Holy Spirit Relational Experiences

What experiences come from the Spirit of Truth?

Lately, I came across several different groups of people arguing over what experiences were and were not from the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost).  The people on the various sides of this were basically the same in the defense of their position -  it was based on what they had been taught by someone else.

Each group gave scant - if any - scripture to back up their positions.  The scripture that they did give was almost aways taken out of context.

It was foolish of them to argue about something when they had not investigated the matter for themselves first (Proverbs 18:13).  It is fitting for the Children of the King to spend the time to search out what the Father of Truth has placed in His Word for themselves (Proverbs 25:2).

The Book of Truth should be their ultimate source for determining this and many other matters.  The experiences that come from the Spirit of Truth are plain to see when we rightly divide the Word of Truth.

So, I am going to show from scripture what experiences come from the Spirit of Truth.  I encourage everyone to not just take my word for it, but to be like the Bereans who were more noble for searching the scriptures for themselves to verify what  Paul the Jew (Shaul aka Saul aka Paulus aka The Apostle Paul) told them about the Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) (Acts 17:10-11).

So, I am providing scripture that shows each of my points.  I am even providing links to make it easy for you to see for yourself.

I am also providing links to allow you to see the original language where appropriate as well.  These links will take you to tools to let you verify each word for yourself.

I encourage you to investigate everything I say thoroughly.  The links are provided to make that easier, but please delve deeper that what they provide if you are still unsure.

We will begin with the Greek words used to describe these experiences.

There are five Greek words used to describe these experiences.  Three of those are related, although they have very different meanings.

They are often translated into English as words that are similar in meaning like fill, filled, and full.  Sometimes, two of these Greek words are translated into the same English word in different places.

So if we examine the various passages about the Spirit of Truth that these English words occur in, then we will come to conflicting and confusing conclusions.  However, if we examine the various passages about the Spirit of Truth based on which Greek word is used, then these conflicts disappear and so does the confusion.

Therefore, we will identify each Greek word and define it according to how it was used in Greek literature at the time that the Renewed Covenant (B'rit Chadashah aka The New Testament) was written.  Then we look at the result that occurs in each passage where that Greek word is used in connection with Spirit of Truth.

The first of these Greek words is “Oikeo”.

“Oikeo” means “to dwell”.  It is used in ancient Greek literature of a woman coming to dwell in the house of her husband when she is married.

In the Renewed Covenant it is either suffixed by or followed by the Greek word “en”, which means “in” in English.  So, the compound word “Enoikeo” means “indwell” while the prepositional phrase ”Oikeo En” means “dwell in”. 

So, both the compound word and the prepositional phrase express the same relationship.  Therefore, we will look at passages that convey this relationship with the Spirit of Truth to determine the experience produced by that relationship.

This relationship is one that every Child of Truth must have (Romans 8:9).  Their bodies will not be raised from the dead to eternal life without it (Romans 8:11).

This relationship causes the Children of Truth to be the temple of the Father of Truth (1 Corinthians 3:16).  It causes them to be able to keep the good thing that was committed to them (2 Timothy 1:14).

Now we will look at this relationship in the context of the whole Book of Truth.  That will clarify what experience is produced by that relationship.

The Children of Truth must be born again through the Spirit of Truth (John 3:5-8).  They are born of the seed of the Father of Truth when this happens (1 Peter 1:23).

The Man of Truth spoke of the Spirit of Truth flowing out of the Children of Truth, but this could not happen until after his resurrection (John 7:38-39).  He told them at the last supper that the Spirit of Truth had been with them but would later be in them (John 14:17). 

So after his resurrection, the Man of Truth breathed on the Children of Truth and they received the Spirit of Truth (John 20:22).  It is receiving the Spirit of Truth that causes people to be adopted into the family of the Father of Truth (Romans 8:15). 

So, this relationship produces adoption into the family of the Father of Truth.  This adoption causes the Children of Truth to live for Him in this  present world and will cause them to live with Him in the world to come.

The second of these Greek words is “Baptizo”.

“Baptizo” means “to completely cover”.  It is used in ancient Greek literature of sunken ships being submerged underwater and making pickles by cucumbers being immersed in vinegar. 

English translations often retain an English form of the Greek word such as “baptized”, but a word like “immersed” or “submerged” would better convey the literal meaning.  So, when you see a word like “baptized” remember that it means “completely covered”.

So, the relationship expressed by this word is being completely covered on the outside by the Spirit of Truth.  Therefore, we will look at passages that convey this relationship with the Spirit of Truth to determine the experience produced by that relationship.

Just as John the Baptist (Yochanon the Mikveh Man) immersed people in water, so also would the Man of Truth completely cover people in the Spirit of Truth (Matthew 3:11).   The Man of Truth is the only one who can do this (Mark 1:8).

