According to Scripture, we aren’t raised the moment we pass from this life…

Many people attempt to use the erroneous term “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) as proof that those who die are immediately raised into heaven. (The KJV actually uses the word “and” instead of “is”. No other Bible version that I know of suggests immediate raising, either.)

Anyway, I beg to differ. I don’t believe anyone is immediately raised from the dead and placed into the Presence of YHWH – with the exception of the three men mentioned in Scripture who were raised individually: Yeshua (Colossians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 6:14-20, Ephesians 4:7-10), Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).

Take a really close look at the following passages that indicate people will remain in the ground until it’s time for them to be raised.

Daniel 12: 2 “When that time comes, Mikha’el, the great prince who champions your people, will stand up; and there will be a time of distress unparalleled between the time they became a nation and that moment. At that time, your people will be delivered, everyone whose name is found written in the book. ² Many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and abhorrence. ³ But those who can discern will shine like the brightness of heaven’s dome, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. (CJB)

Daniel 12: 8  I heard this, but I couldn’t understand what it meant; so I asked, “Lord, what will be the outcome of all this?” ⁹ But he said, “Go your way, Dani’el; for these words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many will purify, cleanse and refine themselves; but the wicked will keep on acting wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand. But those with discernment will understand. ¹¹ From the time the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² How blessed will be anyone who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. ¹³ But you, go your way until the end comes. Then you will rest and rise for your reward, at the end of days.” (CJB)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Now, brothers, we want you to know the truth about those who have died; otherwise, you might become sad the way other people ¹⁴ do who have nothing to hope for. For since we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, we also believe that in the same way God, through Yeshua, will take with him those who have died. ¹⁵ When we say this, we base it on the Lord’s own word: we who remain alive when the Lord comes will certainly not take precedence over those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a rousing cry, with a call from one of the ruling angels, and with God’s shofar; those who died united with the Messiah will be the first to rise; ¹⁷ then we who are left still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words. (CJB)

Can you see it? People aren’t raised until it’s time! Even when the “catching up” happens, we see all the “dead in Messiah” rising first, and THEN those who are still alive. If everybody “went to heaven” at the moment of death, then the above passage wouldn’t exist!

Matthew 27:50. Then again Y'shua cried out with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51. And immediately, the curtains at the door of the temple were torn in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth was shaken and the rocks were split. 52. And the tombs were opened and many bodies of the Set Apart believers who were asleep arose, 53. And went out. (AENT)

From what we can see in Scripture, the next “raising” will happen when Yeshua returns on a future Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShana (Feast of Trumpets, when ADONAI calls His people together).

Believers will be “caught up” as shown in 1 Corinthians 6:14 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; and then ultimately, the FINAL “catching up” happens at the end of Yeshua's thousand year reign when ALL (including every unbeliever since the beginning of time) will stand before YHWH on Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11-15).

Further evidence can be seen in Revelation 6:9 which tells us there will be souls "under the altar waiting"... which means, no matter how long we've been dead, when we wake up it will seem like no time has passed:

Revelation 6:9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them who were slain on account of the Word of Elohim, and on account of the testimony to the Lamb which was with them. 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Master YHWH, you Set Apart and True, do you not Judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And to each one of them was given a white robe; and it was told them that they must be quiet yet a little while, until the consummation of their fellow-servants and Brothers who were to be killed as they had been. (AENT)

From what I can see, there’s nothing to indicate an immediate resurrection after death. When we die, we’re simply “asleep” and when “raised” it will seem like no time has passed. It's all in YHWH's good timing.

The bottom line, of course, is that we can't REALLY know the answers to any of this UNTIL we're out of our earth suits, viewing God through our “spiritual eyes!”

Read this, if you believe the Holocaust was a hoax…

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I COME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO INSISTS THE HOLOCAUST WAS A HOAX. So … I always use the opportunity to tell them my own, personal experience that proves them wrong:

In 2004, I visited an old acquaintance, Eva Falch (who was in her seventies at the time) in my hometown in Northern Germany. Eva was my mother's best friend throughout their entire childhood and early adulthood, and I wanted to let her know that my mother had died back in 1975, at age 45.

Anyway, while reminiscing around her dining room table over a cup of coffee, Eva mentioned that she had been a secretary at the nearby Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp during the war ... at which point I asked her if she ever knew that my mother was Jewish.

