RW Ranalli - Author

THE MYSTERY OF THE BELOVED DISCIPLE

Who was the beloved disciple? Was it truly John? We should always be open to considering what early church fathers believed and taught. However, the opinions of men who wrote hundreds of years after the Resurrection should never be cited to trump what is plainly written in our Bibles. This is one of the principal rules of hermeneutics… Bible should interpret Bible. Men who lived hundreds of years after Jesus decided that John wrote the 4th Gospel and designated John as the “Beloved Disciple.” The 4th Gospel is written anonymously and never claims the writer was John. The beloved disciple who stood at the cross is never named. I have actually heard Bible teachers say, “John was the only disciple named at the cross.” Sorry, he was never “named at the cross” or even named as the one leaning on Jesus at supper. However, the Bible irrefutably and repeatedly declares Lazarus alone as the “one Jesus loved” and the one who leaned on Jesus at the supper [11:3,36; 12:1-2; 13:23; 21:20]. Lazarus was Jesus’ childhood best friend as both of them were of the priestly class and knew each other as boys… but I digress…

So, how did John become the one known as the “beloved disciple” and the author of the 4th Gospel? Early church fathers wanted desperately to validate the 4th Gospel as written by one of the twelve in order to add credibility to this Gospel and they decided on John. This designation is based on only two bits of evidence from outside the Biblical text. The first is that John declared Joseph of Arimathea “paranymphos to Mary,” a statement simply declaring the fact that Joseph of Arimathea was Mary’s uncle and legal guardian as the younger brother of Mary’s father Heli. This was not as they claim a transference of responsibility for Mary’s care from the beloved disciple to Joseph. (I really don’t think Jesus intended her to be passed off like an NFL football player). The other bit of evidence they reference as evidence that John wrote the 4th Gospel is a note found tagged to the manuscript saying, “according to John.” That’s it, just a note tagged onto a manuscript. Even the scholars disagree as to which “John” this note might have been referring to. This is hardly definitive proof of authorship.

The internal evidence of the 4th Gospel is irrefutable. The rules of hermeneutics demand that we accept Lazarus was the “Beloved Disciple,” the “other disciple,” and the author of the 4th Gospel. The only disciple mentioned at the crucifixion was the “disciple whom He loved,” His best friend from childhood. According to the synoptic Gospels, Judas was dead and ALL of the other eleven disciples had fled and were in hiding, not one of them is stated as having been at the crucifixion. “Then ALL the disciples deserted him and fled” (Mt. 26:56). The disciple at the crucifixion is never named, but only called, “the one Jesus loved” [11:3,36; 12:1-2; 13:23; 21:20]. Lazarus was the only one of the male disciples (other than Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea) who did not run and hide. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were disciples and men of wealth and influence and Lazarus had already died and been risen by Jesus, he had no reason to fear death “and we know his testimony is true” (21:24). Whose testimony? The one who Jesus raised from the dead, the one who authored the 4th Gospel, the childhood best friend and disciple of Jesus.

The beloved disciple was not a Galilean fisherman. A Galilean fisherman would not have owned a home in Jerusalem and would not have been known by Annas (Jn. 18:15-16). This “other disciple” was not only known by Annas, but gained entrance into the palace of Annas during a riotous upheaval, while Peter waited outside. When this “other disciple” returned and spoke to the girl on duty she then let Peter in. John, a Galilean fisherman, was not known by Annas; nor would he have had the authority and privilege that the “other disciple” demonstrated. So, why does this point to Lazarus? Because his true name was Eleazar ben Annas. Lazarus was the son of Annas, brother-in-law to Caiaphas and high priest of Israel from 16AD – 17AD (Josephus, Antiquities XVIII, ii, 2).

This is an open letter to all those "Christian influencers" who are inciting fear of Muslims and claiming that they are the decapitators of the last days. Have you ever considered that you are leading people to focus on and fear the tail of the rattle snake instead of the fangs? Magicians call it misdirection; the Bible calls it sorcery. The tail informs you of a threat, but the real danger is in the fangs. Cut the tail off and the snake will still bite you. It is not just the Quran and Muslims that practice ex*****on by decapitation. The Jewish Talmud instructs that gentiles are to be executed by decapitation. Question: Who beheaded John the Baptist? Quote from the Jewish Talmud: "It has already been explained that gentiles are always executed by decapitation." [Melachim uMilchamot 10:5]. Look it up for yourself right here:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1188355/jewish/Melachim-uMilchamot-Chapter-10.htm

Jesus said, “THEY persecuted me, THEY will persecute you” (Jn. 5:16). Here’s a newsflash: there were no Muslims until hundreds of years after the resurrection. The “they” Jesus was speaking of was not Muslims, but Jews (Jn. 5:16). There is only one religion on the planet that hates Jesus… it is not Muslims. There is only one religious text that declares hatred for Jesus… it is not the Quran. There is only one religion that exists as "enemies of the cross" (Phil. 3:18). There is only one religion that has murdered all her prophets (Mt. 23:30-31, Lk. 11:47, Ro. 11:3, 1Th. 2:15).