This is because the Man of Truth was greater than John the Baptist (Luke 3:16).  The Spirit of Truth rested on him after he was completely covered in water by John the Baptist to show that the Man of Truth would be the only one that could completely cover people in the Spirit of Truth (John 1:33).

So right before returning to Heaven, the Man of Truth told his disciples that they would soon be completely covered in the Spirit of Truth just as people had been completely covered in water by John the Baptist (Acts 1:5).  Years later, Peter the Jew (Sh’mon aka Simon aka Simeon aka Cephas aka The Apostle Peter) remembered these words when Cornelius had the same experience (Acts 11:16).

Then Paul the Jew wrote this about the importance of being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth: “Yet as we are united as one in being covered completely in the Spirit of Truth, all are united as one united as one in being completely covered in the body” (1 Corinthians 12:13).  This is not how the first part of this verse is usually translated, but it is what it literally says.

The Greek word “eis” that appears in this verse three times is the word used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word “echad” – which means “united as one”.  It is also worth noting that “eis” appears only once concerning being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth but twice in a row concerning being completely covered in the body.

This doubling indicates that being completely covered in the body (of Messiah) is much more important than being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth.  So, being part of the family of the Father of Truth by the Spirit of Truth dwelling on the inside is much more important than being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth on the outside.  It is like how drinking water is more important than bathing.

The Apostles of Truth received the indwelling of the Spirit of Truth after the resurrection of the Man of Truth but had to wait until after the Man of Truth returned to Heaven to be completely covered in the Spirit of Truth.  It should be obvious that these are two different relationships.

Now we will look at this relationship in the context of the whole Book of Truth.  That will clarify what experience is produced by that relationship.

The Man of Truth told his disciples that being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth after he returned to Heaven was the promise of the Father of Truth that they were to wait in Jerusalem for (Acts 1:4-5).  Their wait was over at Pentecost when the Spirit of Truth caused them to speak in languages that they did not know but other people understood (Acts 2:4-11). 

Peter the Jew told those who witnessed this, that it was proof the Spirit of Truth had been poured out on the disciples of the Man of Truth as foretold by Joel the Prophet of Truth (Acts 2:12-18).   He told them that if they would repent and be completely covered in water to show their faith in the Man of Truth, then they too would receive the gift of the Spirit of Truth that had been promised by the Father of Truth (Acts 2:38-39).

Later, the Spirit of Truth began dwelling in people at Samaria after they had come to believe as evidenced by being completely covered in water to show their faith in the Man of Truth (Acts 8:12-13).   Yet, Peter the Jew and John the Jew (Yochanon ben Zebedee aka John the son of Zebedee aka The Apostle John) were sent to Samaria to lay hands upon these new believers, so they could receive the Spirit of Truth (Acts 8:14-15).

The Spirit of Truth had not rained down upon any of these new believers when they had been completely covered in water, but this happened when these apostles laid their hands on them (Acts 8:16-17).  Simon the Samaritan saw proof that these believers had received the Spirit of Truth outwardly as well as inwardly when this happened (Acts 8:18-19).

After that, the Spirit of Truth rained down on Cornelius and the other Gentiles when they believed (Acts 10:44).  Peter the Jew and the Jews with him were convinced these Gentiles had received the gift of being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth (Acts 10:45).

The proof of this was that these Gentiles were speaking in languages that they did not know (Acts 10:46).  So, these Gentiles were then completely covered in water to show their faith in the Man of Truth (Acts 10:47-48).

When the Spirit of Truth rained down on the Gentiles, Peter the Jew remembered that the Man of Truth had said that believers would be completely covered in the Spirit of Truth just as John the Baptist had completely covered people in water (Acts 11:15-16).  The Father of Truth had given the Gentiles the same gift of being completely covered in the Spirit of Truth to show that Gentiles had also been given the opportunity to come into the House of Truth (Acts 11:17-18).

Years later, Paul the Jew met disciples who had been completely covered in water by John the Baptist but had not received the Spirit of Truth (Acts 19:1-3).  So, he told them about the Man of Truth and then completely covered them in water in the name of the Man of Truth (Acts 19:4-5).  After that, when he laid hands on them the Spirit of Truth rained down on them and they began speaking languages that they did not know (Acts 19:6).

Paul the Jew later wrote that believers speaking in languages that they did not know when only other believers were present did not help anyone unless someone could interpret what they said (1 Corinthians 14:2-5).  He said that believers have to pray for an interpretation so they will understand what they said after they spoke in a language that they do not know (1 Corinthians 14:13-14).

Paul the Jew explained that he would pray and sing with the Spirit of Truth in languages he did not know, but he would also do these things in languages that he understood (1 Corinthians 14:15).  He said that believers must do these things in a language that the hearers understand for the benefit of the hearers (1 Corinthians 14:16-17).  So, even though he spoke in languages that he did not know more often than the entire congregation, he spoke in languages that the congregation understood when he was among them (1 Corinthians 14:18-19).