Well, you could have heard a pin drop as Eva visibly stiffened at the news, and tossed me a hard, defiant look! “What do you mean, ‘Jewish’,” she said in low, very hateful tones. “Lonny wasn’t JEWISH!”

(While my mother and maternal grandmother hadn’t been "practicing Jews,” they passed themselves off as Roman Catholic, and no one ever questioned it. Regardless, my mother was fairly traumatized during the war, and throughout her short life on earth, she constantly warned my brothers and me to "never tell anybody you're Jewish, because they KILL Jews!")

Suffice it to say, my visit with Eva was suddenly brought to a screeching halt, as she basically “went ballistic” when I attempted to assure her that my mother certainly WAS a Jew. This news seemed to be truly upsetting and devastating for her.

The possibility that her best childhood friend (with whom she had marched in Hitler Youth Parades and competed to with to win the love of Hardis, who ultimately chose Eva as his wife) had been a "Judin" was obviously too much to bear, and I could literally feel the raw rage aimed at me. I was absolutely shocked at her reaction!

Needless to say, our visit was cut short because, after that “devastating” revelation, Eva clearly wanted nothing more to do with me. (Some older Germans, even to this day, still HATE the Jews. They still believe all the anti-Jewish propaganda that had been drummed into them from every angle.)

Be that as it may, I’m here to say the Holocaust was definitely real, and anyone who thinks it was a hoax is deluded!

During our European honeymoon, my then-husband and I visited both Bergen-Belsen (where Eva had worked as a secretary) and Dachau near Munich - and the feeling you get while strolling through those camps, and watching the old gut-wrenching documentaries and seeing photos and items belonging to some of the prisoners, is something you'll NEVER forget, because you can literally FEEL the heaviness there!

So, “conspiracy theorists” and other smart alecks are free to “believe” whatever they want – but they will NEVER be able to change actual history! The Holocaust happened. That crazed lunatic Hitler tried to annihilate YHWH’s People – and LOST the battle!

How do I know this? Because ADONAI was using Hitler during WWII, to bring about TWO of His end times prophecies: That Israel would be reborn and it would happen in one day (Isaiah 66:7-8). The woman giving birth before going into labor represents Israel - which accurately describes what happened on May 14, 1948 - when "the world" briefly felt sorry for the Jews and returned Israel to them and they were able to declare independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2,900 years.

During that same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel's sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally was born in a single day!

Furthermore, Isaiah said the birth would take place before there would be labor pains. And that too is precisely what happened. A movement called Zionism began in the 1800s to encourage Jews worldwide to move to Israel, which at that time was called Palestine. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

When reading Isaiah 66:7-8, keep in mind that Israel's status as a sovereign nation was established and reaffirmed during the course of a single day, and that it was born of a movement called Zionism, and that its declaration of independence was not the result of a war but rather the cause of one.

Yes, YHWH is in charge, and He said that those who hate Israel and the Jews will have a lot to answer for:

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." (CJB)

Need more proof? Check out the Auschwitz Album.

Hebrews 7 causing you confusion about whether or not Yeshua is “superior” over the Torah?

What we first need to remember is that Yeshua was and is “The Word” – John 1:1 and 14.  How can he, in the flesh, be superior than the Word that was from the beginning?

Hebrews 7:

1. Now this Melchisedec was king of Salem, a priest of the most high Elohim: and he met Awraham when returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. 2. And to him Awraham set aside one-tenth portion of all that he had with him. And in addition, his name is interpreted king of righteousness; and again (he is called) King of Salem, that is, King of Peace.[1]

3. Of whom neither his father nor his mother are recorded in the genealogies; nor the origination of his days nor the closing of his life; but, after the likeness of the Son of Elohim, his priesthood remains for ever. 4. And consider how great he was to whom the patriarch Awraham gave tithes and first-fruits. 5. For they of the sons of Levi who received the priesthood, had a statute of Torah that they should take tithes from the people; they from their Brothers, because they also are of the seed of Awraham. 6. But this man who is not recorded in their genealogies, took one-tenth from Awraham; and blessed him who had received the promise. 7. And so it is beyond disputation that the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8. And here, men who die, receive the tithes; but there he of whom the Scripture testifies that he lives. 9. And through Awraham, as one may say, even Levi who receives tithes was himself tithed. 10. For he was yet in the loins of his father when he met Melchisedec.[2]

