REVS.1:1

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At 12:59 AM 2/18/97 -0800, James H. Cape wrote:
>Mr. Blume:
>    	I still must denounce your interpretation of Revs.1:1.

This is what I like about Higher Fire. It's bible to discuss and debate.
Here's a great exclamation of what is going on, written by Dr. Marvin
Arnold. General Superintendent of the Biblical Apostolic Organization.

                                        CABALA
                        [qabbalah, Hebrew, meaning to receive]

[The unique Hebrew word,CABALA, tends to mean to receive, to take, it was a
number of qualified Hebrew Elders who met and had what, to us, would be a
round table discussion in which, when there was a question or problem, each
could voice his single opinion concerning the subject. Often a Cabala was
convened by leading rabbis when there was necessary interpretation of
certain Holy Scriptures to be made. One had to adhere to the Scriptures.
Sometimes things of a social nature connected to the Scripture could call
for a Cabala.]

While the word "CABALA," is strange to most of our ears, it was a common
thing or practice in Israel for centuries. Our dictionaries state that the
Cabala was started in the Middle Ages, but we question that. It seems,
rather, that such beneficial Cabalas (or a council similar to one) would
certainly have been instituted in the days of Moses, especially after he
had appointed seventy (70) elders out of the tribes of Israel to be judges
[Sanhedrim (rin), a Hebrew Council.] It was Jethro, Moses' father-in-law,
who gave Moses the idea of a group of 70 to help Moses judge in judicial
matters. (See Exodus 18:21-15).

One cannot connect the CABALA altogether with the Sanhedrim (also
Sanhedrin); there was most likely a difference. Although both, in a sense,
were Hebrew councils. The high Sanhedrin Council was the highest Jewish
tribunal during the Greek and Roman periods, often mentioned in our New
Testament. By our Lord Jesus' time, the Sanhedrin had become corrupted.

Differently, the CABALA was a number of interested Hebrew men, often
rabbis, who met to talk about Scriptures (and sometimes other related
phenomena) which affected Israel or an Israelite. Differently than the
Sanhedrin. The Cabala members did not exercise civil jurisdiction, or
criminal matters in Israel; Cabala participants seemed to have been
concerned with Scriptures, perhaps knotty interpretation involving them,
and social phenomena connected with the Holy Writ. The Cabala tended to be
beneficial. And in the discussions a participant could very markedly
disagree with another member concerning an issue, an interpretation;
however, he could not attack another member's character.

We first saw a Cabal during the Church History Conference, held at Bishop
Kotal's Church in Melbourne, Florida, on January 23rd to the 27th. It was
held in the morning session. It was extremely interesting and beneficial to
each of the participants. Different Scriptures were discussed. There was an
evident spirit of love and very obvious toleration. Doctor J.R. Strome was
the very able Moderator. During the Cabala meetings, many notable clergymen
sitting in a round-like fashion, discussed Scriptures, some differed, but
there was no one who became upset or red in the face. On two different
sessions many young people from a Christian School attended and asked
question. All-in-all, the Cabala was a success, and we think that more of
them will be in our Jesus Name Movement.

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						Jerry Moon