Paul the Jew explained that believers speaking in languages that they did not know was foretold in the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law) as a sign to those who did not yet believe the Good News that it was from the Father of Truth (1 Corinthians 14:21-22).  However, if the entire congregation spoke in languages that neither they nor the hearers understood, then those who had not yet believed the Good News would think that they were crazy (1 Corinthians 14:23).

Paul the Jew explained that for this reason, only two or three believers were to speak in languages that they did not know in the congregation one at a time while another interpreted what they said (1 Corinthians 14:27).  If there was no one that could interpret in the congregation, then they were to wait until they were not in the congregation to speak to the Father of Truth in languages that they did not know (1 Corinthians 14:28).  He concluded that people were not to be forbidden from speaking in languages that they did not know in the congregation, but it must be done in a decent and orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:39-40).

Paul the Jew first explained how the Spirit of Truth dwelling in believers was much more important than the Spirit of Truth completely covering them.  Later, he explained to this same congregation about believers speaking in languages that they did not know.   

When believers are covered completely in the Spirit of Truth, they might even speak in groanings that are not even a language, but the Spirit of Truth understands the meaning of these groanings (Romans 8:26-27).  They might even speak in the language of angels instead of human language that they do not know (1 Corinthians 13:1).

So, this relationship produces believers speaking in languages that they do not know.  This is the sound of power that is so important that the Father of Truth has provided five ways to start this fire.

The third of these Greek words is “Pimplemi”.

“Pimplemi” means “to mostly fill”.  It is used in ancient Greek literature of filling a glass to a little below the brim. 

So, the relationship expressed by this word is being mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth.  Therefore, we will look at passages that convey this relationship with the Spirit of Truth to determine the experience produced by that relationship.

John the Baptist was mostly filled with Spirit of Truth before birth (Luke 1:15).  His mother Elizabeth also became mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth when Mary the wife of Joseph came to visit her (Luke 1:41).  His father Zacharias the Priest of Truth also became mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth after he was born (Luke 1:67).

The believers at Pentecost were mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth as well as being covered in the Spirit of Truth as proved by speaking in languages that they did not know (Acts 2:4).  Peter the Jew was again mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth when asked by what power or name that the lame man at the gate of the Temple had been healed (Acts 4:8).  After that, the believers that had been mostly filled at Pentecost were again mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth along with the other believers when they all congregated together (Acts 4:31).

Later, Paul the Jew was mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth when Ananias the Jew laid hands upon him to end his blindness (Acts 9:17).  Thirteen years after that, he was once again mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth when he stood against Elymas the Sorcerer (Acts 13:9).

So, people were able to be mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth before the Man of Truth was even born.  The Spirit of Truth dwelling in people or completely covering them was not possible until after his resurrection.

Also, the same believer can be mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth more than once and on different occasions.  The indwelling of the Spirit of Truth only happens once at the time someone is born again, and people are only completely covered in the Spirit of Truth once - being able to speak in languages that they do not know after that.

These difference should make one thing clear:  A person being mostly filled with Spirit of Truth is not the same as the Spirit of Truth dwelling in a person nor the same as a person being covered with the Spirit of Truth.

Now we will look at this relationship in the context of the whole Book of Truth.  That will clarify what experience is produced by that relationship.

This relationship caused John the Baptist to have the boldness of Elijah (Eliyahu) the Prophet of Truth to prepare people for the Messiah of Israel (Luke 1:16-17).  It caused his mother to boldly prophesy that Mary the wife of Joseph was pregnant with the Messiah of Israel (Luke 1:42-43).

This relationship caused Zechariah the Priest of Truth to boldly prophesy that the God of Israel was coming to visit the people of Israel as the son of David – the Messiah of Israel (Luke 1:67-69).  It caused him to boldly proclaim that his son John the Baptist would prepare the people of Israel to hear the Messiah of Israel (Luke 1:76-79).

This relationship caused Peter the Jew to raise his voice and boldly tell the crowd that the believers speaking in languages that they did not know was the sign of salvation predicted by Joel the Prophet of Truth (Acts 2:14-21).  It caused him to boldly tell the crowd that they had killed the son of David – the Messiah of Israel – but the Father of Truth raised the Man of Truth from the dead as foretold by King David (Acts 2:22-32).

This relationship caused Peter the Jew to boldly tell the crowd the Man of Truth had returned to Heaven as King David had foretold and had rained down the Spirit of Truth to show that the Father of Truth had made him absolute ruler of the human race (Acts 2:33-36).  It caused him to boldly tell the crowd to repent and they would also be saved as well as have the Spirit of Truth rained down on them (Acts 2:37-40).