Even so, Jesus commands us to love our enemies (whether they be Muslim or Jewish or atheist), not to fear them (1Jn. 4:18) and Paul instructs us to, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Rom. 12:14). This is not to say there is no threat or to diminish the suffering of those harmed by religious violence. However, the real threat is not a religion, not a nation, not a people group, not an ideology; the real threat is fear and hatred. Which is why WE ARE COMMANDED not to fear, because fear leads to hate and hate leads to attack. We are commanded to love and reach the lost. We are commanded to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8). We are commanded to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the wanderer, care for widows and orphans, for this is religion that is pure (Ja. 1:27).

Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 10 « Previous Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 9 Next » Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 11 1A gentile who inadvertently violates one of his commandments is exempt from all punishment1 with the exception of a person who kills inadvertently.2 In such an instance, the redeemer of the blood3 is not executed f...

ACTS CHAPTER 2: PENTECOST?
Today, July 28th, 2026, is the true Scriptural Day of the Feast of Ingathering (called Pentecost).

The disciples were gathered together in Acts 2 because it was the celebration of the Feast of Ingathering (not Pentecost). The word Pentecost does not exist in the Old Testament. It is a replacement or renaming of the Feast of Ingathering. The instructions for this feast are found in Leviticus and Exodus as follows:

"From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full sabbaths. Count off fifty days AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH" (Lev. 23:15-16). "Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering (H614) at the END of the year, when you gather in your CROPS (H4639 ma'aseh) from the field" (Ex. 23:16).

The instructions are clear: this is to take place at the “end of the year” when all the crops are gathered in. This word "crops" or “labors” (KJV) refers to ALL crops, it does not say wheat or barley or even grain. This is referring to the harvest time that takes place at the end of planting season when ALL crops are harvested. This was a great time of celebration and feasting similar to America’s Thanksgiving Day. This harvest day was counted from the day of the Wave Offering (not Easter) which takes place on the 16th of Abib (Lev. 23:5-6,11). The count according to Scripture is seven sabbaths PLUS fifty more days (Lev. 23:15-16). The fifty days were counted AFTER the seventh sabbath. This is approximately four months. We must take the Scriptures at face value and reject traditions – whether they be Christian traditions or the rabbinic "traditions of the elders." Both Jesus and Paul warned us of the falsehood of the teachings of the Pharisees and their “traditions of the elders or rabbis” (Mk. 7:9,13; Mt. 16:6,11,12; Mk. 8:15; Lk. 12:1; Col. 2:8). So yeah… don’t “ask a rabbi,” study your scriptures.

Jesus spoke during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th-22nd of Abib) saying: "four months then the harvest" (Jn. 4:35). I think I'll take HIS word for it. So, Happy Harvest Day!

Pentecost is observed this year (2026) on May 24 or 31 (Eastern Orthodox). We are told that Pentecost is a Christian celebration taking place fifty days after Easter. Pentecost is a substitution or renaming of the Feast of Ingathering based upon the outpouring that occurred in Acts chapter two. The disciples were gathered together on this day because it was the Biblical Feast of Ingathering (H614 – harvest) which was commanded as a celebration to be observed at the “turn of the year” meaning the end of the harvest season (Ex. 34:22). YHWH commanded that the Feast of Ingathering was to be observed by counting from “the day of the WAVE OFFERING (16th of Abib). They were to count seven complete sabbaths and then “from the morrow AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH you shall number fifty days” (Lev. 23:16, KJV). It says that from the First Fruits offering (16th of Abib) to count off seven complete sabbaths (not Saturdays) AND THEN AFTER the seventh sabbath, count FIFTY MORE DAYS. This is approximately four months not fifty days.
It is just not possible for wheat to be ready to harvest in fifty days; it takes four months not fifty days for wheat to ripen for harvest. There are those that split hairs saying there is different harvest times of barley and wheat. But the instructions given by Moses are irrefutable, “Celebrate the FEAST OF INGATHERING (harvest) at the end of the year, when you gather in your CROPS FROM THE FIELD” (Ex. 23:16). It does not say, “when you gather your wheat” rather “when you gather your crops”—all of them. Fifty days after Passover is patently not the end of the year when crops are harvested. This is why Jesus said, “FOUR MONTHS THEN THE HARVEST” (Jn. 4:35).
The True and Biblical Feast of Ingathering (Pentecost) this year will fall on July 28th, 2026. Seven sabbaths plus fifty days AFTER First Fruits (16th of Abib) (Lev. 23:16).
It is time to come out of Babylon (constantines sol invictus calendar AND the rabbinic calendar of the pharisees) and follow the Bible. Biblical sabbath is NOT rabbinic Saturnsday. See less

