From REVELATION to LEVITES

I’ve been meaning and wanting to write something which deals with certain Biblical verses, particularly verses from the Book of Revelation, which is the final book in the (Christian) Bible.  From when I first read the Bible, and hence the book of Revelation, over 40 years ago now I thought that this book was a good and proper bookend to the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.  One main parallel is that both books cover centuries of time within their respective texts.

Rev. 18:4 is one of the main verses I’ve had in mind. 

Rev. 18:4- Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“’Come out of her, my people,’

So that you will not share in her sins,

So that you will not receive any of her plagues;”

The first question should be “Who is her” that “my people” should come out of?  Also, who exactly are “my people”?

One belief I have held since first reading the Book of Revelation was via Rev. 13:2 “The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion.  The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.”  The bear is commonly understood as symbolic of Russia, hence I made that connection immediately.  The dragon I understood as symbolic of Asia or the Asiatic peoples.  The lion or “a mouth like that of a lion” was not clear to me as I felt the bear and Russia were.  The lion is, as many may be aware, is the symbol of the tribe of Judah, as in the lion of Judah.  The lion often called the “king of the jungle,” also references who is in charge.

I eventually concluded that the “mouth like that of a lion” must mean Germany.  This geographical and regional area I concluded was the “her” that “my people” needed to come out from.  That is the area stretching from Russia to Germany, with the various nations, languages, ethnicities, cultures and religions within those borders.  The Holocaust certainly helped to convince me of this.  This knowledge comes too little, too late, as far as the Holocaust.  However, the Jewish choice of willful ignorance to this book and other books associated with Christianity is frankly inexcusable.  Here the Jews lived in nations whose religion was predominantly Christian, be they Roman Catholic, Protestant or Eastern Orthodox.  Yet Jews, with more than encouragement but demand from their (mis)leaders and the cult of followers, for the most part, choose willful ignorance of the texts associated with Christianity, as in the New Testament.  Then to be politically (or religiously) correct they will claim to respect the religion of their neighbors or even those they consider their hosts.  Yet the reality is ignorance.  In fact, willful ignorance.  How can one respect what one does not understand.    There is a book, the New Testament, which is considered the central text of Christianity.  You live as neighbors or guests to these people, it would behoove you to have knowledge of their beliefs.  Which does not mean you agree nor disagree.  The lack of understanding that reading a book, does not mean that one agrees with said book, is moronic, yet all too common.  Similar to going to a movie.  Before you go, you don’t know if you will like said movie.  You make that decision afterwards.  Unless, other people are making your mind up for you.  Critics and reviewers and friends and family can do just that, to one degree or another.  They can certainly sway your view ahead of time.  In fact, if people/teachers/brain-washers/cult leaders have demanded that you reject and despise the New Testament, then ignorance might actually be the best option.  Having grown up in a minimally observant Jewish home I did not have too much direct influence telling me to reject the New Testament, but it was in the air.  It was understood that this was not for you.  However, for myself there were just too too many ‘Jews don’t this’ and ‘Jews can’t that’.  I decided that I can actually do or read or even believe that, if I want to, if I agree with what “it” says.  In fact, from where I was coming from, I understood the whole Bible to be a Christian book and hence again, Jews can’t, Jews don’t.  However, to accept that a book is off limits is unacceptable willful IGNORANCE.  Particularly from a people who consider themselves to be, “People of the Book”.  I decided that I wanted to make an informed decision about my beliefs.  It was and remains quite shocking to discover just how Jewish the Bible actually is, having understood it to be a “Christian” book growing up.  Initially comes the first 5 books, which turn out to be the Torah, which turns out to be the document that is the centerpiece of EVERY synagogue and temple with few possible exceptions (Humanist or Athiest Jewish congregations, for example).  Then to discover that these 5 books did not contain the word Jew nor Jewish nor Judaism even once.  Only Judah a few times along with the other sons of Jacob/Israel.  The rest of the “Hebrew” Bible also, with the exception of the Book of Esther, the same.  One never sees the words Jew, Jewish, nor Judaism.  The “New” Testament however, the book which Jews are told to reject and despise, was actually all about Jews and said so continually.  Some were negative, some were positive and some were neutral.  Of course the Jewish (mis)leaders have tried to “protect” Jews from anything “negative,” in other words, from reality.  Quickly labeling any non-laudatory words about Jews as “anti-Semitism” and then filing anything critical or negative away in their “anti-Semitic” file and pretending they are keeping themselves and other Jews safe, with most Jews believing them.  In spite of their track record of ABYSMAL failure [i.e. (mis)leading 6 million Jews to death], most Jews continue to trust these (mis)leaders, for the most part.

