The Sanctuary Summit

09/22/2025

🕎 Shalom and Salam, Peace be with you all dear friends! You're Invited! Join me on September 22nd at 10 AM (Chicago Time) (Just under an hour from now) for a radiant teaching: “The Jewish Festivals & The Menorah: Reflections of Jesus’ First and Second Comings!”

🌿 As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets, we’ll journey through the seven biblical festivals—from Passover to Tabernacles—and discover how each one prophetically reflects Jesus: His first coming as the Servant, and His second coming as the King.

🕯️ These festivals align with the seven branches of the Menorah, the lampstand of the Temple, and the Emblem of the Modern State of Israel. Each branch glows with divine meaning:

Spring Festivals (fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming):
Passover – Jesus, and the Permanent ending of the sacrificial system.
Unleavened Bread – How Jesus' life symbolized this festival with righteous living.
First Fruits – His resurrection, the first of many.
Shavuot – The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, reviving the Judeo-Christian faith.
Fall Festivals (awaiting fulfillment in His second coming):
Rosh Hashanah – The trumpet blast of His return.
Yom Kippur – The day of judgment and atonement.
Sukkot – His glorious reign during the millennial kingdom.
🔥 At the heart of the menorah stands the central branch—the hinge of divine light. It represents the Spirit of God, the wisdom that guides, and the feminine attribute of God. From this center flows illumination to all other branches, just as the Spirit empowers and connects.

🌍 All are welcome—this is a space of unity, learning, and joy. The class will be in English, with Arabic translation provided. Whether you come from a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or interfaith background, you are warmly invited to explore the beauty of God's festivals illustrated through the Jewish Menorah and fulfilled in Jesus!!

📌 Zoom link below!

🕊️ Let’s gather in celebration. Let’s keep our spiritual garments clean and our lamps burning. Let’s pray to God the Creator for Jesus’ swift return and the strength to be found worthy of His kingdom.

Shalom, Salam, Peace be with you all!! This is going to be good!!

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10/20/2024

Peace be with you all.

With the recent failed assassination attempts on both former President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I felt compelled to explore the wisdom behind Jesus' teaching: "Do not resist evil!"

One reason Jesus imparts this counsel is that if we are harmed or wronged and respond in violence, we risk interfering with God's will in the situation. God may have a specific purpose for why He is allowing a person to continue to live, and our attempts to end it prematurely could thwart His will. Moreover, our violent actions could ultimately backfire, leading to unforeseen consequences.

Let's examine the recent assassination attempts for illustration. In the case of Donald Trump, the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, not only failed to kill the former President but also caused harm to innocent bystanders. His violent act ultimately led to his own demise at the hands of Secret Service counter-snipers. Additionally, the incident galvanized support for Trump, potentially strengthening his political position.

Similarly, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict demonstrates the futility of violence. Despite Hamas's attempts to destroy Israel, the conflict has resulted in far greater casualties for Hamas than for Israel. Hezbollah's involvement has also led to the deaths of its leaders. The failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Netanyahu further underscores the risks associated with such acts.

Unless we possess prophetic abilities, we cannot know who God is willing to live or die. Therefore, it's wiser to follow Jesus' philosophy and not respond upon anyone in violence, even our enemies. In the end, God will judge between the good and the evil, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.

10/19/2024

Peace be with you all.

This is a response to my Jewish friend, Paz, who argues that Jesus portrayed Jews as evil, hateful, and ruthless. She also claims that the Bible is responsible for most wars in history. I share her statement and my response with you to help strengthen your faith by considering both perspectives. Here is my response to her statement:

The evidence that Jesus lived a life beyond reproach can be seen not only in his teachings but also in his divine credentials. If Jesus viewed the Jews of his day as purely evil, why did he dedicate his life and ministry to convincing them? If he did not love them, why did he weep over Jerusalem, knowing the destruction that awaited because they would not listen to him?

Jesus centered his ministry on the Jews because they already had a foundational belief in the Creator and some of the commandments right. His aim was to correct their errors and make disciples who would then spread his message to the world. It wasn’t that he only wanted to preach to the Jews; rather, he focused on them because they had a base of belief he could build upon. By living among them and trying to persuade them, he showed he did not view them as wholly evil.

As for the claim that the Bible is the cause of most wars, you fail to see how you accuse yourself in saying this, because the Old Testament, which you accept, contains many wars and killings. While there are violent events in scripture, I believe in the justice of God and have faith that He does not need us to kill to accomplish His purpose.