11. If, therefore, perfection had been by means of the priesthood of the Levites in which Torah was imposed upon the people, why was another priest required who should stand up after the likeness of Melchisedec? For it should have said, he will be after the likeness of Aaron. 12. But as there is a change in the priesthood, so also is there a change in the instruction (to the Levitical priests)[3]

13. For he of whom these things were spoken was born of another tribe of which no one ever ministered at the altar. 14. For it is manifest that our Master (Y’shua) arose from Yehuda, from a tribe of which Moshe said nothing concerning a priesthood. 15. And moreover this is further manifest from his saying that another priest will stand up after the likeness of Melchisedec, 16. who was not according to the Torah of physical requirements, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17. For he testified of him: You are a priest forever, after the likeness of Melchisedec. 18. And the change which was made in the first statute was on account of its powerlessness and because there was no usefullness in it. 19. For the instruction[4] (of the priests) made nothing perfect, but there has come in its place a better hope[5] by which we draw near to Elohim. 20. And he confirmed it to us by an oath.

21. For they became priests without an oath; but this man by an oath. As he said to him by Dawid: Master YHWH has sworn, and will not lie, You are a priest forever, after the likeness of Melchisedec. 22. By all this, is that a superior covenant[6] of which Y’shua is the guaranteed provider. 23. And they as priests were numerous because they were mortal and were not permitted to continue: 24. but this man, because he stands up forever, his priesthood shall not pass away: 25. and he is able to resurrect forever them who come to Elohim by him; for he always lives and sends up prayers for them. 26 For a priest like to him was also suitable for us; one pure and without evil and without stain; one separated from sins and exalted higher than heaven; 27. and who is not required, every day, like the (Aaronic) high priest, to first offer sacrifices for his own sins and then for the people; for this he did once, by offering up himself. 28. For Torah appointed flawed men priests; but the word of the oath which was subsequent to Torah appointed the Son who is eternally perfect. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] When Rav Shaul references the meaning of the names, he is not "translating" them for his audience of Hebrew and Aramaic speakers. Instead he is teaching from the meaning of the name. He is making a deep remez (hint), as any good Torah teacher would, that looking at the meaning of the title of the name reveals a deeper lesson: that of how righteousness and peace are related. The rest of chapter 7 easily bears this idea out.

[2] Here is the key that sets the context for Hebrews 8:13. Throughout chapter 7, it is the “instruction” (Torah) of the Levitical priests being discussed, pointing towards Awraham submitting his sons to be into the line of Melchisedec (MalkiTsedec), by tithing to this man in advance. What happens is a switching of priestly modalities within Torah where the priestly model in Exodus gives way to its predecessor from Genesis, in accordance with all the prophecies in the Tanakh. Again, the Pagans use this passage to teach that it is the “Law” that is passing away. Another vital component to understanding this priesthood is that the akeida (binding of Isaac) points to the MalkiTsedec priesthood, not to the Levitical priesthood. The akeida is fully realized in Mashiyach ben Yoseph, the Suffering Servant who is Y’shua.

[3] Following the context, a change in the priestly line means a change in instructions that relate to priests.

[4] Namusa may refer to Torah proper, or instruction relating to a group or people. The line of thought begins in 7:17 which would demand that namusa/instruction relates to the Aaronic priestly order, not Torah as a whole. The toggling between the two priestly lines of Melchisedec (Bereshit/Genesis) and Aaron (Vayiqra/Leviticus) is a common theme in Tanakh, which predicts that the one must give way to the other. For those who are adamant that Paul can only be referring to Torah (the Law), then consider that Paul is writing to Jews! If Paul were writing to Christians he might have written, “for the Bible perfected nothing” because a “Holy Book” in itself cannot bring perfection even if the Book itself were Perfect. Only the Spirit of YHWH who wrote Torah or “the Bible” can bring perfection. All religions have a “Holy Book” (or two), but imagine how different the world would be if everyone actually followed what their Holy Books teach? Torah reveals Mashiyach who brought a better hope! Do we throw out the Book? That would be foolish theology! And this is not what Paul is teaching! The world is not lacking “holy books” but many souls are lacking in the motivation and desire to live Righteous and Sanctified lives unto YHWH.

[5] Sebar could be "hope" but also "Good News/Gospel." More than any other author, Shaul routinely exploits this root word “sebar” in his writings, which is as strong a signature for his writing style as could be found in the NT.