Hallel-Yah! Today (April 27th, 2026) is the 25th day of Abib and true Resurrection Day.
Having been crucified on the 21st day of Abib (see previous posts), He would have spent the next three nights AND three days in the grave (Jonah 1:17; Lk. 11:29). Jesus would have arisen after the last light of the 24th day of the month of Abib making the 25th day of Abib the true Resurrection Day.
Not knowing the exact year that He was crucified we have no way of knowing what day of the pagan Gregorian week this was—the Gregorian seven-day consecutive week calendar did not even exist then—but one thing is for sure, He was not crucified on a Friday and rose on a Sunday since this is not 3 days AND 3 nights (Lk. 11:29). There are some who try to justify this Friday/Sunday fable by the talmudic rabbinic distortion of the meaning of a day to fit the 3 days and 3 nights. Regardless of what the rabbinic scholars call a “day,” The Father of lights defines a day as “day”, and night as “night.” “And YHWH said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, … the greater light to govern the DAY and the lesser light to govern the NIGHT” (Gen. 1:14,16). Jesus said He would spend 3 days AND 3 nights in the grave; maybe we should take His word for it! Why would we ever take the words of either any Christian or rabbinic scholars over the words of Jesus? The Creator and Father of Lights does not need or follow a Babylonian/Roman/Gregorian nor Talmudic calendar that hangs on a wall, He hung His calendar in the firmament where everyone from every generation and tribe can see it and no man can touch it or manipulate it. His calendar hangs in the sky “…the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Ps. 19:1-4).
I can hear some saying, "Does it matter?"
…The Truth Always Matters.

oday (April 23, 2026) is the 21st day of Abib and the true crucifixion day. The Father of Lights never named His days and months – He numbered them with the exception of the month of Abib. The Bible tells us that Jesus was crucified the day before a “special sabbath” (Jn. 19:31,42; Mk. 15:42; Lk. 23:54,56). This “special sabbath” would have been the closing ceremony of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which takes place on the 22nd day of Abib (not a Saturday and not in the pagan month of Nisan; Ex. 13:6-7; 23:15; 34:18; Lev. 23:6,15-17). He was not crucified on the Passover (14th day of Abib) or the following day (15th of Abib) as this would have been impossible (see previous posts). The confusion lies in the 4th Gospel where the Jews refused to enter the hall of judgement “…for it was the Passover” (Jn. 18:28-29). But the answer lies in Luke’s Gospel where we are told that the Feast of Unleavened Bread which lasted from the 15th to the 22nd day of Abib is also called, the Feast of Passover (Lk. 22:1,7). Therefore, Jesus was crucified on the 21st day of Abib the day before the special sabbath, the closing ceremony of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This means He must have been abused by the Roman soldiers for another four days after He was handed over to the Romans (Jn. 19:12,16) and before His crucifixion on the 21st day of Abib, the day before the special sabbath, the closing ceremony of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Jn. 19:31,42; Mk. 15:42; Lk. 23:54,56). It is plain to see that His torture at the hands of the Jews and the Romans lasted throughout the entire Feast of Unleavened Bread. He truly was the Bread of Heaven (Jn. 6:32-35,41,48,50,58); He was the First Fruits offering of wheat as well as the Lamb without defect waved before YHWH in the presence of Israel (Lev. 23:9-14; Ex. 12:16) and He was the Passover Lamb. He was the fulfillment of the Passover AND the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was the Bread of Heaven without sin who suffered throughout the entire Feast of Unleavened Bread (also known as the Feast of Passover) and was offered up and crucified on the 21st day of Abib for the sins of the world.
Tonight was His first night in the grave.
Stay tuned for true Resurrection Day…

After Pilate sentenced Jesus (on the 16th day of Abib), He was “from then on…handed over to the Roman Soldiers” (Jn. 19:12,16). We are not told how long—for how many hours or even days—"from then on” was. He was patently not crucified on the same day He was sentenced. It is quite obvious that our Savior did not die on a Friday and resurrect on a Sunday. The fact is there was not even a seven-day week calendar at that time in history and there is no mention of any pagan named days of the week in the Bible. The Hebrews of that time followed the Biblical calendar as observed in the lights of the firmament (Gen. 1:14-18), not a "sol invictus" Roman/Gregorian calendar that didn't even exist then. We know He was crucified during the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the day before a “special sabbath” (Jn. 19:31,42; Mk. 15:42; Lk. 23:54,56). So, on which day of the Feast was He crucified? Stay tuned for true crucifixion day...