Here’s a story to illustrate our differences: We both work at an art gallery that received a painting from Michelangelo. One night, a competitor blemishes the painting to make it look fake. In the morning, I see the original brushstrokes and believe the painting is genuine, despite the blemishes. You, focused on the blemishes, call it a fake. We work separate schedules, each presenting our view to visitors. When Michelangelo returns, he will judge who was right.

In this story, Michelangelo represents God, the painting is Jesus, and your focus on the blemishes represents your view that Jesus is a fraud because of problems in the Bible. My effort to clean the blemishes and appreciate the painting’s overall beauty represents my belief in Jesus as the Messiah, despite errors in interpretation. As long as we love each other and avoid hatred, our relationship can endure, and ultimately, God will judge who made the wiser decision, and the one who made the wiser decision shall be rewarded of God.

10/15/2024

Peace be with you. Recently, someone on my Sanctuary Summit post named Madds responded with a statement from Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens argues that religion no longer provides valid explanations for important phenomena, thanks to scientific advancements like the telescope and microscope. He claims that religion, once dominant in shaping worldviews and suppressing alternatives, now only serves to hinder scientific progress and attempts to reverse measurable advancements.

Here is my response to Madds' comment to help build your faith:

Science is the systematic study of the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis to understand how things work. It relies on empirical evidence and the scientific method to formulate theories, test hypotheses, and draw conclusions. Essentially, it's a quest for knowledge and understanding of the universe around us.

In applying this scientific approach to life, I come to agree with the theory of intelligent design. Many philosophers have argued that Intelligent design is a theory suggesting that complex life forms cannot be explained solely by natural causes (parents), and thus an intelligent Creator must have contributed to their origins.

For instance, the intricate complexity of DNA, the fine-tuning of the physical constants of the universe, and the information-rich structures within biological organisms are seen by proponents of intelligent design as evidence of a purposeful Creator.

Consequently, I present you as scientific evidence of God. You are an intelligent being, and according to this view, your existence points to an intelligent Creator. That Creator, I believe, is God.

10/15/2024

Peace be with you all. My Jewish friend Paz recently replied to one of my posts with a comment. I want you all to read it and consider my response to it in order to build up your faith and encourage you to work towards correcting errors in your faith.

Paz’s Comment:

“The Holocaust, deportations, pogroms, the blood accusements, persecutions, the inquisition, laws that dictated what we were allowed to do and what not, what to wear and what not, Those are not individuals. The only reason I try to educate people is because your 'god' called us children of the murderous devil... not to mention antisemitism in your gospels is evident to any jew who reads them. The church only issued an order not to call jews christ killers 60 years ago. With all the good it did, you can't overlook the bad, and that is what Isaiah 53 is really about. The kings of nations finally understanding they were wrong about Jacob, (Israel) God's servant.”

My response to it:

I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering inflicted upon the Jewish people throughout history, including the Holocaust, pogroms, and other persecutions. These actions are in direct contradiction to the teachings of Jesus Christ, who preached love, compassion, and kindness to all people.

While it is true that the New Testament contains passages that place the blame for Jesus’ death on many Jews of that day, not all Jews chose this path. Evidence in the New Testament supports this as well. For example, there is a passage about a Jewish man who advocated against persecuting Christians. He persuaded people to leave Christians alone, arguing that if their movement wasn’t of God, it would eventually fall apart, but if it was of God, no one should fight against it (Acts 5:38-39). This wise Jewish man was much wiser than those rushing to harm Christians or anyone else.

Christianity has flourished since that time and now stands as a globally dominant religion, despite some errors that have infiltrated the church. Seeking to correct these errors is what I strive to do by engaging in discussions with others. Additionally, several Jews accepted Jesus, and a few became patriarchs of the faith, including Peter, whom I consider a hero.

Many Christians today understand the need to exercise goodness towards people of all faiths. The Second Vatican Council's declaration, Nostra Aetate, issued in 1965, was a significant step in this direction. It fundamentally reshaped the Catholic Church's relations with non-Christian religions. While I don’t agree with all aspects of the writing, here are some key points I do agree with:

Shared Humanity: It emphasizes our common humanity, encouraging respect and understanding across different religions.

Judaism: The document explicitly rejects the notion that all Jews are collectively responsible for the death of Jesus and condemns all forms of antisemitism.

Islam: It acknowledges the shared belief in one God and respects the faith and practices of Muslims, those that are rooted in truth.

Hinduism and Buddhism: It recognizes the search for truth and holiness in other religions and encourages dialogue and cooperation to reject errors.