This relationship caused Peter the Jew to boldly answer the High Priests and those with him that they had killed the Messiah of Israel (Acts 4:9-13).  It caused the entire assembly to speak the Word of Truth with the boldness that they had prayed for (Acts 4:29-31).

This relationship caused Paul the Jew to boldly preach the Man of Truth in the synagogues of Damascus instead of destroying his disciples (Acts 9:20-21).   It caused him to boldly dispute with the Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-29).

This relationship caused Paul the Jew to boldly confront Elymas the Sorcerer years later (Acts 13:10-11).  It caused him to boldly rebuke those Jews who reject the Man of Truth and tell them that he had been commissioned to cause the Good News to be preached to the Gentiles throughout the entire Earth (Acts 13:45-47).

So, this relationship produces boldness in telling people about the Man of Truth.  This boldness can lessen over time, so people sometimes need to be mostly filled again with the Spirit of Truth just like they need to drink water again after the refreshment has lessened.

The fourth of these Greek words is “Pleroo”.

“Pleroo” means “to fill completely”.  It is used in ancient Greek literature of filling a glass with wine to the point where it cannot hold another drop.

So, the relationship expressed by this word is someone being filled completely with the Spirit of Truth.  Therefore, we will look at passages that convey this relationship with the Spirit of Truth to determine the experience produced by that relationship.

The believers in the house at Jerusalem were filled completely with the Spirit of Truth (Acts 2:2).  In like manner, the believers in Iconium were filled completely with the Spirit of Truth (Act 13:52).

Paul the Jew desired the believers in Rome to be filled completely with the Spirit of Truth (Romans 15:13).  He also desired that the believers in Ephesus  to be filled completely with the Spirit of Truth (Ephesians 3:19).  He said that they should do this instead of getting drunk on wine (Ephesians 5:18).

So, filling completely is not the same as mostly filling.  Filling completely leaves no room for more, while mostly filling leaves room for a little more.

Now we will look at this relationship in the context of the whole Book of Truth.  That will clarify what experience is produced by that relationship.

When some mockers saw the believers filled completely with the Spirit of Truth in Jerusalem, they thought that those believers had to be drunk on wine (Acts 2:13).  However, Peter the Jew told the mockers that these believers were not drunk on wine as they thought, but what they saw came from the Spirit of Truth (Acts 2:14-17).

The believers filled completely with the Spirit of Truth in Iconium became filled completely with joy (Act 13:52).  Also the believers that filled completely with the Spirit of Truth in Rome became filled completely with peace (Romans 15:13).  Moreover, the believers filled completely with the Spirit of Truth in Ephesus became filled completely with love (Ephesians 3:16-19).

So, Paul the Jew told those in Ephesus not to be unwise by getting drunk on wine, but to live in line with the will of the Father of Truth by being filled completely with the Spirit of Truth (Ephesians 5:18-19).  Then the Spirit of Truth would cause them to break out in singing (Ephesians 5:20).

In order to understand this correctly, we have to look at what Ephesians 5:18  literally says – even though not usually translated this way.  It literally says, “And be drunk – not drunk on wine in which is unsavedness – but be filled completely in the Spirit”.  So, being filled completely with the Spirit of Truth leads to being drunk on the Spirit of Truth. 

Indeed, there are some similarities on the effect on behavior of both being drunk on the Spirit of Truth and being drunk on wine.  This is why the mockers thought that the believers in Jerusalem were drunk on wine.

When some people are drunk on wine they are overcome with joy like the believers in Iconium.  Others become peaceful without concern about anything like the believers in Rome.  Yet others just go around telling everyone that they love them like the believers in Ephesus.

This effects their behavior in other ways as well.  They do things like breaking out in singing like Paul the Jew told the believers in Ephesus.

Also, since Paul the Jew told the believers in Ephesus to get drunk on the Spirit of Truth instead of getting drunk on wine, then believers must be able to choose when to do this.  That is another way that being drunk on the Spirit of Truth is like being drunk on wine.

However, being drunk on the Spirit of Truth is in line with the will of the Father of Truth while  being drunk on wine is contrary to His will.  People who are drunk on the Spirit of Truth will never do stupid things to endanger themselves or others like walking in front of traffic on a busy highway at night or sinful things like engaging in sex with people that are not their spouse.

So, this relationship produces behavior similar to being drunk.  Yet this behavior will never include foolish or sinful things that the unsaved do when they who get drunk on wine.

The last of these Greek words is “Pleres”.

“Pleres” means “completely full”.  It is used in ancient Greek literature of something being so completely full that there is no room left.

So, the relationship expressed by this word is someone being completely full of the Spirit of Truth.  Therefore, we will look at passages that convey this relationship with the Spirit of Truth to determine the experience produced by that relationship.