[6] Here is one of the many places where Christo-Pagans (Marcion) inserted the word “testament” rather than “covenant” in order to twist the values of the Renewed Covenant (Jeremiah 31) into a Hellenized theology that abolishes Torah and replaces Israel with their church systems. Testament does NOT equal covenant, nor does the “Testament” of Y’shua abolish the Covenant; rather it upholds Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Now let's compare the above to Romans:

Romans 3: 19. Now we know, that whatever Torah says, it says to them who are under Torah; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be guilty before Elohim. 20. And so it must be that, by the deeds of Torah, no flesh is justified before him: for, by Torah, sin is known. 21. But now, the righteousness of Elohim without Torah, is manifested; and Torah[2] and the prophets testify of it. 

 

22. Even the righteousness of Elohim, which is by faith in Y’shua the Mashiyach for every one and on every one that believes in him: for there is no distinction; 23. For they have all sinned, and failed of the glory of Elohim. 24. And they are granted the status of being righteous by grace and by the redemption which is in Y’shua the Mashiyach 25. Whom Elohim has ordained in advance a propitiation by faith in his blood, because of our previous sins 26. In the space which Elohim in his long suffering gave to us for the manifestation of his righteousness at the present time, that he might be righteous, and might with righteousness make him righteous who is in the faith of our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach. 

 

27. Where then is glorying? It is completely unmade. By what Torah? By that of works? No! But by the Torah of faith. 28. We therefore conclude, that it is by faith a man is being made righteous, and not by the works[3] of Torah. 29. For, is he the Elohim of the Jews only and not of the Gentiles? No, but of the Gentiles also. Because there is one Elohim who makes righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision by 30. the same faith. 31. Do, we then nullify Torah by faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish Torah. (AENT)

 

FOOTNOTES:

 

[1] Torah sets YHWH’s boundaries as to what is good or evil behavior; therefore, this cannot and does not make Torah a bad thing, but a very good thing! Rav Shaul returns to this precise point again in the seventh chapter.

 

[2] Y’shua qualified as Mashiyach because he fulfilled all Torah and Prophetic requirements, and he became Torah. Torah is written upon the heart by the Ruach haKodesh; the Spirit of Mashiyach is Torah which is the Spirit of Mashiyach, or the Manifestation (Word) of YHWH which became flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore, if we live “in” Y’shua we also become Torah. It is evil to posture that Rav Shaul brought Torah down, when in fact Y’shua and Paul restored and elevated Torah to be the foundation of a spiritual dialogue with Heaven.

 

[3] The terms “works of Torah” and “under Torah” predate Paul by hundreds of years. These terms were discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls (A Sectarian Manifesto 4QMMT:4Q394-399); while originally referring to the ultra religious halacha of the Essenes, the same principles apply to the Pharisees’ halacha. These two phrases are also mentioned in Romans 6:14, 15; 9:32; 1 Corinthians 9:20; 21; Galatians 2:16; 3:2, 5, 10, 23; 4:4, 5, 21; 5:18. “Under Torah” refers to the orthodox/traditional interpretation and observance of Torah. 

 

Religious halacha is clearly NOT what Y’shua or Paul followed in their observance of Torah. The Renewed Covenant promise in Jeremiah 31:33 is to write the Torah of YHWH upon the hearts of His people, not the “Torah of men.” The idiomatic expression “works of Torah” provides insight to those of a “traditional” Jewish upbringing. Paul references Jews at the beginning of this chapter; in verse 19 he states “Now we know” referring to those who understand Torah and halacha.

 

Yom Kippur is just around the corner again!

YOM KIPPUR/DAY OF ATONEMENT - THE HOLIEST OF GOD'S APPOINTED TIMES - is once again on the horizon. Celebrated on Tishri 10 (which, this year (2024) on our Gregorian calendar begins at sunset on September 12), this "Fall Festival" High Holy Day always falls in the September/October time frame.

Leviticus 16:29 tells us: "It is to be a permanent regulation for you that on the tenth day of the seventh month you are to deny yourselves and not to do any kind of work, both the citizen and the foreigner living with you. For on this day, atonement will be made for you to purify you; you will be clean before ADONAI from all your sins. It is a Shabbat of complete rest for you, and you are to deny yourselves. This is a permanent regulation." (CJB)

NOTE: This COMMANDED High Holy Day is not just for the Jews; it is for ALL who have accepted YHWH (can also be written as Yahweh) as their God Most High, and His Divine Son, Messiah Yeshua. (See Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, Galatians 3:28 and Romans 10:12-13.)

