Sunday, November 30, 2014
How Much Time Do You Spend with God?
Consider yourself "typical", if you are a "Church goer" who goes to Church on Sunday then return home to resume their "weekend" activities. I'm thinking about the "typical Christian" here, anyone in one of the approximate 338,000 Christian congregations in the US (http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html) Now, I'm not picking on people who go to Church on Sunday, or picking on Christians, so please don't get me wrong! I want to assess how much time that typical "Church goer" spends with God, that's all, and hopefully make a point.
The typical "Sunday Service" is 1 hour, let's say 2 if you count the adult Bible Studies which are often before the main service. But I'm going to be realistic here and instead of saying that is "2 hours with God", I'm going to call it 1.5 hours since much of that 2 hour block is getting coffee, talking with others about "this and that" and general "mixing". That counts as good fellowship, of course, but it's not really spending time with God if the mixing includes discussing the "big game" that afternoon, or how nice one looks, etc.
There are 168 hours in each week, so that 1.5 hours with God on Sunday is therefore just a hair under 1%. One percent of the week is "spent with God" in this example.
When asked “Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:36, AENT), the Messiah Yeshua answered: “You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind.” This is the first and the greatest Commandment. And the second is like it. That ‘You should love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang Torah and the prophets.” (Verses 37-40, AENT) (Many who read these verses conclude the Messiah therefore gave us only "two" commandments - which would be wrong because, as the Messiah Himself said "On these two commandments hang Torah and the prophets". Yeshua only answered the question "Which is the greatest", He did not say "The only commandments are these....") So the Messiah identified the "greatest" commandment is to "love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind."
Yeshua was not giving a "new" commandment, for He was quoting the commandments which already existed! In this case He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5. In fact, Yeshua knew the Tanach well, and taught from it constantly. This part of Deuteronomy is rich in the instructions YHWH gave us on how to live! Let's look at verses 2-7:
"...so that you will fear ADONAI your God and observe all his regulations and mitzvot that I am giving you - you, your child and your grandchild - as long as you live, and so that you will have long life. Therefore listen, Isra'el, and take care to obey, so that things will go well with you, and so that you will increase greatly, as ADONAI, the God of your ancestors, promised you by giving you a land flowing with milk and honey. "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]; and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (CJB)
This is YHWH's expectation of His people! Note the word "Sh'ma" which was translated as "Hear" in the CJB. The word actually means "hear and do". So the commandment was to "Hear the commandments and DO them!"
One the commandments is the observance and keeping of the Sabbath - the "Shabbat" - the "7th day". Now many Christian denominations like to call Sunday "the Sabbath", which is not correct, but this article is not about why Sunday is not the Sabbath. But if Sunday were the Sabbath, the keeping of the Sabbath day would still be the same; that is, the instructions for observing the Sabbath, as the Messiah did, would still be the same. We find the instruction for the Sabbath in Exodus 20:8-11:
"Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work - not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. For in six days, ADONAI made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself." (CJB)
So if you obeyed this simple commandment, since the Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday, and ends at sunset on Saturday, there are at least 10-12 hours out of the 24-hour period in which you could spend time with God and rest! Indeed, this is the purpose of the Shabbat! Reread the verses above!
10 hours of the 168 hour week is 5.9% - 6% if we are not picky. So simply obeying the Sabbath is almost 7 times more than you spend by "Church going" on Sunday!
Then, guess what! There is a way to spend even more time with God without any effort! Let's read Numbers 15:38-40:
"Speak to the people of Isra'el, instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue thread. It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of ADONAI's mitzvot and obey them, so that you won't go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves; but it will help you remember and obey all my mitzvot and be holy for your God." (CJB)
This commandment provides a way for us to always have God on our minds! YHWH gave us a way to help us stay holy and honorable by simply wearing a "fringe" (the "tzitzit" in Hebrew)! Wow!
Now before you say "Well - those commandments don't apply to me...", think about what you are saying! You would be saying "That commandment to not go around wherever my own heart and eyes lead to prostitute myself doesn't apply to me, and that commandment to 'be holy for my God' doesn't apply to me"! Would you really think that the instructions from GOD, taught by the Messiah, would not apply to you? Really?
