A stark reminder that we are in the end times…

IT ALWAYS SADDENS ME TO HEAR OF ANOTHER "MASS SHOOTING"; yet that scourge seems to have become the norm in today's modern world. The most recent one happened yesterday in San Diego, California, when two teenaged perpetrators (aged 17 and 19) managed to kill three innocent people at a Muslim mosque, including a security guard, before taking their own lives.

It also saddens me to know that cities nationwide are grappling with a trend of "teen takeovers"—large, spontaneous gatherings coordinated via social media that frequently escalate into violence, looting, and vandalism. One such example is the most recent incident that occurred at a Chipotle restaurant where teens gathered for the sole purpose of entering to purposely cause damage to property and terrorize customers by overturning furniture and using chairs as weapons to deliberately hurt people.

This crazy, violent trend has been expanding for several years, as indicated in a report out of California in 2024, where teens were using fireworks to "launch off rockets at cars and people and blowing doors off of hinges, using explosives and fireworks."

In other words, these things aren’t just “childish pranks”; they are meticulously planned gatherings by teens who are certainly old enough to know right from wrong – who seek gratification by wreaking havoc, and causing fear, pain and destruction of property, not seeming to realize or care about the fact that they are catering to Satan by satisfying their carnal natures.

Authorities have only recently begun to prosecute parents of children causing violence, in hopes that it will help to stem the craziness by causing parents to become more aware of their children's actions outside the home.

I personally don't believe it will help because, from what I have been able to ascertain over the years, many parents are just as much "in the world," as their children, and won't put the blame where it belongs (on themselves); rather, they will continue to point the finger at law enforcement, accusing policemen of being "too rough" on their children (during scuffles where the kids become violent and fight policemen in their efforts to resist arrest), and then suing whenever their kids get hurt or killed.

The bottom line is, this type of behavior has become a growing concern over recent years as it demonstrates the demonic nature of mankind in a fallen world that is headed for the abyss.

We ARE “as in the days of Noah”; nothing has really changed since the day Adam and Eve committed the first deliberate sin…

Genesis 6: 5 ADONAI saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only. 6 ADONAI regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart. 7 ADONAI said, "I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth; and not only human beings, but animals, creeping things and birds in the air; for I regret that I ever made them." 8 But Noach found grace in the sight of ADONAI. (CJB)

Genesis 6: 11 The earth was corrupt before God, the earth was filled with violence. 12 God saw the earth, and, yes, it was corrupt; for all living beings had corrupted their ways on the earth. 13 God said to Noach, "The end of all living beings has come before me, for because of them the earth is filled with violence. I will destroy them along with the earth. (CJB)

Jude 1:14. And of them also prophesied Enoch who was the seventh from Adam when he said: Behold, Master YHWH comes with myriads of his Set Apart believers;[1] 15 to execute judgment upon all and to convict all the wicked because of all the deeds they have wickedly committed; and because of all the hard speeches which they, sinners without Elohim, have uttered. 16. These are they who argue and complain of everything while they walk according to their lusts; and their mouth speaks shocking things; and they flatter people for the sake of gain. (AENT)

It’s exactly the same today and nothing, except the return of Yeshua, can or will stop the craziness that mankind always ends up resorting to!  The Bible tells us that Yeshua will put a swift end to ALL the evil, and bind the Destroyer for a thousand years... (See Matthew 24; Revelation 20:1-5; Jude 1:11-21; 2 Peter 2:9-21.)

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)

Revelation 20: 11. And I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it; from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and this their place was not found. 12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life. And the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds. 13. And the sea gave up the dead in it; and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. And they were judged, each one according to his deeds. 14. And death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (namely,) this lake of fire. 15. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire. (AENT)

Returning to the reason for this article, I have to admit that, whenever I hear of evil deeds, decadence and violence in this world, I always have to fight the urge to sink into a deep depression, because I cannot understand why anyone would feel a need to secretly plan out the killing of random innocent folks, including little children and babies. It's mind-boggling! It simply doesn't make any sense!

But, whether we like it or not, the world is getting a little crazier every day, as evidenced by not only the behavior of mankind, in general, but also in the destruction being caused by ever more powerful natural disasters around the world...

All we can really do is to keep our own houses in order and remember to keep our eyes, ears and hearts stayed on Yahweh and Yeshua who amply warned us that these things MUST happen before Yeshua's return.  These events are being used to usher in the rise of the Antichrist (Revelation 12:1-10); and ultimately, the return of Yeshua (Revelation 1:7 which tells us "every eye will see him"; Revelation 22:12, and 20 which tell us, "I come quickly", and Acts 1:11 …"he will come in the same way you saw him go". Yeshua himself spoke of his return in Matthew 24:30 ("coming on the clouds of heaven") and Matthew 24:44.

