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HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS
#30
New Testament Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS >>
Acts 10–14; 15:1-35
Look, Listen and Feel the
Message
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(1.) THE IMAGERY OF SIGHT,
SOUND, AND MOTION:
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This lesson includes "sight" – something we should be able to see;
"sound" that carries the doctrinal message and "motion" that
gives us a time frame of hours of the day and travel time. Unfortunately,
mankind’s sense of earthly time or timing may obscure the heavenly meanings of
God’s timing. " . . . God's time, angel's time,
prophet's time, and man's time . . ." (Doctrine & Covenants 130:4-5)
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(2.) PETER RECEIVES
REVELATION TO MAKE A CHANGE:
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When the time finally came for all worthy people to receive the covenants of the
Gospel, the time frame enveloped Cornelius’ "ninth hour of the day"
vision to send for Peter from Jaffa, Peter’s vision in Jaffa with instructions
for him to go to Caesarea, and then Cornelius recounting his vision to Peter as
he arrived at Caesarea – a three nights and three days chiasmus. The center
point is Peter’s vision of salvation for all. Note that Cornelius’
"ninth hour of the day" vision corresponds to the time when Jesus
"gave up the ghost" at the ninth hour of the day. Three nights and
three days later He completed the atonement, providing salvation for all.
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(3.) TRANSITIONING
"THE TIMES OF THE JEWS" TO INCLUDE "THE TIMES OF THE
GENTILES" – SOCIALLY DIFFICULT:
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When Jesus chose His disciples, He sent them to teach first the Jews and then
the Gentiles. Yet, to this day, Jews feel that the Torah (law) was for them only
and that Gentiles had a different standard (the Noahcide laws). ". . . It
was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but
seeing ye put it from you . . . lo, we turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 13:46) ". . . Christ should . . . show light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles." (Acts 26:23)
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(4.) ANOTHER TRANSITION IS
COMING – A CHIASMUS:
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. . . he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also
unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also
unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also
unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."
(1 Nephi 13:42)
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(5.) PETER’S VISION OF
THE SHEET (A TALITH):
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At the sixth hour of the day (noon), Simon Peter was apparently praying
(religious Jews pray three times a day, covering their heads using a special
cloth, a talith, over their heads and shoulders). During his prayer, Peter saw a
—maybe like the typical Jewish prayer shawl, a with its knotted corners –
filled with all sorts of common or unclean foods. Today, this is called unkosher.
An angel commanded Peter to eat of those . The vision was a contrast in
symbolism: the talith, a holy temple garment, its 613 knots and strings
symbolizing the laws given by Moses, was now filled with foods forbidden by the
Law of Moses.
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(6.) VISION OF CORNELIUS:
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On the previous day some thirty-five miles to the north at Caesarea, a Roman
centurion named at the "ninth hour" of the day (about 3:00 P.M.) to
send for Peter in Jaffa to teach him the truth. Incidentally, the time to travel
the distance of thirty-five miles would take the better part of two days, or at
least an overnight journey.
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(7.) UNKOSHER BECOMES
KOSHER:
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Cornelius’s invitation to Peter arrived just as Peter was contemplating the
meaning of the vision of "unkosher" foods he had just been commanded
to eat. He lodged his Roman guests overnight, then departed with them to
Caesarea—which required another overnight stay. When Peter arrived at the
house of the Roman Cornelius, contrary to Jewish law and custom, he related that
God had now included the Gentiles as well as changed the food laws of Israel.
Not just Israelites, but all people were able to become children of the
covenant. The time frame of three nights and three days is a reminder of Jehovah
saving Jonah at Jaffa, who was saved from a watery grave after three days –
and sent to Gentile Ninevah. Now, Peter came from Jaffa came to Gentile Caesarea
after three days to teach Cornelius that the Jesus rose from his grave after
three nights and on the third day His atonement saved all – Jews and Gentiles!
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(8.) REVELATION TO PETER
– A CHIASMUS – PARALLELED BY REVELATION TO
PRESIDENT SPENCER W.
KIMBALL:
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First is Cornelius’s vision; next we learn of Peter’s vision, when Peter
arrives in Caesarea, the vision of Cornelius is repeated. The center point is
the revelation to Peter: "Salvation is for all people." Gentiles being
able to become full covenant members at the time of the Apostle and Prophet
Peter was similar to "all worthy people" receiving priesthood
blessings at the time of President and Prophet Spencer W. Kimball. ". . .
extend to every worthy member of the Church all of the privileges and blessings
which the gospel affords." (Doctrine & Covenants -- Official
Declaration 2) ". . . Finally . . . from the Lord, who made it very clear
to us . . . make the gospel universal to all worthy people." (Teachings of
Spencer W. Kimball, Page 448-449)
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