Isaiah 53 is a complex and often debated passage. I believe that the suffering servant of Israel is Jesus and that Jesus is Israel. I have shared my reasons for this in multiple posts and videos, including recognizing the Jewish festivals in Jesus and Jesus in the Jewish festivals. While Christians traditionally interpret it as a prophecy about Jesus, it is important to hear Jewish perspectives and engage in dialogue to attain mutual understanding and bridge differences in faith.

Ultimately, the core message of Christianity is one of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is our responsibility to learn from the past, seek forgiveness, and work towards a future where we resolve these differences in faith by engaging in peaceful debate and dialogue, treating all people with dignity and respect, even when we cannot get them to see our point of view.

10/14/2024

Peace. Recently someone posted this photo on my Sanctuary Summit page. Here is my response to him and for you all to consider:

While it's true that tragic and inexcusable actions have been committed in the name of Christianity, these actions were carried out by individuals acting contrary to Jesus' teachings. It’s important not to blame all of Christianity for the evil choices made by some.

It's important to recognize the good that has also come from the faith. Christianity has inspired countless acts of kindness, charity, and social justice.

For example:

Charitable Works: Many Christian organizations have been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts, providing food, shelter, and medical care to those in need globally.

Education: The Christian faith has established schools and universities, which despite some errors in doctrine, have yet promoted literacy and education for millions.

Abolition of Slavery: Many Christian leaders and believers played pivotal roles in the abolitionist movements, advocating for the end of slavery.

Compassion and Forgiveness: Core Christian teachings emphasize love, forgiveness, and compassion. These values have positively influenced individuals and communities to strive for peace and reconciliation.

Art and Culture: Christianity has inspired remarkable contributions to art, music, literature, and philosophy, enriching human culture and experience.

10/14/2024

Recently, someone commented on my Sanctuary Summit page, suggesting that people shouldn't seek understanding or take action because scriptures advocate solely relying on God. This is a misunderstanding of scripture. Allow me to clarify.

Trusting in the Lord does not mean neglecting your own understanding or refraining from using your hands and abilities to work and provide for yourself. It means relying on God to judge and avenge in situations where you've been wronged or hurt. If we believe God is just, we trust that He will deal with those who cause harm and avenge the victims.

This is what relying on God's providence means—allowing Him to handle the justice rather than taking it into our own hands.
God has given us the ability to learn and gain understanding. If you still question the importance of seeking understanding, consider these scriptures:
* Proverbs 4:7 (KJV): "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
* Proverbs 2:3-5 (KJV): "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God."
* Proverbs 3:13 (KJV): "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."
* Proverbs 16:16 (KJV): "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver."
* Psalm 119:130 (KJV): "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."

10/07/2024

Peace be with you all. Please consider what I am sharing. I want to point out something important. I listened to Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, where he mentioned that Israel is currently at war on seven fronts. They are facing conflicts with groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and experiencing violent confrontations within their own country.

I decided to conduct some independent research with the help of artificial intelligence and discovered some interesting parallels among these countries. Please note that this research was done using AI, and I have not interviewed individuals from these countries. If you are from one of these regions and feel something is incorrect, please speak up and let your voice be heard by providing a comment. Also, if you are in one of these countries, please stay with me and read my entire post. I am sharing this for you as well.

The first thing to note is that these are all primarily Muslim countries. Here is a summary for you:

Gaza: Predominantly Sunni Muslim.

Lebanon: Majority Muslim, with significant Sunni and Shia populations.

Iraq: Majority Shia Muslim, with a significant Sunni minority.

Syria: Majority Sunni Muslim, with a significant Alawite minority.

Yemen: Majority Sunni Muslim, with a significant Shia minority.

Iran: Predominantly Shia Muslim.

Next, I'd like you to consider how Christians and Jews have been treated in these regions based on the research:

Christians:

Gaza: Christians experience violence and discrimination.

Lebanon: Hezbollah's influence leads to attacks and intimidation against Christians.

Iraq: Christians face severe persecution, especially from ISIS

Syria: Under ISIS control, Christians were forced to convert, pay a religious tax, or face death.

Yemen: Christians face social exclusion, imprisonment, and violence.

Iran: Christians, especially converts, face arrest, imprisonment, and other forms of persecution.

Jews:

Gaza: Jews have faced hostility and violence.

Lebanon: Hezbollah's influence has led to anti-Jewish sentiments and actions.

Iraq: Jews have faced severe persecution, especially during times of political instability.

Syria: Jews have experienced discrimination and violence.

Yemen: Jews have faced social exclusion, violence, and forced conversions.

