Podcast # 28: The Land of the Covenant – Part One
Scott: My name is Scott Paton. I am speaking today with Allan Colston. He is the author of the book “The Last Days of Tolemac”. This is a book dealing with prophecy.
For those listeners who may be new to this topic, this Podcast is another in the series “Signs of the Times”. Hello Allan and welcome to the Podcast.
Hello Scott, how are things with you?
Scott: Great, thank you. As you will no doubt recall Allan, at the end of our last Podcast about ISIS, I asked you what would happen to the Jews. You said that that was a topic for another time, so I was hoping that you could perhaps elaborate on that today.
Certainly Scott. My pleasure. But before I do that I would just like to say that I remain convinced that the Biblical description of the origin of Judaism is one of the most bizarre accounts in the history of civilization.
Much of what has happened to the Jews over the millennia simply defies rational understanding. So before I talk about the future of Israel, I think it would help to go back and review some of the extraordinary things that have happened in the past.
The Old Testament of the Bible is full of improbable stories that prompt more questions than they provide answers. For example, according to the eleventh chapter of the Book of Genesis, after the time of the Biblical flood, it says that “the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech“.
At that time the descendants of Noah said to themselves: “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth“. Then in verses 5 to 8 we read:
“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. And the LORD said, behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
“Go to, let us go down and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city“.
Now Scott, this is one of the most intriguing stories in the entire Bible, and it raises a whole series of questions for which we simply have no answers.
• What exactly were these descendants of Noah trying to do, and why was this so offensive to the LORD?.
• Who was this LORD the Bible was referring to anyway?
• Who were the “us” who proceeded to scatter the descendants of Noah upon the face of the earth, and then cause them to speak in a host of different languages?
• And how exactly did they accomplish such a stupendous feat?
Let’s just think about that for a moment Scott. How do you manage to scatter an entire people all over the earth, and in the process cause them to forget their mother tongue and replace it with a language that is completely different? It just boggles the mind. At least it boggles mine.
Scott: So who do you suppose these people were?
I really have no idea Scott. But there is another strange story in the Book of Genesis that may give us a clue. In chapter six we read the following:
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown“.
One of the things I find particularly interesting is that in the King James version of the Bible, the word LORD here is spelled in capital letters, just like it was in the story of the tower of Babel. Could this possibly refer to his rank, and could this LORD possibly be the leader of the “sons of God”?
And could these “sons of God” be the same beings who were so outraged when the descendants of Noah began to build their great tower? And were these “sons of God” giants, and if so where did they come from and where did they go?
Notice Scott that in the above quotation the LORD said that his spirit would not always strive with man, because “he also is flesh”. This certainly suggests that the LORD was not some supreme deity, but was made up of flesh and blood himself. This is a point I will return to later.
So do you see where I am going with this Scott? There is something decidedly other-wordly about many of these stories. You might even say that they are “out of this world”.
And this brings me to something that I have studiously avoided in all the years that I have been writing my Blog, not only because it has long been the butt of ridicule, but also because there is now so much disinformation surrounding the whole subject that most people assume it is all a hoax.
Scott: So what exactly are you referring to Allan?
The subject I am referring to Scott is UFO’s. Now before you and other listeners think that I have finally lost my marbles, let me emphasize that I am being perfectly serious about this, and I have a special reason for introducing this topic into our discussion.
Obviously the subject of UFO’s has been debated endlessly over the last fifty years or more, and is a topic that invariably generates far more heat than light. I just want to cut to the chase and mention the name of someone you have probably never heard of before Scott. His name is Clifford Stone.
Scott: You’re right there Allan. So what does he have to do with the history of the Jews?
Well Scott, Clifford Stone is one of those people that I could talk about for hours. But since we don’t have the time I’ll try to be brief. However, for the sake of those people who follow these Podcasts on my Blog, I’ll put a link there so that they can read more about him if they wish.
Clifford Stone is an American who was born in Ohio. At an early age he had memories of being contacted by ET’s. At the age of eight he was befriended by an Air Force captain, and this was the beginning of his association with the military. During the Vietnam war he tried to enlist in the US Air Force.
When Clifford was turned down by the Air Force as a result of a skin condition, his friend suggested that he try to join the Army instead. He did so and was selected for the job of clerical typist. But to his surprise, he hardly got to type a single letter.
Instead, a few weeks after joining the Army he was picked up in a staff car and taken to the Pentagon. From there he was moved by means of an underground shuttle to a location where he was told that he had been specially chosen for a secret assignment.