The Man of Truth was completely full of the Spirit of Truth when he was led into the wilderness (Luke 4:1).  Also those who distributed the food after the Man of Truth returned to Heaven had to be completely full of the Spirit of Truth (Acts 6:3).

Steven the Jew was one of those who were completely full of the Spirit of Truth (Acts 6:5).  He was completely full of the Spirit of Truth when he saw the glory of the Father of Truth (Acts 7:55). 

Barnabas the Jew (Levi) was also completely full of the Spirit of Truth years later (Acts 11:24).

So, the Spirit of Truth filling completely a believer is not the same as a believer being completely full of the Spirit of Truth.  It is like the difference between someone growing up and someone being a grown up.

Now we will look at this relationship in the context of the whole Book of Truth.  That will clarify what experience is produced by that relationship.

After the Man of Truth returned from the wilderness, he was full of the power of the Spirit of Truth (Luke 4:14).  Not long after that, he demonstrated power to confirm his message by casting a demon out of a man (Luke 4:31-36).

Stephen the Jew was also full of power to do signs and wonders to confirm the message about the Man of Truth (Acts 6:8).  Afterwards, he saw the Man of Truth standing at the right hand of the Father of Truth (Acts 7:55).

Barnabas the Jew caused much people to come to the Man of Truth and sought out Paul to help him in Antioch (Acts 11:24-26).  He also did signs and wonders to confirm the Good News about the Man of Truth (Acts 15:12).

So, this relationship produces the power to do signs and wonders.  This power confirms the Good News about the Man of Truth.

So, let us review all five Spirit of Truth relationships and the experiences they produce.

All believers have the Spirit of Truth dwelling on the inside.  This happens when they are born-again and causes them to be adopted into the family of the Father of Truth.

Some believers are completely covered on the outside by the Spirit of Truth.  When this happens they begin speaking in a language that they do not know – human, angel, or one that only the Father of Truth understands.

Some believers are mostly filled with the Spirit of Truth.  When this happens they become bold beyond their own ability in telling people about the Man of Truth.

Some believers are filled completely with the Spirit of Truth.  When this happens they behave similarly to someone who is drunk on wine – but without doing anything stupid or sinful.

Some believers are completely full of the Spirit of Truth.  When this happens they are full of the power of the Spirit of Truth to perform signs and wonders to confirm the Good News about the Man of Truth.

These things are for everyone who comes into the House of Truth (Acts 2:38-39).  So, surrender control of everything to the Man of Truth because you believe that his Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Come into the House of Truth!

The Faithful Priest

Why did John the Baptist baptize people in the wilderness?

The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) came to this earth in the fullness of time to live a perfect life in accordance with the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law), so he could bring redemption to those who could not live a perfect life in accordance with the Law of Truth  (Galatians 4:4-7).

One of the conditions that made it the fullness of time, was John the Baptist (Yochanan the Mikvah Man) baptizing the people of Israel in the wilderness.  The Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) brought about the rise and fall of empires, to make this possible. 

The story of how this came to be, begins with the Greeks.  This is just another example of Greco-Judeo wrestling.

The Father of Truth brought about the unified Greek Empire, and then split it into four smaller Greek Empires, including the Seleucid Empire (Daniel 11:2-4).

During the time of the Seleucid Empire, some of the priests in the Temple became corrupt.  At first, the High Priest would put them out of the Temple, until they repented.  However, the High Priest had to be approved by the Seleucid Emperor, under the agreement that the people of Judea made with Alexander the Great.  For a long while, this was just a formality of informing the Seleucid Emperor who the new High Priest was, when there was a change.

However, a Seleucid Emperor arose, who was willing to appoint as High Priest, whoever gave him the largest gift to gain his favor.  Soon, one of the corrupt priests was appointed as the new High Priest.  This corrupt High Priest then began appointing other corrupt priests to positions of chief priests, based on whoever offered him the largest gift to gain his favor.

Soon, the Temple was a place of corruption, instead of holiness.

The main job of the priests was to teach people how to keep the Law of Truth (Leviticus 10:9-11).   

However, they were not allowed to do this in the Temple, when the Temple was ran by corrupt priests, who did not keep the Law of Truth.

This led to the Maccabees restoring faithful priests in the Temple.

Some of the priests, who were not corrupted, like Matthias the Priest, began performing many of their functions away from the Temple, in places like Modi'in.

They also carried out other functions of the priests, that did not rely on the Temple, in these places.  One of these was the mikvah (miqvah) ceremony (baptism).   They often performed these ceremonies in a stream in the wilderness, since immersion was required to be done in living (running) water for abnormal discharges of bodily fluids, such as a festering sore, a week after the symptoms had disappeared (Leviticus 15:2-13).