God’s people must stay strong, for - as Paul told us, those who endure to the end, will be delivered (Matthew 24:13 ).  Until then, I urge you to continue to cling to passages such as this one below:

PSALM 121: If I raise my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from Adonai, the maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip — your guardian is not asleep. 4 No, the guardian of Isra’el never slumbers or sleeps. 5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand Adonai provides you with shade — 6 the sun can’t strike you during the day or even the moon at night. 7 Adonai will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life. 8 Adonai will guard your coming and going from now on and forever. (CJB)

A word about Romans 3:31

 

 

I WAS A CHRISTIAN FOR THREE WHOLE MONTHS, when this particular passage started to stick in my craw. I was 44 years old and "blinded" by "the world" and disillusioned by Life, when YHWH opened my spiritual eyes in a little Baptist church in Missouri.

Once He did, I dove into the Bible and every Bible study I could find - and I had lots of questions. However, every time I questioned the pastor about something (including things like, "If we are all ONE in Christ, WHY are we not doing the Seventh Day Sabbath and the Feasts outlined in the Old Testament?"), he immediately sent me to the writings of Paul - many of which seemed to negate what Torah said. It was maddening and downright confusing!

And then one day, Romans 3:31 caught my eye and clarified for me the fact that "something was being misunderstood in the church." But what??? What was the church missing, and what was I missing?

It was mind-boggling to think there might be contradictions in the Bible, when my pastor was so "sold" on the supposed TRUTHS in the Bible! And I couldn't figure out why God would tell mankind one thing, and then do a complete "180" two thousand years after the death of Christ.
Frustrated, I literally threw myself onto my living room floor at home one Sunday after church, and begged Him to show me WHAT ... was ... missing...

That answer didn't come until 3 1/2 years later, while living in Colorado Springs (where YHWH had caused me to move shortly after I had begged Him to "show me what was missing in church) ... when He caused me to end up in a Messianic Torah study - which FINALLY answered ALL my questions, and launched me smack-dab into the middle of my Torah walk.

The only thing I've "been missing" since those early days back in the mid-Nineties is "more knowledge!" I can't seem to get enough... and I think He plans it that way to keep us ever-hungry for more of His Word. Halleluyah! What an AWESOME ELOHIM we have the privilege of serving!

 

What to do when verbally attacked

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE … smack-dab in the middle of a no-win argument spurred on by some mean-spirited moron who allowed him/herself to be guided by the Destroyer. (You can tell they are led by satan whenever they seem to know exactly which button to push!)

The bottom line is always about how we choose to deal with these fights, arguments or attacks, as they always end up baring and revealing our hearts and souls – not to mention that, in the end, they only serve to wear us out, and reveal "Whom are we truly serving."

Although sometimes tested to the limits - I've learned from experience that nothing is ever gained by engaging pea-brained, dim-witted and closed-minded people in verbal battles, because that is exactly what YHWH hates ... and what the Destroyer WANTS.

The best way to deal with people like that (when you realize your discussion with them has left the realm of rationality) is to hit them in their over-inflated egos where it really hurts - by turning your back and simply ignoring them. While that’s sometimes hard to do, refusing to lower yourself to their standards sends the strong message that they're worth neither your time, efforts, nor your energy.

Here’s what the Bible tells us to do:

2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before our Master (Yeshua) not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! 15 Do all you can to present yourself to Elohim as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. (CJB)

James 4:1 From where is it, that there are among you arguments and conflicts? Is it not from the lusts which war in your members? 2. You covet but do not possess; and you kill and envy, and effect nothing: and you fight and make attacks; and you do not have, because you do not ask. 3. You ask, and do not receive because you ask wickedly, that you may feed your lusts. 4. You adulterers, don’t you know that the love of the world is hatred towards Elohim? He therefore who chooses to be a lover of this world is the enemy of Elohim. (AENT)

Romans 16:17 And I plead with you, my Brothers, that you beware of them who cause divisions and stumblings apart from the doctrine which you have learned: and that you stand distant from them. 18. For they who are such do not serve our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach, but their own belly: and by bland speeches and good wishes, they deceive the hearts of the simple. (AENT)

Proverbs 4:14-17 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. (CJB)

Matthew 7:6 You should not hang earrings on dogs and you should not place your pearls before pigs that they should not trample them by their feet and they overtake and wound you. (AENT)*

NOTE:  *Tithlon (hang) was misunderstood as talon (to give); qudesha (earrings) was misunderstood as qudsha (holy). The picture of hanging earrings on dogs dovetails with giving pearls to pigs, and the symbolism of the two animal groups could not be clearer. The dogs represent apostate Jews, the pigs apostate Gentiles who are ignorant of YHWH. Either way, the lesson here is do not give what is precious to those who will not appreciate the value.

2 Timothy 4:2 Proclaim the Word and persist (in it) with diligence, in time and out of time; admonish and rebuke with all patience and instructiveness. 3. For the time will come when they will not give ear to sound teaching; but, according to their lusts, will multiply to themselves teachers in the itching of their hearing; 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth, and incline after fables. 5. But be vigilant in all things; and endure evils and do the work of a proclaimer of the Good News, and fulfill your ministry. (AENT)

2 Timothy 3:1 But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: 2. and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, 3. unloving, addicted to irreconcilable malicious gossips, ferocious, haters of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of Elohim, 5. having a form of respect for Elohim but wide from the power of Elohim. Them who are such, repel from you. (AENT)

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

So, what can we do to thwart any impending fights and arguments?

Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (CJB)

Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (CJB)

Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Ephesians 4:29  Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you. (CJB)

1 Peter 3:9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (AENT)

Yeshua warned God’s people what the “end times” would look like … and the signs are all around us!

Matthew 24 tells us that no one knows the exact day or hour of Yeshua's return -although the prophetic biblical festivals give us clues, as Yeshua has so far fulfilled the first four'; which means the next one will take place on a future Yom Teruah/Trumpets, when God calls His people together! (Please check out my article on the Biblical Feasts.)

In the meantime, we are commanded to be aware and to prepare our hearts, minds and souls. This preparation includes keeping up with what's happening in the world, because the signs are all around us (fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, crazy and unpredictable weather patterns, wars and rumors of wars, and people generally behaving “as in the days of Noah”).

Matthew 24:3. And while Y'shua was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples drew near and were saying among themselves and to him, "Tell us when these things will be and what is the sign of your coming and the end of the world."

4. Y'shua answered and said to them, Beware, let no man deceive you. 5. For many will come in my name and will say that "I am the Mashiyach." And many they will deceive. 6. For you are bound to hear of revolutions and rumor of wars. Watch out and do not be disturbed, for it is necessary that all these things happen, but it is not yet the end.

7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in different places. 8. But all these things are only the beginning of sorrows. 9. Then they will deliver to afflictions and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.

10. Then many will stumble and will hate one another and will betray one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12. And because of the growth of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. 13. But whoever has patience until the end, he will have life. 14. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.... (AENT)

Matthew 24:36 “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. ³⁷ For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. ³⁸ Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; ³⁹ and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. (CJB)

Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of Adonai’s fury, the whole land will be destroyed in the fire of his jealousy. For he will make an end, a horrible end, of all those living in the land.” (CJB)

The passages above send a clear signal that it’s high time people “get themselves right with God,” because the signs are literally EVERYWHERE!

About Y'shua's birthday

Y'shua was born on the first day of Sukkot and circumcised 8 days later. Both the first and the last are "high holy days"....The answer about Yeshua's birth can be found in Scripture:

Luke 2: 1. Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Augustus Caesar that the names of all the people of his dominion should be written down. 2. This census first happened during the governorship of Qurinius in Syria. 3. And everyone went in his own city to be registered. 4. And Yosip was also going up from Nasrath, a city of Galeela into Yehuda to the city of Dawid, which is called Beth-Lekhem, because he was from the house and from the clan of Dawid, 5. With Maryam his bride while she was pregnant, that there they might be registered. 6. And it happened that while they were there, her days of pregnancy were fulfilled. 7. And she bore him a firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room where they could lodge. 8. At this time shepherds were there in that region were they were lodging and keeping watch there at night over their flocks. (AENT)

Note that last verse:  “At this time shepherds were there in that region were they were lodging and keeping watch there at night over their flocks.”  Shepherds and their flocks aren’t out in the dead of winter in December, which knocks the “He was born on December 25^th” idea out of the water.

Miriam was forced to give birth in a stable because there was no room at the inn - because people from all over had gathered in Jerusalem for the census! Not to mention, it was also the festival of Sukkot - Tabernacles - when many pilgrims came to celebrate in Jerusalem....

Bethlehem is only about 5 miles from Jerusalem and so Y'shua was born there because was no room at the inn. The name Bethlehem means "House Of Bread", with the strong connotation of House Of Battle. And as we all know, Y'shua is the Bread of Life" (John 6:43-51).

Ever thought about who got to enter the Promised Land?

 DID YOU KNOW that, of the original ones who left Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb and their descendants were allowed into the Promised Land?

Numbers 32: 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.'

Numbers 14:20 we read: 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

Joshua 14 allots Caleb and his descendants their own parcel of land: 6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7  I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.'

...13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.

On being debt free

 

Statistics show that most Americans are deeply in debt – but, you CAN get out IF you’re willing to make the effort and employ some real willpower!

Proverbs 21:20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. (ESV)

Scripture provides ample warnings to NOT become a slave to debt. Here is just a couple of examples:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (ESV)

NO ONE would be in debt IF we all adhered to Torah principles. Examples:

Exodus 22:25-27 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed. (ESV)

As mentioned above, getting out of debt takes some effort and willpower … the willpower to give up “credit” and manage your income so that you don’t keep spending more than you make.

That’s basically the whole key to becoming debt free. Pay off those credit cards (smallest to the largest) as fast as you can, and don’t buy unnecessary “stuff.”

Financial guru Dave Ramsey says, until you are debt free, you shouldn’t even enter a restaurant unless you work there; and in the meantime, you should basically live on beans and rice, rice and beans. Sounds harsh, but it works!

As with Torah observance, being debt-free feels GOOD and it eventually becomes a "way of life!"

Dave Ramsey’s mantra about the process of becoming debt-free is, "I didn't say it was going to be easy! I said it's going to be worth it!"

My late husband and I knew for a fact that it’s worth it, because were completely debt free beginning in  2012 - able to pay cash for everything we bought!  

It's a great feeling to owe no one!