Should Christians be Torah Observant? The answer can be found in my book - in three different languages!

ARE YOU, OR IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW, grappling with whether or not Christians should be Torah Observant?  The answer can be found in my book, Should Christians be Torah Observant? – which is now also available in Spanish and Chinese!  All versions are sold on Amazon, and promise to be "an easy read" in any language ... not to mention, they would make a great gift for someone who may feel there is "something missing in church!"

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE TORAH OBSERVANT?  - the English original:  

https://www.amazon.com/Should-Christians-be-Torah-Observant/dp/162374007X 

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE TORAH OBSERVANT? - THE WORKBOOK!  (Available in English only.)  Nothing else is needed to complete this workbook, other than your Bible!

https://www.amazon.com/Should-Christians-Torah-Observant-Workbook/dp/1623740096

 

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE TORAH OBSERVANT? - THE SPANISH EDITION: 

https://www.amazon.com/%C2%BFDeber%C3%ADan-Cristianos-Observantes-Tor%C3%A1-Spanish/dp/1623740002  

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE TORAH OBSERVANT - TRADITIONAL CHINESE EDITION:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR2Z2684  

基督徒应该遵守妥拉吗？ （简体中文）

MORE OF MY BOOKS (INCLUDING MY NOVEL, "DESTROYED FROM WITHIN"), can be found on my own books website, Be Torah Observant.  ( https://betorahobservant.com/ )

 

May God bless PM Netanyahu and give him whatever he needs to stand up against the world!

  

...AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE STAND WITH ISRAEL!  

To the world's governments that do not, I suggest you read the Bible to see what happens to those who mess with God's Land and His people!  Whether you believe in the God of the Bible or not, fact is, more than 300 Bible prophecies have been fulfilled, so only the ignorant would be dense enough to believe the final few won't be! 

Check out some of the end-times warnings about Israel below. They are just a sample of what happens to those who cater to God's enemies:

Genesis 12: - 3 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Leviticus 25:23 "The land is not to be sold in perpetuity, because the land belongs to me -you are only foreigners and temporary residents with me."

Deuteronomy 7:6-8: For you are a people set apart as holy for ADONAI your God. ADONAI your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own unique treasure. 7 ADONAI didn't set his heart on you or choose you because you numbered more than any other people - on the contrary, you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 Rather, it was because ADONAI loved you, and because he wanted to keep the oath which he had sworn to your ancestors, that ADONAI brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from a life of slavery under the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt. 

Zecheriah 12:2-3 "I will make Yerushalayim a cup that will stagger the surrounding peoples. Even Y'hudah will be caught up in the siege against Yerushalayim. When that day comes, I will make Yerushalayim a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who try to lift it will hurt themselves, and all the earth's nations will be massed against her."

Genesis 15:18 That day ADONAI made a covenant with Avram: "I have given this land to your descendants - from the Vadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River - 19 the territory of the Keni, the K'nizi, the Kadmoni, 20 the Hitti, the P'rizi, the Refa'im, 21 the Emori, the Kena'ani, the Girgashi and the Y'vusi."

Ezekiel 37: 21 Then say to them that Adonai Elohim says: 'I will take the people of Isra'el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land.

2 Chronicles 6:5-6 'Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man for a leader over My people Israel; but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.'

Numbers 34: 1 ADONAI told Moshe 2 to give this order to the people of Isra'el: "When you enter the land of Kena'an, it will become your land to pass on as an inheritance, the land of Kena'an as defined by these borders. 3 "Your southern portion will extend from the Tzin Desert close to the border of Edom. The eastern terminus of your southern border is at the end of the Dead Sea. 4 From there your border turns, goes south of the 'Akrabbim Ascent and passes on to Tzin. From there it goes south of Kadesh-Barnea, on to Hatzar-Adar, and on to 'Atzmon. 

5 Then the border turns and goes from 'Atzmon to the Vadi of Egypt and along it to the Sea. 6 "Your western border will be the Great Sea. 7 "Your northern border will be as follows: from the Great Sea mark a line to Mount Hor, 8 and from Mount Hor mark a line to the entrance of Hamat. The border goes out to Tz'dad.

9 Then the border goes to Zifron and finally to Hatzar-'Einan; this is your northern border. 10 "For the eastern border mark your line from Hatzar-'Enan to Sh'fam. 11 Then the border goes down from Sh'fam to Rivlah, on the east side of 'Ayin, then down until it hits the slope east of Lake Kinneret. 12 From there it goes down the Yarden River till it flows into the Dead Sea. These will be the borders of your land."  