Iran: Jews have faced restrictions, discrimination, and occasional violence.

This is just a hypothesis, but it is possible that God is allowing Israel to take these actions in these countries because of how many people in these regions have treated Christians and Jews.

But what should you do if you are a Christian or Jewish person in one of these Muslim countries being attacked by Israel, and you don’t agree with your government but feel unsure of what to do? If this is you, here’s what I suggest:

1. Continue to do good: Interact positively with the people in your immediate environment and be good to your government, even if you disagree with them. Why?
* First, if you are truly Christian, remember that Jesus said to pay your taxes and be good to everyone, even those who don’t agree with you.
* Second, being good to your government might create an opportunity for them to listen to you and consider your perspective. In America, I pay property and income taxes, and although I don’t always agree with my government, my respectful approach has allowed me to communicate with leaders, including the President, Senators, and Congressmen. Your good behavior might encourage your government to listen and change how they treat others.
* Third, being good to them contributes to your personal safety.
2. Accept new governance if necessary: If God allows another country to take control of your country, such as Israel in Gaza or Russia in Ukraine, don’t fight against the new government. God has a reason for allowing their success. They might not make all the right decisions, but there is a purpose behind their rise. If you don’t agree with the new government, work hard to be good to them, acknowledging that God has allowed it. In America, we often see a change in government every 4 to 8 years. Despite political differences, peaceful transitions occur because Americans have learned to bear with the elected leaders.
3. Stand firm on God's commandments: If the new government forces you to do something against God’s commandments (e.g., worship idols, offer animal sacrifices, engage in sexual immorality), make your stand. Explain your refusal due to your love for God. In such cases, God will either deliver you as He did with Daniel or allow it for a righteous reason, avenging you at a future time for holding to righteousness.
Pray to the Creator for peace in your life and your country. Pray for the Kingdom of God to come soon and that you might be found worthy to enter it.
This is the best advice I can offer during these challenging times of war and uncertainty, to help bring about peaceful transitions.

10/06/2024

Peace be with you all. Recently my Israeli friend of mine Paz replied to one of my posts with the following comment, and my response to that comment follows. I am posting this because I want you all to be open minded and consider the thoughts of others who might be viewing things from a different perspective than you, and so that in hearing my response, your faith could become stronger in holding to the truth. I hope you enjoy our peaceful debate:

Paz’s Comment:

Jesus's sins:

Lying, using profanities, initiating a pagan rite in his name ergo Idolatry and paganism, changing God's law, giving false testimony and inciting quarrels among brothers. Lying - Jesus asked people not to reveal who he is, but when he got to the high priest he said he kept no secrets.

Profanities - Jesus called gentiles dogs and pigs (yeah, jews only called gentiles that) and he called people fools, and people who didn't believe he was the messiah he named children of the murderous devil, oh and by the way he knew that the jewish law states that anyone who calls people names is as guilty as if he committed murder, because he himself taught that!!

Jesus required that the eucharist which is pagan and has no basis in Judaism, will be held in his honor in his own name - so basically he demanded to be worshiped - ergo Idolatry and paganism.

Jesus changed God's law in a way that they lacked the hedges set to make them applicable in contrary to God's law. All the 'you heard it said.. but I say' are changes he made to the law. God's law can be followed, Jesus's changes made it nearly impossible to keep, making you all feel like sinners and Jesus the only one righteous enough to uphold them.

Jesus blamed the jews for the murder of all innocent blood since the time of Abel till the time of Zechariah. There weren't jews in Abel's time, not for many more generations. That is giving a false testimony.

Jesus said he didn't come to bring peace but to bring division, which he did, resulting in quarrels among the people.

There's plenty more..
He wasn't the rightful messiah, not even close. The true messiah and world peace go together hand in hand, would you like to see the prophecies about that?

Here is my response to Paz:

As an Israeli, you might recall when Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress in the United States a few weeks ago. His speech was kept private until the appointed time when he could deliver it to Congress and the world. Even Israelis didn't hear it beforehand. Was the Prime Minister being hypocritical for keeping the speech private until then? No! There was a specific time and place for the speech to be most effective.
Similarly, there may have been things Jesus refrained from saying because the timing wasn't right. Does that make Jesus a liar or a hypocrite? Absolutely not!

