESTABLISH LOVE IN PLACE OF THE LAW OF MOSES, because it was time for that fundamental change to take place. Under His New Covenant, fundamental principles that had sustained Moses’ Law were to be retained: Jesus declared that He did not come to abolish the Law, but to preserve it: that hearts should throb high with love to heart under His New Law, which was intended to bring about universal peace. As he taught, a man cannot hate another for long if a universal love exists between them of a kind that engenders propitious good feelings. Wherever a man should meet another they should automatically be friends, for how can peace be gained if there is hatred between men holding different views?

What else can the prophet mean? where, in section nine, he shows that this coming King of the world is to eventually destroy all carnal weapons and convert them to a helpful purpose – “to turn swords into plowshares” – in that way becoming the active facilitator for doing good to all men, universally teaching them to do good to one another.

By reading the scrolls of GOD we find that the unity and totality of all the prophet go to bear out this idea, and, as well, refer to this newborn babe of Bethlehem. If we consult them as to the time, taking into consideration the revolutions of the wheels of Ezekiel’s prophecy, they show clearly that the revolutions of the different governments of the world fix this as the time. Next, consult them in regard to the individuals connected with this great event. These are pointed-to by Zacharias as the virgin wife; next, the place has been pointed out and named by Micah at 5:1-3; then the heavenly Light and the appearance of angels have all been set forth, and also the opposition of the Romans has been declared.

Now, I ask the High Court of the living GOD to look well upon these matters, and reveal to us how men who lived during different parts of the country and in different ages of the world – men who never knew one another, and who were not prophesying for some particular party, cause, or individual, and who had no personal interest in the subject, but who placed themselves in personal jeopardy and in some cases lost their lives because of having uttered these prophecies – HOW COULD THEY ALL HAVE POINTED OUT THE EVENT, TIME AND NAMES OF THE PARTIES SO CLEARLY, HAD IT NOT BEEN REVEALED TO THEM, AND ORDAINED BY GOD HIMSELF?!

I understand that the Romans and some of the priests have been saying that Zacharias was a hypocrite, and that Mary was not a good woman. I suppose that such might be the case, as far as man is able to judge. But, who I ask, can conjure up such accurate prophecies as these written by the prophets long before they took place, and make them come to pass? Or, who can use GOD’s Light to descend from the heavens, and the angels descend and make the profound declaration that this was the Son of GOD, born on earth in a flesh body as King of the Jews?!

Noble Master of the Sanhedrim, I was not alone. I am not the only witness of these things. The principle people of Bethlehem saw and heard what I did. I say to you: if this is not the Jews’ King, then we need to look no further; for every line of prophecy has been completely fulfilled in him. If there is another and he does not manifest on earth to save his own people I shall despair of ever being released from this earth, and I shall have to believe that we have, in some way, for some unknown reason, misinterpreted all the meaning of what the prophets have so sincerely foretold. I feel so certain that this is the one referred-to by the prophets that I shall from this time on wait in expectation with great anxiety, not knowing what to expect. I frankly have no fears of any harm befalling this newborn babe; and although Herod may rage, and may destroy all the infants in the world, I am convinced that the same angels that attended this child’s birth will watch over him throughout his life, and that the Romans will have to contend with the same god that Pharaoh did in the Red Sea during the Great Exodus, and will meet with similar defeat.

Series to be Continued in Message 17 of Rev. W. D. Mahan’s HISTORICAL RECORDS.