13 Moshe gave this order to the people of Isra'el: "This is the land in which you will receive inheritances by lot, which ADONAI has ordered to give to the nine tribes and the half-tribe. 14 The tribe of the descendants of Re'uven have already received their land for inheritance according to their clans, and so have the descendants of Gad and the half-tribe of M'nasheh. 15 These two-and-a-half tribes have received their inheritance on this side of the Yarden, across from Yericho and eastward, toward the sunrise."

Please open your eyes to BIBLICAL Truth!  We have wars, terrorist activities, unrest around the globe and even "lone-wolf" mass shootings by lunatics with personal agendas.  We have crazy weather patterns, and fires, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic activities in various places - to the point where we can hardly clean up from one disaster before the next one strikes...

Whether you choose to believe it, or not, things ARE happening rapidly.  Which side of Eternity will YOU choose in the end?  Smoking or non-smoking?"  

For more info, please check out my Israel, Feasts and Bible Prophecies page on my website, The Refiner's Fire.

 

So, whose Land is it, really?

ISRAEL: WHOSE LAND IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GOD? You never see "the Jews" out there starting wars, engaging in terrorist acts or trying to force people to convert to their religion. But yet, the whole world hates them. Why is that? Why is it that whenever Israel tries to protect itself, "the world" condemns her?

Most of the time, when Israel does something good, you never hear about it. You don't hear about the fact that "the Jews" have done more good for the world THAN ANY OTHER PEOPLE in the history of the world; or how the Land began to flourish after Israel was returned to "the Jews" in 1948.

But let her try to retaliate against her attackers, and the whole world screams and hollers and supports the Muslims - those who were merely squatters in the Land, back in 1948 when "the world" briefly felt sorry for the Jews and returned Israel to them, the RIGHTFUL OWNERS!

Yes, all human beings make mistakes - "the Jews" included. But the fact is, they are being persecuted for trying to protect themselves and their Land from fiendish enemies.

If you are among those who hate Israel and "the Jews" then SHAME ON YOU, because you are going against God Himself! Please read my article on this issue, which provides a history of Israel and serves to remind the world that Israel belongs to YHWH/God, and how He has warned anyone of the dire consequences that will befall them if they try to interfere with HIS Will.

A mini-study of Romans 1:11-32

Romans 1:11. For I yearn greatly to see you; and to give to you the gift of the Spirit, through which you may be established; 12. And that we may have comfort together in the faith of both yourselves and me. 13. And I wish you to know, my brothers, that I have many times wanted to come to you, but was prevented up until now, that I might bear some fruit among you also; even as among other Gentiles, 14. Greeks and barbarians, the wise and the unwise: for to every man I am required to preach. 15. And so, I am eager to preach to you also who are at Rome.

16. For I am not ashamed of the Good News; for it is the power of Elohim to life, to all who believe in it; whether first they are of the Jews, or whether they are of the Gentiles. 17. For in it is revealed the righteousness of Elohim, from faith to faith; as it is written, The righteous by faith, will live. 18. for the wrath of Elohim from heaven is revealed against all the iniquity and wickedness of men who hold the truth in iniquity 19. because a knowledge of Elohim is manifest in them; for Elohim has manifested it in them.

20. For, from the foundations of the world, the hidden things of Elohim are seen by the mind in the things he created even his eternal power and divinity, so that they might be without excuse 21. because they knew Elohim and did not glorify him and give thanks to him as Elohim, but became vain in their imaginings and their unwise heart was darkened.

22. And, while they thought within themselves that they were wise, they became fools. 23. And they changed the glory of the incorruptible Elohim into a likeness to the image of a corruptible man,[1] and into the likeness of birds and four-legged animals and reptiles on the earth.

24. For this cause, Elohim gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies with them. 25. And they changed the truth of Elohim into a lie; and worshipped and served the created things, much more than the Creator of them, to whom belong glory and blessing, forever and ever: Amen.

26. For this cause, Elohim gave them up to vile passions: for their females changed the use of their natures[2] and employed that which is unnatural. 27. And so also their males set aside the use of females, which is natural, and burned with lust toward one another; and, male with male, they did what is shameful, and received in their core substance [3] the just recompense of their error.

28. And as they did not determine with themselves to know Elohim, Elohim gave them over to a vain mind; that they might do what they should not. 29. Being full of all iniquity and lewdness, and bitterness and malice, and covetousness and envy, and slaughter and strife, and deceit and evil machinations 30. and backbiting and slander; and being haters of Elohim, scoffers, proud, vain-glorious, devisers of evil things, destitute of reason, disregardful of parents.