On this solemn day we are to "deny ourselves" (i.e., fast, refrain from work of any kind, and repent and bare our souls to YHWH, asking Him to forgive us anything we may have done throughout the year that was not pleasing to Him).

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not succeed; he who confesses and abandons them will gain mercy. (CJB)

1 John 1:7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other and the blood of Y’shua his Son cleanses us from all our sins. 8. And if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our iniquity. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not with us. (AENT)

This mo'ed (Appointed Time) also represents the need for the sacrifice/sin offering that must be made for the sins of the nation. As the Bible tells us, Messiah shall descend to put to an end the sins of Israel (Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21) .

At that time the Jews will mourn for the "One who was pierced" and FINALLY recognize that Yeshua was the Messiah, all along! This day will be fulfilled upon the Second Coming of Messiah to the Earth (Matt. 23:37-39, Hos. 5:15 thru 6:1-3, Zech. 13:8,9 Zech. 12:10, Zech. 13:1, Ezek. 16:61-63).

(TO REITERATE: "Israel" includes not just the Jewish people; but ALL who believe in and follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! And yes CHURCH, this includes you, as well. Jesus did not put an end to YHWH's Torah; he offered himself on the cross to remove our "certificate of sin and debt" so that we could enter into the Presence of YHWH.)

IN SHORT - this mo'ed signals the call for "Teshuva" - repentance - for the time is short and Judgment is coming upon the Earth, whether people are ready, or not! (See the Books of Daniel and Revelation.) Teshuvah basically allows us to erase our sins through a four-step process:

ONE: Leave the Sin. Leaving the sin consists of stopping the commission of the sinful act. You cannot do teshuvah if you continue to do the sin - period!

TWO: Regret. Regret is sincerely regretting one's wrong action. You must be genuinely ashamed and embarrassed over your sins. (This is where "God knows your heart" comes into play...)

THREE: Confession Before Yahweh. Confession before Yahweh means confession spoken out loud, in which you formulate in words the commitments and attitudes you have reached in your heart. It should go something like this: "I have sinned, I have done such and such; I deeply regret my actions, and I declare before Yahweh, Who knows my innermost thoughts, that I will never do this sin again."

(Note that this confession is directly to Yahweh. No one needs to confess to an intercessor as Catholics are told.)

FOUR. Acceptance for the Future. Acceptance for the future consists of resolving in your heart never to commit the sin ever again.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT these 4 steps are only for sins committed against Yahweh! For sins committed against a person, you must first ask forgiveness from that person and then ask Yahweh to accept your teshuvah.

And - these four steps are only valid if you do teshuvah AFTER an unintentional sin. You cannot say: "I can do this sin, then do teshuvah and He will forgive me..." It simply doesn't work that way! The Bible tells us that the sin offerings of Leviticus were for unintentional sin. There never was atonement for intentional sin, and there still is no atonement for deliberate sin...

Hebrews 10: 26 "For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." (CJB)

The good news is, Torah tells us that no matter how far we stray or how many times we sin, Yahweh will wait for us to return to Him.

Make sure YOU are ready! Your eternal life depends on it...

(Yom Kippur fast  begins right before the High  Shabbat starts at  sunset, so be sure to eat before then! Readings are as follows:  Morning: Lev. 16:1-  34, Num. 29:7-11, Isa. 57:14-  58:14, Mt. 27:1-32. Afternoon: Lev.  18:1-30, Jonah 1:1-4:11,  Micah 7:18-20, Mt. 27:33-66.)

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) is on the horizon again!

 

Sukkot is on the horizon!

Did you know that our Messiah was NOT born on December 25th? It's true! Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), which falls in the September/October time frame on our Gregorian calendars, and circumcised on the 8th day. (The first and last days of Sukkot are High Holy Days.)

As a matter of fact, my late husband, Bill Welker, discovered some time ago that the day of Yeshua's birth was 15 Tishri (September 13th (Gregorian proleptic)), 5 BCE, under the "sign" of a total lunar eclipse. 

This year (2024), Sukkot starts at sunset on September 17; and the last day ends at sunset September 25.  The first and last days are High Holy Days!  For more, please check out our indepth article.   
 

 

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

ANOTHER GLORIOUS HIGH HOLY DAY IS ON THE HORIZON: Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashana (Feast of Trumpets/New Year)!