After Pilate sentenced Jesus (on the 16th day of Abib), He was “from then on…handed over to the Roman Soldiers” (Jn. 19:12,16). We are not told how long—for how many hours or even days—"from then on” was. He was patently not crucified on the same day He was sentenced. It is quite obvious that our Savior did not die on a Friday and resurrect on a Sunday. The fact is there was not even a seven-day week calendar at that time in history and there is no mention of any pagan named days of the week in the Bible. The Hebrews of that time followed the Biblical calendar as observed in the lights of the firmament (Gen. 1:14-18), not a "sol invictus" Roman/Gregorian calendar that didn't even exist then. We know He was crucified during the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the day before a “special sabbath” (Jn. 19:31,42; Mk. 15:42; Lk. 23:54,56). So, on which day of the Feast was He crucified? Stay tuned for true crucifixion day...

Today (April 18th, 2026) is the 16th day of Abib, the true and Biblical day of First Fruits. On this day the priest was to wave a sheaf of wheat before all of Israel and sacrifice a lamb without blemish (Lev. 23:9-14; Ex. 12:16).

Jesus spent the entire day and following night of the 15th of Abib, the sabbath and opening ceremony of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the dungeon of the Sanhedrin (see previous post). After His 24-hour confinement in the pit of the Sanhedrin, Jesus was brought out on the day of First Fruits at daybreak to be tried before the council of the Sanhedrin (Lk. 22:66; Mt. 27:1; Mk. 15:1). He was then taken to Pilate, then to Herod (Jn. 23:6), then back to Pilate. “On this day” of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the day after the opening ceremony of the Feast, it was the tradition to release a prisoner to the people (Mt. 27:15; Mk. 15:6; Lk. 23:17; Jn. 18:39). As Pilate waved Jesus before the people of Israel, they shouted “Crucify Him!” He was accepted as the “grain of wheat that would fall to the ground and die” (Jn. 12:24) and the “Lamb without blemish,” the sacrifice once for all. For “we are redeemed…with the precious blood of Messiah, the lamb without blemish or defect” (1Pet. 1:18-19). He was finally sentenced by Pilate at noon, the 6th hour (Jn. 19:14), and “FROM THEN ON… handed over to the Roman Soldiers” (Jn. 19:12,16). But He was still not crucified on this same day for that would be impossible since Pilate sentenced Him at the 6th hour/noon (Jn. 19:14) and Jesus was crucified at the 3rd hour/9am (Mk.15:25). So on what day was He crucified? (Hint: it wasn’t a Friday).

Stay tuned for the rest of the story…

Today (April 18th, 2026) is the 16th day of Abib, the true and Biblical day of First Fruits. On this day the priest was to wave a sheaf of wheat before all of Israel and sacrifice a lamb without blemish (Lev. 23:9-14; Ex. 12:16).
Jesus spent the entire day and following night of the 15th of Abib, the sabbath and opening ceremony of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the dungeon of the Sanhedrin (see previous posts). After His 24-hour confinement in the pit of the Sanhedrin, Jesus was brought out on the day of First Fruits at daybreak to be tried before the council of the Sanhedrin (Lk. 22:66; Mt. 27:1; Mk. 15:1). He was then taken to Pilate, then to Herod (Jn. 23:6), then back to Pilate. “On this day” of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the day after the opening ceremony of the Feast, it was the tradition to release a prisoner to the people (Mt. 27:15; Mk. 15:6; Lk. 23:17; Jn. 18:39). As Pilate waved Jesus before the people of Israel, they shouted “Crucify Him!” He was accepted as the “grain of wheat that would fall to the ground and die” (Jn. 12:24) and the “Lamb without blemish,” the sacrifice once for all. For “we are redeemed…with the precious blood of Messiah, the lamb without blemish or defect” (1Pet. 1:18-19). He was finally sentenced by Pilate at noon, the 6th hour (Jn. 19:14), and “FROM THEN ON… handed over to the Roman Soldiers” (Jn. 19:12,16). But He was still not crucified on this same day for that would be impossible since Pilate sentenced Him at the 6th hour/noon (Jn. 19:14) and Jesus was crucified at the 3rd hour/9am (Mk.15:25). So on what day was He crucified? (Hint: it wasn’t a Friday).
Stay tuned for the rest of the story…