I managed to read the Bible and consciously and temporarily put aside the “Jews can’t” and “Jews don’t” message that the Jewish community puts onto and into people.  In fact, I needed to put aside my being Jewish altogether in order to be objective about what I was reading, when I read the Bible.  Hence, the conclusions I drew left me very isolated.  While God would therefore be the power on which one would then trust, depend and believe, I understood and experienced how this is not really respected in most, if any Jewish circles.  Even as the Jews demand respect for their beliefs.  Many assuming because they are the oldest religion that this confers on Jews a certain reflexive respect.  Except those, like myself, who see religion as the main cause of the world’s problems, that “respect” will not be bullied nor demanded.  After reading and believing the Bible, I realized and believed that religion, in this case Judaism and Christianity also contain the solutions.  In the traditional Jewish attitude, older established faiths garner respect from Orthodox Jews, because said faiths are older and established.  Newer faiths are rejected, simply for being new.  This is the mentality of bullies and cowards who see large numbers and see that as evidence of that group’s validity and strength, which makes sense.  Though, I would also call such attitudes “anti-Semitic”, which I define as anti-individual.  Which is very much what exists in the Jewish world, along with many fierce individuals, which the bullies/cowards are likely to call ‘crazy.’

There are so many, many layers to this problem and it goes back further than 2000 years in fact.  2000 years ago the Jewish nation as a whole rejected Jesus as the Messiah (Christ), with some exceptions.  Leaving Jesus’ message and the spread thereof in the hands of non-Jews or excommunicated Jews.  Yet the issue or problem precedes the alleged mistreatment of Jesus.

One has to look back to when the Torah or the Bible was first given at Mt. Sinai to Moses and the Jewish people/the people of Israel.  This is one example of language being meaningless, particularly in the Jewish community.  The Jewish people and the people of Israel are NOT synonymous.  A basic understanding of Israel should and would make this obvious.  Yet the willful, in fact insistence upon ignorance of and from the Jewish community, keeps this false understanding of Israel being synonymous with being Jewish in play.  So much so that the reemergence of a Jewish nation after over 1900 years is now named Israel and not Judea as it was 1900 years ago.

I recall as a youngster, noticing the side of our box of Hanukkah candles (which by the way has nothing to do with the actual story of Hanukkah, though looks to be an attempt to compete with so-called Christians and their winter festival)  and seeing the symbols of the 12 tribes (of Israel).  The symbol for Levi was quite simple and different from the others.  Just 12 squares in a 3 x 4 rectangle.  Hence representing that the Levites were responsible for keeping united the 12 distinct tribes and taking themselves out of the picture to a large degree.  Or to be objective, like in so many jobs in life.  For example, a judge should apply the law even-handedly, whether he/she likes or doesn’t like the person who is accused of violating the law.  A teacher should give grades based upon the grades the student has earned, not whether said teacher likes a student more or less than other students. 

Discovering that at or around 722 B.C.E/3038, 10 of these 12 tribes of Israel had poof, disappeared, was a ridiculous concept that has inexcusably not been addressed by the Jewish community.  It has not been answered and barely even asked.  Of course if this question was ever seriously asked and researched, it would still need to be answered.  This is another inexcusable case of willful ignorance.  The 10 or lost tribes of Israel did NOT fall off the end of the earth as was and definitely is obvious!  The earth was thought to have been flat at that time.  Obviously the earth is not flat now and never was.  The rabbis had also determined that the 10 tribes had intermarried and therefore these rabbis had written them off as they do with so many Jews who marry non-Jews.  Yet, another obvious question, neither asked nor answered by Jewish (mis)leaders nor their followers is: Why would God choose 12 tribes only to write off and dismiss 10 of those tribes?  It is frankly incomprehensible and inexcusable to not understand that this very large missing link exists and it would behoove Jews to find out EXACTLY who, what and where these people, your people, went to and where they are!  To not understand that this was God’s plan, shows such a level of arrogance and ignorance that this helps explain Jewish history and its horrors, to myself at least.  Horrors of which I have frankly heard one time too many, of which Jews must be proud.  Because Jewish pride is constantly expressed and with the Holocaust so central a part of being Jewish, Jews must be proud of it, instead of: 1) Striving to figure out what is wrong within Jewish life (as well as what is right).  2) Correcting what is wrong and what is not working.  Instead, I see Jewish culture always striving and pretending to be positive.  Shoving anything negative (to one degree or another) under the proverbial rug.  Hoping this negativity will poof disappear (anti-Semitism or hatred for Jews for example), instead of addressing and resolving these issues.