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!

(This year (2024) Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashana begins at sunset on Tuesday, September 3 and ends at sunset on Wednesday, September 4. (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.)

It seems most simply do not want to “Shema”…

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT MOST PEOPLE ONLY WANT TO HEAR "HOW GOOD" OUR GOD IS - They don't ever want to see the "whole picture."  They don't seem to want to hear that He doesn't provide endless "feel good religion"; but, rather, some "tough love," because He is "all in" - ADAMANT! - about His relationship with us...

Many ignore the "curses" He said He would send on those who refuse to obey His Word. (See Deuteronomy 26:1 through 29:8.)

Most only want to hear what all God will "do for them" - simply because they "believe in Jesus" ... which means, they haven't grasped the whole picture!  They didn't read, much less study or understand the first 3/4 of the Bible to find out who ADONAI (God, "the Father") is or what is expected of THEM in this two-way relationship. 

They concentrate only on what they THINK they know from the *last fourth* of the Bible, which they believe consists only of the idea that "Jesus brought love and grace" and that "Old Testament God was mean, and all that old stuff doesn't pertain to us"...

Somehow, it escapes them that Yeshua tried to make people realize he did NOT come to bring any "religion"; rather, he taught the "old one that was brought to us from the beginning; and that we have to SHEMA (which means "hear AND do"); and if we don't we're not going to see the Kingdom!  

Please read the very carefully:

1 John 2:7 My beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but the old Commandment which you had from the beginning; and the old Commandment is the Word which you have heard. (AENT)

John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commands; (CJB)

Romans 10: 12. And in this, it discriminates neither Jews nor Gentiles. For there is one, Master YHWH, over them all, who is abundantly generous towards every one that calls on him. 13. For everyone that will call on the name of Master YHWH, will have life. (AENT)

Matthew 13: 1. Now on that day Y'shua went out from the house and sat by the side of the sea. 2. And large crowds gathered around him, so that he went up to sit himself on a boat, and all the crowd was standing on the shore of the sea. 3. And he was speaking much to them in parables, and said, Behold, a sower went out to sow, 4. and while he was sowing, there was some that fell upon the side of the road, and a bird came and ate it. 5. And some others fell where stony ground was, and there was not much soil there. And at once, it sprouted because there was no depth to the ground.

6. When the sun came up and it became hot, and because it had not rooted, it withered. 7. And some others fell into a thorny place and grew up thistles and choked it. 8. And others fell on good ground and bore fruit: some a hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty.

9. He who has ears to hear let him hear. 10. And his disciples approached and said to him, "Why do you speak in parables to them? 11. And he answered and said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. 12. For to him who has, it will be given to him and it will increase to him, and to him who has not, even that which he has will be taken from him.

13. Because of this, I will speak in parables with them because they see, and they see not, and they hear and they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14. And is fulfilled in them the prophecy of Yesha'yahu which said that, "Hearing, and you will not understand what you will hear, and seeing you will see not know what you see."

15. For hardened is the heart of this people, and with their ears they were hard of hearing, and their eyes are blinded that they should not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand in their heart and return and I heal them. 16. But blessed are you. You have eyes that see and ears that hear.

17. For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men have longed to see the things that you see, and they did not see, and to hear, and they did not hear. 18. But you hear the parable of the seed. 19. Everyone who hears the word of the Kingdom and does not understand it comes the evil one and snatches the word, which was sown in his heart. This is that which upon the side of the road was sown. 20. And that which was sown upon stony ground is he that hears the word and accepts it at once in joy. 21. But he has no root in him but is temporal. And when trouble or persecution comes, he is quickly offended because of the word.

22. And that which was sown into a thorny place is he that hears the word and the cares of this world and the deception of riches choke the word, and it becomes without fruit. 23. But that which was sown upon good earth is he that hears my word and understands and produces and bears fruit, some a hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty. (AENT)

ROMANS 11:8 tells us: "As it is written: Elohim gave them a stupid spirit and eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, to this very day." (CJB)

Honestly - from what I've been able to discern, many simply do NOT want to bother with God's Truth; they simply want their ears tickled - never mind that Scripture provided this stern warning:

Proverbs 28:9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination. (CJB) (See also 1 Peter 3:12, Proverbs 15:29, James 5:16, Isaiah 59:2, James 4:3-8, James 1:6-7, John 15:7, Revelation 21:8, etc.)