31. And to whom a covenant is nothing, neither affection, nor peace, and in whom is no compassion. 32. These, while they know the judgment of Elohim, that he condemns those to death who perpetrate such things, are not only doers of them, but the companions of such as do them. (AENT)

---

[1]  Rav Shaul rejects the idea of making a deity out of a human being, something he himself is often being wrongly accused of. The key is the phrase “corruptible man” which is put in contradistinction of Y’shua who fulfilled prophecy by virtue of having the Ruach haKodesh, the Spirit of YHWH, inside him.

If Rav Shaul did not approve of others turning images of men into false deities, he would certainly not approve of what Christendom has done today. The Son did the Father YHWH’s will; his human side submitted to the divine. This is what opened the door for repentance for all of us; therefore, all who follow Y’shua must also yield unto YHWH rather than follow a deity who lessens the Name of YHWH and abolishes Torah.

[2] The Image of Elohim is both male and female (B’resheet/Gen. 1:27). To deny the distinctions of male/female gender is to spurn the One who created male and female according to His own Image. .

[3]  The word translated as “themselves” is much better rendered as “core substance” ‑ one of several important meanings for qnoma, which also refers to an occurrence (not a separated “person”) of a nature. This verse states that punishment for sexual sin is not in the external body, but in a foundational place where the very essence of humanity resides.

A mini-study concerning the context of Romans 1:1-10

Romans 1:1. PAUL, a servant of Y’shua the Mashiyach, called and sent and separated[1] to the Good News of Elohim.[2] 2. (that) He (Elohim) had before promised, by His prophets, in the Set Apart Scriptures,[3] 3. concerning his Son who was born in the flesh, of seed of the house of Dawid,[4] 4. and was made known as the Son of Elohim by power, and by the Ruach haKodesh, who arose from the dead, Y’shua the Mashiyach, our Master, 5. by whom we have received grace and a mission among all the Gentiles[5] to the end that they may obey the faith in His Name;[6] 6. among whom, you also are called by Y’shua the Mashiyach.

7. To all those who are at Rome, beloved of Elohim, called and sanctified: Peace and grace be with you, from Elohim our Father, and from our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach.[7] 8. In the first place, I give thanks to Elohim by Y’shua the Mashiyach on account of you all; because your faith is heard of in all the world. 9. And Elohim, whom in spirit I serve in the Good News of His Son, is my witness that I continually make mention of you at all times in my prayers. 10. And I likewise supplicate that afterwards a door may be opened to me, by the good pleasure[8] of Elohim, to come to you. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Perysh, the word used here for “separated” is also the root from which we get ‘Pharisee,” an obvious wordplay, raising the cutting remark that Rav Shaul’s opponents separated themselves to the wrong place.

[2] Noting also that this is YHWH’s Good News about His Son.

[3] Paul quotes the Hebrew Tanakh over 80 times in this Letter to the Romans. Without understanding the original context of Torah (first 5 books of the Bible), Neviim (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) which he quotes from, it will be impossible to thoroughly comprehend his teachings.

Paul never heard the words “Old Testament” in his lifetime, nor would he ever permit such a dishonoring title be given to the Word of YHWH which is Mashiyach preincarnate.

[4] At times, almost being read like a corporate memo, except instead of the familiar: “TO: FROM: REGARDING: pattern, the order here is FROM (Paul) REGARDING (Y’shua the Mashiyach) and TO (the assembly in Rome). Paul is either dictating the words to Tertius, see 16:22, or Tertius is translating the letter from the original.

[5] Aimmeh= Gentiles or Nations is an appropriate translation here. Elsewhere in this document, the word Armaya is translated as “Gentiles” which refers specifically to the Arameans (or Syrians), who were kinsman to the tribes of Israel. Ya’akov the Patriarch was related to Arameans by marriage and is called “a wandering Aramean” himself (Deuteronomy 26:5). The Hebrews and the Arameans are closely connected peoples separated by a river. In fact, he word Hebrew, is derived from Eber, meaning “those from across (the other side of the river)”.

[6] YHWH is being referenced: “YHWH is salvation” which is also the name of His Son. This context is established in the next verse: “among whom you are also called by Y’shua,” meaning that Y’shua is not intended as the subject of this passage as it relates to Name.

[7] Up until now, this has been one long opening sentence! Common in both Greek and Aramaic languages, this creates a balancing act between English syntax and clarity while also remaining faithful to the order of thought.

[8] Or “will”.

A word about a comment made by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, concerning Jesus being an immigrant

WARNING, RANT AHEAD  about Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York who made a comment on yesterdays CBS Sunday Morning program discussing a new mural depicting immigrants.