Genesis 35:11- and God said to him (Jacob/Israel), “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number.  A nation and a community (commonwealth in some translations) of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.”  There it is.  In plain language, which requires some knowledge and ability to think, wonder and question.  Except when the leaders/teachers/rabbis of your culture have demanded that you really not think, wonder or question; and you, their students have allowed them to get away with this, then all are responsible and hence complicit.  One analogy is where people complain about the Pope, but continue to put money in the basket at church each week, and to give their regular monthly donations through the mail or online.  As long as people continue to offer financial support, complaints can be ignored.  Take action on an organization’s bottom line, threaten to cut back or actually cut back or cease donating money, then you might be heard and your criticisms heeded.

The rebirth of the nation of Israel is for many a miracle.  How have the Jews survived to manage to retake their ancient homeland?  My question is more to the focus of why were Jews forced out of their land in the first place?  Because without asking and answering that question, I see NO reason to think or believe that this attempt at Jewish sovereignty will be any different than the previous attempts.  One obvious question would be: What did the ancient Jews do wrong?  That may very well bring out the name-calling labels from many who refuse to admit that their ancestors did anything wrong.  Hence the sins of the fathers (and mothers) will persist, calling such a question, you guessed it, anti-Semitism.  Labeling, which I have determined, seeks to stifle and shut people up who seek answers.  Who in fact, demand answers!  As everyone should.  As you should.

Coming full circle I return to myself, Richard Levik.  When I first read the Bible I saw my name or a variation thereof.  This was not something of which I was aware and maybe that was God’s plan.  The numerous references to Levites and a whole book, smack in the middle of the first 5 Books of the Torah/Bible, entitled Leviticus.  Wow!  Whoa!  Yikes!  What was wrong with the Jews, I demanded?  Well, I was.  We were.  The Levites were.  Who was Moses?  He was not a Jew!  He was a Levite!  Though one wouldn’t know this from the “experts” in the Jewish religious community.  This is, of course, a loooong story.  I am out to change that story, but I cannot do this alone.  I will need your support.  Please look at my website www.theleviteline.com and please purchase some items and/or donate.

Numbers 3:6-9: 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.”

Towns for the Levites

Numbers 35 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. ³ Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals.

⁴ “The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits (approximately 1500 feet or 450 meters) from the town wall. ⁵ Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits (approximately 3000 feet or 900 meters) on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.

Cities of Refuge

⁶ “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. ⁷ In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. ⁸ The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”

Deuteronomy 14:22-29- ^22 “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. ²³ Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. ²⁴ But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), ²⁵ then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. ²⁶ Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. ²⁷ And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

²⁸ At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, ²⁹ so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

Deuteronomy 33:1- “This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death.”

Deuteronomy 33:8-10- “⁸ About Levi he said:

“Your Thummim and Urim belong
    to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah;
    you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
⁹ He said of his father and mother,
    ‘I have no regard for them.’
He did not recognize his brothers
    or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
    and guarded your covenant.
¹⁰ He teaches your precepts to Jacob
    and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
    and whole burnt offerings on your altar.”

These above quoted verses are a sampling of Biblical verses which lay out the responsibility placed upon the tribe of Levi (and their descendants) and for all Israelites for generations.  This remains the covenant established by God, or so I believe, for the Levites, the people of Israel, and all of human kind.

Please look at this website: www.theleviteline.com where you can purchase unique items to show your support for this vital cause.  I hope you understand how vital this cause is.  The work of God, of the Levites for Israel and for humankind, cannot be done without your support.  If not now, when?  If not you, whom?  Please step up and do your part.