Eventually, a new Seleucid emperor, Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV), came to power and waged war against the Law of Truth (Daniel 11:28-30).  He was joined by the corrupt priests, who ran the Temple, and all among the Jewish people, who were not obedient to the Law of Truth (Daniel 11:30-32).

These corrupt priests, and these Jews by birth only, then helped Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple by erecting a giant statue of Zeus, with his own face on it, in the courtyard of the Temple, and sacrificing three pigs and a dog on The Altar to this idol (Daniel 11:31).

However, the Maccabees, the followers of Matthias the Priest, the people who knew the Father of Truth and did exploits, rose up against this vile and evil man (Daniel 11:32).

The Maccabees waged a war against the Seleucid Empire.  Among the first to become Maccabees were the Hasideans (Chasidim), who were very zealous in keeping the Law of Truth.

Some Gentiles, mostly Greeks, also gave help to the Maccabees during their long, hard fight against the Seleucid Empire, because they had come to know the Father of Truth (Daniel 11:33-34).  These Gentiles were immersed in a stream in the wilderness in the mikvah ceremony of repentance.  This ceremony showed that they had turned from idolatry, and to obeying the Father of Truth, in at least the same manner as Noah (Noach).

Finally, the Maccabees and their Gentile allies defeated the army of the Seleucid Empire in Judea, and the Seleucid Empire gave control of religious life, the Temple, and the appointment of the High Priests to the Maccabees, after Antiochus Epiphanes was killed in Persia.

So, the Maccabees went to the Temple to clean house, both literally and figuratively.  This process took a week, and on the eighth day the Temple was dedicated to the Father of Truth once again.  The gift of the Maccabees included not only purifying the Temple, but also putting only faithful priests in the Temple.

After that, there was an eight day holiday every year to remember the Maccabees cleansing and dedicating the Temple.  Most people know this holiday as Chanukah, which means "Dedication".  It is also known as the Festival of Lights.

This is the Feast of Dedication, which the Man of Truth thought was so important, that he walked two or three days in the winter to celebrate it in Jerusalem (John 10:22-23).

After the Maccabees, corrupt priests began appearing in the Temple again.

After the Maccabees, there was continual war and conflict for many years, to separate those like the Maccabees, who had faith in what was written in the Original Covenant (Tanakh aka The Old Testament), from those who would take away from or add to the Original Covenant (Daniel 11:35).

The Hasmoneans, the descendants of the Maccabees, were the High Priests of Israel during those years.

During this time, some split off from the Hasideans to become the Pharisees.  They added the traditions of the elders developed in Babylon, called the Oral Torah, to the Law of Truth.

Many of the descendants of those Jews who sided with Antiochus Epiphanes became the Sadducees. They accepted only the five books of the Law of Truth as legitimate, but rejected the rest of the Original Covenant.  They interpreted the Law of Truth using Greek philosophy and logic.

The Pharisees and Sadducees fought for control of the Temple and religious life in Judea during the time of the Hasmoneans.

During the time of the Hasmoneans, many mivkot (baptismals) were built around the Temple in Jerusalem.  People were immersed in a mikvah in Jerusalem to be made clean, before they entered the Temple.  To date, about two hundred for them have been uncovered near the south wall of the Temple Mount, where Josephus described them being located, before the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD.

After the High Priest ceased to be one of the Hasmoneans, the priests became even more corrupt.  However, there was still at least one faithful priest.

King David had divided the time the priests spent ministering in the Temple into twenty four courses, with a chief priest over each course (1 Chronicles 24:3-18).  Zacharias the Priest, the father of John the Baptist, was only ministering in the Temple during the course of Abia (Abijah), which occurred about every six months (Luke 1:5).

Zacharias the priest was faithful to carry out his duties in the Temple, in the way commanded in the Law of Truth, during the course of Abia (Luke 1:8-10).  This faithful priest was told by an Angel of Truth in the Temple, that he and his wife would soon have a son, who would prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah of Israel (Luke 1:11-17).  He came out of the Temple afterwards, then went home when his course was over, and his wife conceived (Luke 1:21-25).

His son, John the Baptist, also a faithful priest, was sent to reveal the Messiah of Israel (John 1:6-8).

King David had changed the age when a priest started their ministry to thirty years of age (1 Chronicles 23:1-3).  John began his ministry of calling people to return to the Law of Truth when he was thirty, since the Man of Truth came to him when he was almost thirty for the mikvah ceremony (Luke 3:20-23).

The course of each priest was hereditary, so John the Baptist was also a priest in the course of Abia. This would have been the only time the Faithful Priest would have been required to be in the Temple to do his work as a priest, except for some of the Feasts of Truth.

So, if the course of Abia had ended right before John the Baptist had turned thirty, then the Faithful Priest could have been teaching the Law of Truth and performing the mikvah ceremony for almost six months, when the Man of Truth came to him.

