E34 TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS: "YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE."

E37 NAMES OF THE BIBLE PART 7: JOSEPH & JUDAH, A RIVALRY UNMATCHED

There is a prophetic nature to this study of these two characters, and the reasons will unfold as we delve into it. The narrative of Joseph and his brothers is long, and so I will not cover every aspect, but certainly zoom in on significant key moments, and unpack the many theological layers that are woven into this historical event. I always like to say, “Every detail in the Scripture matters, for they are prophetic in nature. Most often they point us back to what has already taken place, while addressing the immediate context, yet at the same time pointing us forward to something far greater yet to come.” The way narrative is often written in the Scripture is from a past, present, and future perspective. And so in this study I will focus on Genesis chapters 37-45. https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/ [https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/]

E36 "TEACHER, WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?"

Shalom, Shalom, and welcome dear reader/listener. Today we will examine a parable and a story that should be very familiar to most of you. This one parable and short narrative are juxtaposed to one another (meaning, in close proximity to one another), and are done so with profound theological intent by the author. They answer the question asked by a lawyer to Yeshua: "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"   https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/ [https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/]

E35 "I AM THE DOOR FOR THE SHEEP."

Shalom, shalom, and welcome to this article/episode. I examine a particular statement Yeshua made to His original audience in the Gospel of John, "I AM the Door." A statement rich in theological significance, that really unites two biblical narratives, that is, the first פֶּסַח peh'-sakh Pesach, in English we call it, Passover found in Exodus 12 (a tradition still practiced today by Jewish and Gentile believers in Yahweh all around the world), and the Passion narrative (The sacrificial death and resurrection of our LORD and Savior, Yeshua HaMashiach, recorded in the four Gospels). The two narratives (the first Passover, and the sacrificial death of Yeshua on the cross), unite the whole biblical narrative into one unfolding story and reach their climax when He rose from the dead on the third day. But between the first Passover and Yeshua's death, a lot was going on, and John 10 is no exception. https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/ [https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/]

E34 TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS: "YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE."

One of the most sobering rebukes from Yeshua comes from Revelation 2:4-5, addressed to the church in Ephesus, "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." I want to center this article/episode around this phrase and provide more insights into what Yeshua could have really meant by this statement. This study goes well with the article/episode I recently published: TESTED BY FIRE: DESTROYED OR PURIFIED [https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/2026/03/03/tested-by-fire-destroyed-or-purified/]; on the podcast, it is Episode #33 [https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/2026/03/04/e33-tested-by-fire-destroyed-or-purified/]. But before we can focus on what Yeshua might have meant with this statement, I want to examine closely what He spoke to them leading up to it. He had a lot to say about what they did right. However, this is often overlooked, and the rebuke is focused on, which can lead to a misrepresentation of the proper understanding of the rebuke.

E33 TESTED BY FIRE: DESTROYED OR PURIFIED

TESTED BY FIRE: DESTROYED OR PURIFIED. These are words that are certainly not very comforting. Coming in contact with fire results in immediate pain, suffering, and the burning away of something, especially if it is something that opposes its nature. The Bible calls the LORD God “a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29). TESTED BY FIRE can express “trials and tribulations,” or “Judgement Day.” DESTROYED or PURIFIED expresses that there are things fire utterly destroys (like a dry leaf) or purifies (like silver and gold); therefore the implication of the biblical text, that God is “a consuming fire” is that His nature (like fire) consumes everything that is opposing to it.