So there you have it! A couple of astoundingly easy ways to actually "hear and do" the commandment which the Messiah identified as the greatest! Turns out, keeping the Sabbath is a blessing! Here is what Isaiah says about it, revealed by God:
"If you hold back your foot on Shabbat from pursuing your own interests on My holy day; if you call Shabbat a delight, ADONAI's holy day, worth honoring; then honor it by not doing your usual things or pursuing your interests or speaking about them. If you do, you will find delight in ADONAI - I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Ya'akov, for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken." (Isaiah 58:13-14, CJB)
And finally, if you think the commandments don't apply to you, if you think keeping the Shabbat and wearing tzitzit is too much for you, how do you obey the greatest commandment?
Thursday, November 27, 2014
A quick note about Thanksgiving and Christmas
Happy thanksgiving to America! Amazingly, every year we have to weed through the “Thanksgiving is pagan” nonsense. And then, immediately afterward it is inevitable that we’re going to be slapped in the face with endless Christmas commercials designed to get us to go into debt so we can make our loved ones happy. SIGH! If only people would turn to God and just see both of these holidays through HIS Eyes….
Folks, there is NO reason why Thanksgiving should be considered “pagan”; none, whatsoever. How can a day designed to get people to give thanks to “the Most high God” possibly be pagan? Thanksgiving was instituted by Abraham Lincoln in October 1863, then moved to the fourth Thursday in November by Franklin Roosevelt. Please read this article and then make up your own mind as to whether or not you still want to believe there’s “paganism” in thanking our Creator.
Yes, I know all the "we stole America from the Indian nation and slaughtered the Natives" arguments - and, while that is very sad, none of us had anything to do with those atrocities, and there is nothing we can do to change things. (We're dealing with new atrocities today...find a newspaper or watch World News Now and your jaw will drop!) The fact is, we live here, and America today is a land filled with all colors and creeds of peoples from all around the world. People are illegally crossing our borders to escape their own countries in hopes of being able to live in the USA! If you, on the other hand, hate America and everything it stands for, you are free to move somewhere else. Nothing says you have to stay! We need people with common sense and the desire to make America prosper; not a bunch of negative hate-mongers who wish to pull her down! In the meantime, why SHOULDN'T we set aside a day to honor God for what we have? Since when is honoring God "wrong"?
And yes, I know that the “pagan police” like to play word games and scream and holler that the word “God” itself is pagan, but again - that’s just your personal opinion! In English we refer to our Creator as “God.” If someone feels that's a problem, then don't use the word "God." (Our God’s Name is YHWH - see our article God revealed His Name to Moses.)
The bottom line is always: If you believe Thanksgiving is “pagan” – then don’t celebrate it. Problem solved!
As for Christmas, while it’s supposedly the “birth of Christ” and the celebration of His birth, the bottom line is: “Christmas” is NOT one of the Biblical Feasts, and December 25th is NOT Messiah’s birthday. (See our article, Proof that Yeshua was NOT born in December!)
Furthermore, nowhere in Scripture are we told to celebrate His birthday. To be fair, it doesn’t say you can’t, either, so if you wish to put up a tree and celebrate Christmas, GO for it! We are to be thankful to our God every day of the year, and if you want to do enjoy “Christmas” activities, that’s your choice. Just don’t be guilty of telling your children the lie about “flying reindeer” and “Santa Claus” who magically comes down the chimney to bring them presents – because lying is NOT condoned in Scripture. (Although I’m “middle aged,” I will never forget how upset I was with my parents when I discovered that the “Santa” they had been telling me about for years, was nonexistent – and after that, I never again believed anything they said. It hurts to know you’ve been lied to!)
You can find tons of articles on the Internet concerning the "history of Christmas" (some of which are absolutely laughable in their attempts to force Christmas to be “condoned by God”), so I won’t belabor the topic here, as I’ve discovered that people are going to believe whatever they want to believe, anyway – and truly, some of the excuses they come up with to continue the Christmas tradition are beyond belief!
If you are interested, we have two articles on our website: The pagan origins of Christmas and Let’s examine the lie called Christmas. The only reason I am posting this is because social media is already buzzing with rabid Christian hate groups supporting each other and poking fun at those who wish to keep the Biblical Feasts instead of man-made “holy days” - and I felt something needs to be said for the sake of those who are seeking BIBLICAL Truth….
