And It's Time to See Clearly

Unlike many authors who begin through formal academic pursuits, Carrasquillo's path began with an uncomfortable feeling he could not ignore.

For years, he sat in church services, attended Bible studies, and pursued theological education. Outwardly, everything appeared normal. Internally, however, something felt incomplete — a growing sense that certain passages of Scripture were being forced into theological systems rather than allowed to speak for themselves.

I wasn't looking for a new doctrine. I wasn't trying to start an argument or challenge Christianity. I simply wanted to understand what the biblical authors were actually saying.

Carrasquillo's background as a disabled U.S. military veteran played a significant role in shaping the way he approached biblical study. Military training teaches the importance of precision — a misunderstood command can alter an entire operation.

In military environments, words matter. Definitions matter. Context matters. The same principle, Carrasquillo believes, applies to Scripture. He wanted to understand not merely what a verse says in English, but what it communicated to the people who first heard it.

One of the most powerful illustrations in Carrasquillo's work is what he calls the "Western Prism." Every person sees the world through a lens shaped by culture, education, family, religion, media, and life experience.

When modern believers approach Scripture, they do so carrying assumptions about heaven and hell, the nature of the soul, salvation, authority, prophecy, judgment, and identity — many of which originate from centuries of philosophical development rather than directly from the worldview of ancient Yisra'el.

• The biblical authors thought communally rather than individualistically.
• They viewed covenant as central to identity.
• They understood honor and shame differently.
• Their language reflected concepts deeply rooted in an agricultural society.

Determined to understand Scripture more accurately, Carrasquillo expanded his studies through the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies — pursuing Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, biblical history, ancient customs, and cultural context.

The combined disciplines gradually revealed something profound: the Bible makes far more sense when read from within the worldview of the people who wrote it. Passages that once seemed confusing became clearer. Questions that had lingered for years began finding answers.

Through the Lens of an Ancient Yisra'elite Bible Study is not a quick devotional and not a surface-level commentary. Spanning 894 pages, the book represents years of research, study, and reflection.

Whether you are a pastor, ministry leader, Bible study teacher, seminary student, or simply a believer seeking a deeper understanding of Scripture, the book provides a comprehensive resource for examining the biblical text from its original context.