His assignment was to interact and communicate with extraterrestrial beings who were housed at this secret location. During the 22 years that Clifford spent with the Army, he also formed part of an elite group whose task was to recover crashed UFO’s and their occupants.
Since his retirement, Clifford has conducted numerous interviews describing his experiences with alien beings. In these discussions he has indicated that he personally knew of 57 different types of alien beings that had been in contact with the earth.
So if Clifford Stone is to be believed, alien beings are real and they are visiting our planet at this time. Obviously we can only speculate as to what their motives are for doing so. But the reason why I believe that his stories are true is because I have seen UFO’s myself on three different occasions.
So the point I want to make here Scott is this. If many different types of alien species are visiting the earth today, then they could well have visited earth in the past. And if they are communicating with us now, they could just as easily have communicated with those people who were alive then.
And so we need to examine many of the Bible stories to see if they can shed any light on possible human and alien interactions. And this brings me to what is undoubtedly the strangest story of them all, and that is the saga of Moses.
Scott: Why do you say that Allan?
Well Scott, I think most people are familiar with the story of Moses, and how he was called upon by God to rescue the children of Israel from bondage in the land of Egypt, and then lead them to a promised land flowing with milk and honey.
What most people seldom stop to consider is that the LORD who commanded Moses to carry out this mission, begins to look more and more like an extraterrestrial being, rather than the everlasting Deity. He also seems to be someone who clearly had an agenda of his own.
One of the most striking features of the Bible is the difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New. While the God of the New Testament is portrayed as an all-loving God, the God of the Old Testament seems more like a choleric martinet.
The LORD God of the Old Testament insists on obedience. He is jealous of any other rivals and is quickly roused to anger. He is also ready to seek vengeance on anyone who disobeys him. Certainly he comes across as an entity to be feared, rather than a God who is all-loving.
While the God of Jesus loves all of humanity to the point that he is even prepared to sacrifice his own Son upon the cross, the LORD of the Old Testament orders Abraham to offer up his own son Isaac as a human sacrifice, no doubt as a test of his faith, or should that perhaps be his ability to follow orders?
And whereas the God of Jesus embraces not only the Jews but also the Gentiles, or those people born outside of the Jewish faith, the LORD makes a covenant or pact with one specific tribe of people, and then announces that they are his chosen ones above all others.
As recorded in the 14th verse of the 4th chapter of the Book of Exodus, when Moses argues with the LORD saying that he doesn’t have the eloquence needed for the job of convincing Pharaoh to set the Jews free, we read that the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses. I mean relax… calm down!
But things get even stranger, for in verse 24 of the same chapter we read that: “It came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him (referring to Moses), and sought to kill him“. Now I don’t know about you Scott, but I always get a tad edgy when I read about Gods who try to kill people.
Scott: So Allan, are you saying that the God who spoke to Moses wasn’t divine?
Well here’s the rub Scott. The stories about the behaviour of the LORD of the Old Testament are not the sort of thing that I would expect from an eternal God or heavenly father, as has been described by Jesus in the New Testament. At least not by today’s standards of morality.
In the passage about Moses that I just described, we see the same reference to the LORD, again spelled in capital letters. While I am prepared to concede that Jehovah or Yahweh might well represent Deity, I am troubled by these questionable actions that are ascribed to the LORD.
Then again, the above passage says explicitly that the LORD met Moses on the road to the inn. Does that mean that the LORD was actually a flesh and blood person? And if so, does this relate to the passage I discussed earlier, where the “sons of God” said that they were flesh and blood like us?
All of these stories make me wonder whether a race of alien beings might have arrived on the earth in the distant past posing as divine beings, and then used their advanced intelligence and technological knowhow to impress and manipulate the local population into obeying their commands.
Anyway, to get back to the story of Moses, when he returns to Egypt and orders Pharaoh to let the Jews go, he refuses. As the LORD explains to Moses, this is because he (the LORD) has hardened Pharaoh’s heart. So he decides to bring about a series of plagues upon Egypt as punishment.
Now most people who read the Bible are left with the impression that the plagues that assailed Egypt at that time were a series of miracles ordered by the LORD, in order to change Pharaoh’s mind. Several millennia later, it was left to another Jew to explain what was really going on at the time.