Regarding the next topic, I've explained this before, but for those who are new, I'll respond again. If someone behaves like a dog, are they acting like a dog? Yes! When Jesus refrained from healing certain people, it was because they were living lifestyles similar to dogs and pigs. If you're deathly sick and your doctor tells you to stop eating poison before giving you medicine, it's because the doctor doesn't want people to think the medicine killed the patient when it was actually the poison. First, the patient needs to stop eating the poison, then the doctor can properly administer the medicine for healing. If people continue to kill and eat pigs, chickens, cows, fish, or other animals, or continue their thefts, crimes, murders, or torturing of others, Jesus cannot heal them. Jesus cared for people but wasn't going to be the author of confusion. They need to stop living like wild animals, which likely caused the disease, and start living humanely. Then, Jesus can administer healing. In the case you're referencing, the lady acknowledged she was living like a dog, repented, and changed her lifestyle, so Jesus healed her. Please consider the whole story!

Regarding the Eucharist, I believe I addressed this in my primary message. I don't believe Jesus ever taught that bread or juice became his literal body or blood. It doesn't fit the laws of nature and needs to align with God's laws of nature for truth to be established (Romans 1:20). Paz, I feel your time would be better spent helping Christians see the practices Jesus never taught rather than trying to persuade them that Jesus isn't the Messiah. Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Next, Jesus did not change the laws; rather, He clarified the true laws of God, stating that previous statements were due to the hardness of people's hearts at the time. Paz, if someone weighs 350 pounds, can they run a marathon? No! They need to start by walking and getting their weight under control. With persistence, they can eventually run a marathon. Similarly, when the Israelites left Egypt, they weren't ready for certain things, like being vegetarian or giving up "an eye for an eye." These aspects of the Torah were there because of the people's hardened hearts. Jesus came to show them the true standard and a better way of living for greater peace.

Regarding the passage blaming Jews for the blood of innocent prophets, you're taking it out of context. The people Jesus spoke to were bragging about their righteousness, claiming they wouldn't have killed the prophets. Jesus' message was that a wiser approach would be to ask God to forgive their fathers' sins and help them live better lives. Paz, if your dad had killed many people, would it be better to tell the victims' families, "I never would have killed your family member, I am perfect," or to say, "I am sorry for what my dad did. I couldn't control his actions, but I will try to live a better life and not kill anyone"? The latter approach is what Jesus was teaching.

When Jesus says He is bringing a sword, it actually brings peace. If two people are always fighting and can't get along, they are at war with each other. When they divide, peace comes. Paz, an Israeli friend of mine visited me recently. We met at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and became good friends. However, he is a secular Jew, and I am a religious Jew. Our lifestyles were very different, and we could only bear each other for about a week. This division came because our philosophies and actions didn't align. To remain good friends, we found it necessary to become divided. This is the division of the sword Jesus references. It allows those with faith and good actions to live in peace, separate from those who do not, under the great God and Creator who provides for everyone his air, water, and sunshine, and yet renders justice in time. I love my secular Israeli friend, but remaining together would lead to enmity rather than friendship.

Please consider these points, and I hope you'll gain insight from Paz's perspective while understanding why I continue to hold faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Remember, faith in Jesus means not only believing in Him but also following His teachings: loving God, treating others as yourself, and keeping God's commandments.

10/05/2024

Recently my Egyptian/American friend Camy responded to my Rosh Hashanah post stating, “Doesn't the unleavened bread have to do with getting out of Sinai quickly where the Jews could not wait for the bread to rise? It has nothing to do with Jesus. Right?”

Here is my response to her and for you all to consider: “Salam Camy! You are partially correct from the Jewish tradition, but all the Jewish spring and fall festivals also have prophetic meanings related to the Messiah.

From a Christian perspective, leaven or yeast in various scripture passages symbolizes sin or corruption. Christians view this festival as representing the righteous way in which Jesus lived, making Him worthy of being the anointed Messiah.

This symbolism can extend to us as well. God sees our efforts to learn the truth and considers our work, rewarding us by opening opportunities or punishing us for evil actions. Jesus was deemed worthy of being the Messiah because of His righteousness, and similarly, we can be rewarded for living rightly. Scripture references Jesus Himself saying that those who come after Him have the potential of doing greater works than even himself (John 14:12).

Whether eating bread with yeast is healthy or not is a topic of debate. While it's often seen as a symbol of corruption in the Bible, some doctors argue that certain types of yeast can be beneficial in moderation. Moderation is given as a standard of truth in Christian tradition.

Jesus symbolically represents the unleavened bread of life. Some Christian denominations, like the Catholic Church, interpret this literally, believing the communion bread becomes Jesus' body and worshiping it. Others erect statues of Jesus or Mary for worship. These practices contradict God's laws, and since these practices in Christianity are not true, they will eventually come to their end at some point.”