Like in the days of the Maccabees, the faithful priests were not allowed to teach people how to keep the Law of Truth in the Temple, when the Temple was ran by corrupt priests, who did not keep the Law of Truth.

So, John the Baptist could not perform the mikvah ceremony near the Temple.  Like Matthias the priest, the Faithful Priest had to teach people how to keep the Law of Truth away from Jerusalem, and had to perform the mikvah ceremony in a stream in the wilderness.

John the Baptist began performing the mikvah ceremony that was given to him from the Father of Truth, instead of the rituals performed by the chief priests (Matthew 21:23-25).  The Faithful Priest began performing the mikvah ceremony of repentance in the wilderness, far from the Temple, which was controlled by the wicked High Priests, Annas and Caiaphas (Luke 3:2-3).

For this reason, some of the chief priests were sent to ask John the Baptist, if he was the Messiah of Israel, but the Faithful Priest told them that he was not the Messiah of Israel (John 1:19-20).  The Faithful Priest told them, that he was performing the mikvah ceremony in the wilderness, because he was preparing the people of Israel for the Messiah of Israel (John 1:25-28).

Yet, they did not believe that John the Baptist was performing the mikvah ceremony at the command of the Father of Truth (Matthew 21:25).  They did not believe that the Faithful Priest was doing this, by the same authority that the Messiah of Israel did his works (Mark 11:29-31).  They did not believe that the Messiah of Israel had the same authority to teach in the Temple, as the Faithful Prophet of Truth had to perform the mikvah ceremony in the wilderness (Luke 20:1-5).

However, many of the people of Israel came to the wilderness for John the Baptist to perform the mikvah ceremony in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:5-6).  The Faithful Priest, who lived in the wilderness like a wild man, performed the mikvah ceremony on everyone, who repented of breaking the Law of Truth (Mark 1:4-6).

When the Pharisees and Sadducees came to participate in the mikvah ceremony, John the Baptist told them, that they must produce evidence of repentance to escape the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7-10).  The Faithful Priest told everyone, who came to him for the mikvah ceremony, that they must repent of their disobedience to the Law of Truth to saved from the wrath to come (Luke 3:7-9).  The Faithful Priest taught them, that they must do what the Law of Truth says is right, in order to be saved (Luke 3:10-14).

Some of the people of Israel wondered, if John the Baptist was the Messiah of Israel (Luke 3:15).  The Faithful Priest told them, that the Messiah of Israel, who had existed before him, was coming soon (John 1:15).  The Faithful Priest told those sent by the Pharisees, that he was performing the mikvah ceremony to prepare the people of Israel for the soon coming Messiah of Israel (John 1:24-28).

John the Baptist told them that the Messiah of Israel was coming, who would perform the mikvah ceremony with something better than water (Matthew 3:11).  The Faithful Priest told them that the Messiah of Israel would perform the mikvah ceremony with the Spirit of Truth (Mark 1:7-8).  The Faithful Priest told them that the Messiah of Israel would perform the mikvah ceremony with fire (Luke 3:16).

John the Baptist warned them, that the Messiah of Israel was coming to clean house, like the Maccabees had done in the Temple (Matthew 3:12).  The Faithful Priest warned them, that the Messiah of Israel would destroy from among the people of Israel, those who did not repent (Luke 3:17).  The Faithful Priest gave everyone this warning, even King Herod Antipas (Antipas II) (Luke 3:19).

("Herod" had became a title by this point of those claiming the right to rule as a descendant of Herod the Great.  This was similar to the Hasmoneans adopting the title Hasmonean to show that they came from Matthias the Priest.  None of the descendants of Herod the Great were given the name of "Herod" as a baby, except for Herod the Great.)

Many of the people of Israel returned to walking the righteous way of the Law of Truth, like the Faithful Priest did (Matthew 21:32).

John the Baptist taught people to fast often, just like the Pharisees (Matthew 9:14).  The Faithful Priest taught them to fast, like the Pharisees taught their disciples to fast (Mark 2:18).  The Faithful Priest taught people to spend time in prayer, like the Pharisees (Luke 5:33).  The Faithful Priest taught people how to pray in agreement with the Law of Truth, just like the Man of Truth (Luke 11:1-4).

When John the Baptist performed the mikvah ceremony on the Man of Truth, signs came from heaven to confirmed that the Man of Truth was the Messiah of Israel (Matthew 3:13-17).  When the Faithful Priest performed the mikvah ceremony on the Man of Truth, the Father of Truth confirmed that he was the Messiah of Israel (Mark 1:9-11).  When the Faithful Priest performed the mikvah ceremony on the Man of Truth, the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) confirmed that he was the Messiah of Israel (Luke 3:21-22).  The Faithful Priest then announced, that these signs were given to identify the Messiah of Israel (John 1:29-34).