In his book Worlds in Collision, written by the Jewish research scientist Immanuel Velikovsky, he explains that the plagues of Egypt were not miracles at all. They were actually the natural consequences of a close encounter between the earth and a large comet. I talk about all this in our Podcast # 11.
And then Scott, there is the mystery of the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night.
Scott: So what can you tell us about that?
When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, the land was shrouded in darkness. As Velikovsky explains in his book, the reason why the earth was in darkness was because it was immersed in the gaseous tail of the comet which enveloped the earth in a veil of gloom.
Yet despite this hardship, it seems that the LORD was able to provide some timely help to Moses and his wandering band of Israelites. Verses 21 and 22 of Chapter 14 of the Book of Exodus explain this in the following way:
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people“.
So I ask you again Scott, what on earth do you think was going on here?
Now maybe I have too wild an imagination, but I have come across something that looks remarkably similar to what is described in this passage in photographs of the so-called cigar-shaped UFO’s that were common in the 1950’s.
They were able to disguise themselves in atmospheric clouds during the day, but at night they were illuminated by the glow of the energy fields of the craft. In fact almost all UFO’s glow brightly at night, and this is the reason why these sightings are referred to as LITS – Lights in the Sky.
There is an even more telling passage taken from the Book of Exodus in Chapter 33 verses 9 to 11.
“And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
“And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend”
So Scott, the above passage alone should make it obvious that the cloudy pillar was actually a vehicle of some sort, and that the LORD used it as a means of conveyance. And the kicker here is that all the Israelites saw the LORD speaking to Moses face to face, like a man speaking to a friend.
So here we have a passage that provides compelling evidence that the LORD of the events described in the Book of Exodus appeared as a physical being, or someone who had the power to look like one, and who travelled in a craft of some sort. But of course Scott, there is more.
Scott: Carry on my friend. This is certainly far out.
Well Scott, this LORD was not content to act merely as a guide to the wandering Israelites. He also assumed the role of teacher and technological Guru, as we can see from the detailed instructions that he gave to Moses on how to build an Ark.
Unless the Ark is recovered one day from wherever it was hidden in antiquity, we will probably never know exactly what it was or what it was used for. However, we do know from Biblical accounts that it could be used as a weapon, such as the time when it was used to bring down the walls of Jericho.
It is clear that it generated some type of force field, which was the reason why Moses was warned never to allow others to approach it too closely. Finally, when the great temple was built by Solomon in Jerusalem, a special room was set aside in the Holy of Holies in order to house the Ark.
Another aspect about the Ark that I find intriguing is the fact that two Arks are mentioned in the Bible. One was the Ark built by Noah and the other was the Ark built by Moses. The Ark that Noah built was used as a means of salvation, while the Ark of the Covenant was used as a means of destruction.
Which brings us to the pinnacle of the LORD’s agenda in his dealings with Moses and the children of Israel, and that was to act as their Teacher and Lawgiver.
Scott: Let me guess Allan. Are you referring here to the Ten Commandments?
Absolutely Scott. If there is one thing we can say about the LORD who spoke to Moses, it is that he liked giving orders. The second is that he was a micro-manager, for we have chapter after chapter devoted to the minutiae of how the Israelites were commanded to live every aspect of their lives.
And the laws that the LORD proclaimed to Moses did not only apply to the men and women, but to their sons and daughters, their man-servants and maid-servants, as well as any strangers who might happen to be living with them. These laws even applied to their cattle.
The LORD was at his best itemising every tiny detail about how the Israelites should conduct various ceremonies, sacraments and ritual sacrifices. And naturally, everything that the LORD told Moses was dutifully passed on to his followers. You can find them all set out in the first five books of the Bible.
Of course what we remember most about the encounters between the LORD and Moses are the Ten Commandments. After the children of Israel had been wandering in the desert for some months, they arrived at Mount Sinai. The Bible records how Moses climbed the mountain to commune with the LORD.
As we read in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 24, verse 12: “And the LORD said unto Moses, come up to me into the mount and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone and a law, and commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them“.
And we all know what happened next Scott. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. Now we have to remember that he was already over eighty years old at the time, so it is no surprise that when he didn’t reappear for over a month, his followers gave him up for dead.
So naturally, they then did exactly what anyone could have predicted. Believing they would never see Moses or the LORD in the flesh again, they resorted to their old habits when they were in Egypt. They created a calf out of gold earrings to be the focus of their worship and prayers.