While I understand what he was attempting to get across, his comment left me upset for hours, because it reveals to me that he just another “man of the cloth,” who does NOT know our Messiah (or the Bible), yet dares to “put words in his mouth!”

Here is what the Cardinal said - and you can check it out for yourself at the link to the program and make up your own mind, at approximately the 11:1 minute mark:

“When all is said and done when I stand before Jesus, he’s not going to say, ‘Hey Dolan, good work with the mural… But I need to ask you something: When I was an immigrant, did you welcome me?’ And if I say, I’m afraid I didn’t Lord, then he’s gonna say ‘Get the hell outta here!’ Right?”

What incensed me about that statement is that (1) Messiah Yeshua would NEVER talk like that, in the first place; and (2) he certainly isn’t going to be discussing his “immigrant” status of two thousand years ago – because that is NOT what the story of his birth, life, death and resurrection is all about!

The fact is, when we stand before Yeshua, his conversation will strictly center around each of US, and whether or not we were “wholehearted” toward him and His Father YHWH, by following His Divine Instructions in Righteousness (Torah)!

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On that Day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we expel demons in your name? Didn't we perform many miracles in your name?' 23 Then I will tell them to their faces, 'I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!' (CJB)

Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Laodicea, write: ‘Here is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Ruler of God’s creation 15 “I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth! (CJB)

Revelation 3:19 As for me, I rebuke and discipline everyone I love; so exert yourselves, and turn from your sins! ²⁰ Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. ²¹ I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”’” (CJB)

Ezekiel 22:26 Her pastors/priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them."

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (CJB)

Proverbs 28:4 Those who abandon Torah praise the wicked, but those who keep Torah fight them. (CJB)

And finally, I leave you with these passages to ponder:

Matthew 7:¹³ “Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; ¹⁴ but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (CJB)

Matthew 7:¹⁵ “Beware of the false prophets! They come to you wearing sheep’s clothing, but underneath they are hungry wolves! ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. ¹⁹ Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! ²⁰ So you will recognize them by their fruit. (CJB)

Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShana is on the horizon once again…

This year (2025)  the High Holy Day of Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashana begins at sunset, September 22, and ends at sunset on September 23. (The readings for Yom Teruah/Roash HaShana are: Leviticus  23:23-25, Numbers 29:1-  6, Matthew 24:30-31, 1  Thessalonians 4:16-17.)

The biblical name for this holiday is actually “Yom Teruah” ("day of shouting/blasting"). It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days known as "Days of Awe" as specified by Leviticus 23:23–25, kicking off a ten-day period of penitence culminating in the holiest of High Holy Days, known as Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

Why is it so important and what, exactly, makes this day so special?  Let’s begin with this passage, where God Himself commanded it to be observed:

Leviticus 23:23-25 says: And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a rest, a remembrance of blowing of trumpets, a set-apart gathering. 25 ‘You do no servile work, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה.’” (ISR)

Rosh Hashana denotes the Jewish Civil New Year … the creation of the world, according to tradition; the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and their first actions toward the realization of man's role in the world; of the first sin that was committed and resulting repentance; a day when YHWH takes stock of all of His Creation, which includes all of humanity.

It is also a rehearsal for the day when the bridegroom will come to claim us, his bride, who are betrothed to Him … when Yeshua will return to earth as the “Lion of Judah!”

1 Thessalonians 4: 16. Because our Master (Y'shua) will himself descend from heaven with the mandate and with the voice of the chief Messenger and with the Qarna (trumpet/shofar) of Elohim; and the dead who are in the Mashiyach will first arise; 17. and then we who survive and are alive will be caught up together with them to the clouds to meet our Master (Y'shua) in the air; and so will we be ever with our Master. (AENT)

Matthew 24: 27. For as the sunshine comes out from the East and is seen even in the West, thus will be the coming of the Son of man. 28. Wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles gather. 29. And immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine its light. And the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.

30. And then will be seen the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land mourn, when they will see the Son of man who comes upon the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. 31. And he will send his Messengers with a large trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. (AENT)

According to tradition, during this time YHWH's people are to concentrate all their efforts into making amends with their brethren and apologizing for past offenses – in preparation for the next Feast, which is Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement.

It is important to note that, judging by the fact that Yeshua has so far fulfilled the first four Appointed Times in sequence, Yom Teruah/Trumpets will be the next one to be fulfilled, because when the trumpets sound, those who have accepted YHWH as their God (along with His Divine Messiah, Yeshua) will be gathered/resurrected (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:50-54).

Halleluyah!