John the Baptist then directed his disciples to follow the Man of Truth, instead of himself (John 1:35-37).

His disciples later asked John the Baptist, how the Messiah of Israel could have his disciples perform the mikvah ceremony, since they were not priests like him (John 3:22-26).  The Faithful Priest told them, that the Messiah of Israel had this authority, because the Father of Truth had given him this authority, as well as the Spirit of Truth without measure (John 3:27-34).  Even the Pharisees had heard, that the disciples of the Messiah of Israel were performing the mikvah ceremony on more people than the Faithful Priest (John 4:1-2).

Then King Herod Antipas arrested John the Baptist, to please his wife (Matthew 14:3-4).  The Faithful Priest was arrested for rebuking him for transgressing the Law of Truth, by marrying the wife of his living brother (Mark 6:17-18).  He did this, because the Faithful Priest had rebuked him for all of his wicked ways (Luke 3:19-20).

Yet, even this wicked king acknowledged that the Faithful Priest lived a righteous and holy life (Mark 6:20).

Those taught by John the Baptist, told him about what the Man of Truth had done (Luke 7:11-18).

After John the Baptist was arrested, he sent two of those he had taught to the Man of Truth, for confirmation that he was the Messiah of Israel (Matthew 11:2-3).  The Faithful Priest wanted proof, that he was the Messiah of Israel, spoken about in the Law of Truth (Luke 7:19-20).

The Man of Truth sent word to John the Baptist, that he had done those things spoken by the Prophets of Truth, which showed that he was the Messiah of Israel (Matthew 11:4-6).  The Messiah of Israel gave the Faithful Prophet of Truth proof, that he was the one spoken about in the Law of Truth (Luke 7:21-23).

Many of the Pharisees and scribes rejected the testimony of the Faithful Priest, and the testimony of the Messiah of Israel (Luke 7:30-35).

So, John the Baptist had finished his mission of preparing the people of Israel for the Messiah of Israel, and soon the Faithful Priest was executed due to a plot by the wife of King Herod Antipas (Mark 6:21-28).

The headless body of the Faithful Priest was buried by those he had taught, before they started following the Messiah of Israel (Matthew 14:12).  They gave the headless body of John the Baptist an honorable burial, worthy of the Faithful Priest (Mark 6:29).

Yet, King Herod Antipas did not realize, that the Man of Truth was not John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-2).

Eventually, many of the priests of Israel became so corrupt during this time, that they conducted the unjust trail of the Man of Truth.  This set the pattern for the unjust courts that persecuted his followers.  So, they had also desecrated the Temple, like Antiochus Epiphanes.

John the Baptist had indeed prepared the people of Israel for the death, burial, and resurrection of the Man of Truth by performing the mikvah ceremony of repentance in the wilderness (Acts 10:37-41).  The Faithful Priest had prepared the people of Israel for these events, when he performed the mikvah ceremony of repentance in the wilderness (Acts 13:24-31).

It was the hidden hand of the Father of Truth that caused this mikvah ceremony with water to be performed in the wilderness.  The mikvah ceremony of the Faithful Priest helped prepare the Jewish world for spreading the Gospel, similar to how the Maccabees help spread the Gospel.

The mikvah ceremony with water that John the Baptist performed, does prepare people to be used mightily by the Father of Truth, but there is a better mikvah ceremony that only the Man of Truth can perform (Acts 18:24-26).

After the Man of Truth rose from the dead, he told his disciples to wait for him to perform the mikvah ceremony with the Spirit of Truth, instead of the mikvah ceremony that John the Baptist had performed with water (Acts 1:1-5).  The Messiah of Israel performs the mikvah ceremony with the Spirit of Truth on both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 11:15-18).

The mikvah ceremony of the Faithful Priest in water shows the repentance of those, that it is performed on, but the mikvah ceremony of the Messiah of Israel shows the Spirit of Truth speaking through those, that it is performed on (Acts 19:2-6).  The mikvah of the Messiah of Israel produces the sound of power!

The mikvah ceremony of the Faithful Priest in water is only meaningful, when people have become dead to sin (Romans 6:2-4).  There is no salvation without true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).  There is no true repentance without total surrender to the Messiah of Israel (Hebrews 6:4-6).

While the Man of Truth is first and foremost the Messiah of Israel, it has always been about the Gentiles coming to salvation as well.  He demands total surrender from both Jews and Gentiles.  Do not be taken in by the great deception, that you can follow the Man of Truth without following his instructions.  You must come into the House of Truth!

You come into the House of Truth, when you come to the Man of Truth in total surrender, because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9)!  Then the mikvah ceremony in water of the Faithful Priest is a sign of your salvation (1 Peter 3:21)!

Come into the House of Truth!