When Moses did finally return, carrying with him the tablets of stone on which were inscribed the Ten Commandments, he was outraged to find his followers engaged in revelry. He hurled the two stone tablets to the ground, where they were smashed into tiny pieces.
This could have been highly embarrassing for Moses, but fortunately the LORD came to his rescue with two more stone tablets to replace them. I would sure love to know Scott, just what might have been said between the LORD and whoever it was who had to carve these laws all over again.
Scott: I have to admit it must have been an interesting situation.
The laws that Moses received on the stone tablets were a series of basic rules that the Israelite were commanded to live by. There were ten of them. Based on what we have already learned about the LORD so far, it is no surprise to find that the first three rules related to the LORD God himself.
The LORD proclaimed on these stone tablets that he was a jealous God who would tolerate no competition from any other God or graven images, nor could anyone take his name in vain. Also not surprisingly, seven out of the ten commandments began with the words “Thou shalt not…”.
On the positive side, the Israelites were commanded to honour their parents and keep holy the Sabbath day. Now I am the first person to enjoy a day off now and then Scott, but the LORD of Moses insisted that the Israelites obey this commandment to an extreme degree.
The LORD set out a litany of things that the Israelites were expressly prohibited from doing on a Sabbath, using as his reason the fact that God took six days to create the heavens and the earth, and that on the seventh day he rested. And this commandment applied to everyone, even the cattle.
It is interesting to compare the commandments of the LORD of Moses with those of Jesus. Whereas most of the commandments consisted of things the Israelites were forbidden to do, Jesus simply demanded that people love God with all their heart, soul and mind, and love their neighbours as themselves.
Obviously Scott, this is not the place to compare Christianity and Judaism. However, there is one point on which both Christians and Jews do agree, and that is the commandment not to kill. Yet the fact is that no sooner had Moses descended from Mount Sinai, than he gave the order to kill.
As we read in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 32, verses 26 to 28:
“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, who is on the LORD’s side? Let him come to me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
“And he said unto them, thus saith the LORD God of Israel, put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his neighbor.
“And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.”
The Bible doesn’t say what the LORD’s reaction was to this massacre. Presumably he approved since he went on to prescribe a host of other laws which included: “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Exodus Chapter 21: 23,24)
People today express their revulsion at what they consider to be the barbarism of modern Sharia law, where thieves have their hands chopped off and adulterers are stoned to death. But under the law of Moses, Jews were doing the very same thing two thousand years before.
Anyway Scott, my purpose here is not to denigrate the Jewish religion. I merely want to point out some of the mysterious anomalies associated with their early history, as well as some of the unusual behaviour displayed by the LORD in his dealings with Moses.
Of course, as far as their past is concerned, the Jews have had to endure more hardships than perhaps any other people. Although they have always been assured that that they are the chosen ones of the LORD, it might be more accurate to say that they have been the victims of the LORD.
Scott: Why do you say that Allan?
Well Scott, the LORD promised Moses that he would lead the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey. But let’s face it, the place he led them to has turned out to be the most fought over piece of real estate on the planet. And then there are the incredible hardships that the Jews have had to face.
Their people have been led into captivity, not just once but twice. Their great temple in Jerusalem, hailed as one of the great places of worship of their time, was utterly destroyed – firstly by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and then again in the year 70 A.D. by the Romans.
Their people have been driven out of their own land to every corner of the world where they have had to endure abuse, hostility and oppression. Even Shakespeare used the moneylender Shylock in his play The Merchant of Venice as an example of corruption and personal avarice.
What prompted Hitler to target the Jews and wipe out six million of them in the holocaust? The Jews have their faults like any other people, but they never did anything to warrant such extreme slaughter. And now there is Iran. What did the Jews ever do to incur the wrath of the Ayatollahs?
No Scott, there is something sinister happening here, and it has been going on for thousands of years. I would like to think that now that the Jews have at last returned to their ancestral land, that they face a better future. Unfortunately, the prophets of old suggest that even worse lies in store for them.
Well Scott, I’m sorry to have taken up so much of our time talking about the past, but in our next conversation I will focus on what Biblical prophecy has to say about the future of Israel.
Scott: Well Allan, I think I can honestly say that this has been the most extraordinary Podcast we have ever done together. You have truly blown my mind. In fact I hardly know what to expect in our next discussion.
You have been listening to Allan Colston, author of the book “The Last Days of Tolemac”. Do join us for our next Podcast, which will be another in the series titled “Signs of the Times.”