Folks, there is NO reason why Thanksgiving should be considered “pagan”; none, whatsoever. How can a day designed to get people to give thanks to “the Most high God” possibly be pagan? Thanksgiving was instituted by Abraham Lincoln in October 1863, then moved to the fourth Thursday in November by Franklin Roosevelt. Please read this article and then make up your own mind as to whether or not you still want to believe there’s “paganism” in thanking our Creator.
Yes, I know all the "we stole America from the Indian nation and slaughtered the Natives" arguments - and, while that is very sad, none of us had anything to do with those atrocities, and there is nothing we can do to change things. (We're dealing with new atrocities today...find a newspaper or watch World News Now and your jaw will drop!) The fact is, we live here, and America today is a land filled with all colors and creeds of peoples from all around the world. People are illegally crossing our borders to escape their own countries in hopes of being able to live in the USA! If you, on the other hand, hate America and everything it stands for, you are free to move somewhere else. Nothing says you have to stay! We need people with common sense and the desire to make America prosper; not a bunch of negative hate-mongers who wish to pull her down! In the meantime, why SHOULDN'T we set aside a day to honor God for what we have? Since when is honoring God "wrong"?
And yes, I know that the “pagan police” like to play word games and scream and holler that the word “God” itself is pagan, but again - that’s just your personal opinion! In English we refer to our Creator as “God.” If someone feels that's a problem, then don't use the word "God." (Our God’s Name is YHWH - see our article God revealed His Name to Moses.)
The bottom line is always: If you believe Thanksgiving is “pagan” – then don’t celebrate it. Problem solved!
As for Christmas, while it’s supposedly the “birth of Christ” and the celebration of His birth, the bottom line is: “Christmas” is NOT one of the Biblical Feasts, and December 25th is NOT Messiah’s birthday. (See our article, Proof that Yeshua was NOT born in December!)
Furthermore, nowhere in Scripture are we told to celebrate His birthday. To be fair, it doesn’t say you can’t, either, so if you wish to put up a tree and celebrate Christmas, GO for it! We are to be thankful to our God every day of the year, and if you want to do enjoy “Christmas” activities, that’s your choice. Just don’t be guilty of telling your children the lie about “flying reindeer” and “Santa Claus” who magically comes down the chimney to bring them presents – because lying is NOT condoned in Scripture. (Although I’m “middle aged,” I will never forget how upset I was with my parents when I discovered that the “Santa” they had been telling me about for years, was nonexistent – and after that, I never again believed anything they said. It hurts to know you’ve been lied to!)
You can find tons of articles on the Internet concerning the "history of Christmas" (some of which are absolutely laughable in their attempts to force Christmas to be “condoned by God”), so I won’t belabor the topic here, as I’ve discovered that people are going to believe whatever they want to believe, anyway – and truly, some of the excuses they come up with to continue the Christmas tradition are beyond belief!
If you are interested, we have two articles on our website: The pagan origins of Christmas and Let’s examine the lie called Christmas. The only reason I am posting this is because social media is already buzzing with rabid Christian hate groups supporting each other and poking fun at those who wish to keep the Biblical Feasts instead of man-made “holy days” - and I felt something needs to be said for the sake of those who are seeking BIBLICAL Truth….
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Oh, if we could only mute the “noise” of the world!
Have you ever muted your television and just sat and watched people’s mouth move? You know they’re talking, but you cannot hear a word they’re saying.
Just watching the “noise” on the evening news on TV is enough to drive someone insane, isn’t it? We see beheadings and all kinds of atrocities being perpetrated by crazed lunatics who do it for the pleasure of watching others die. We see passenger jets being shot out of the sky over the Ukraine; we see some animals being poached to extinction, all because of man’s greed. And we see rioting and looting and demonic behavior by people who believe they have the right to destroy businesses just because they are upset that a verdict didn’t go the way they wanted it to.
The list of horrors is virtually endless – and so are the opinions and the moving mouths that basically say nothing … which brings me back to my original question: Have you ever muted your television and just sat and watched people’s mouth move? You know they’re talking, but you cannot hear a word they’re saying.
I often wonder if YHWH doesn’t do the same thing, sometimes … mute our voices so He can’t hear the nonsense emanating from our mouths. That’s what I would do if I were God. Most of what we say is totally irrelevant, anyway, in the grand scheme of things. Our human words, thoughts and deeds, they are all pretty much like used menstrual rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6) – especially during those times when we behave like a bunch of ignorant buffoons, screaming and yelling at each other while espousing personal opinion in a world that is falling apart at the seams.
Truly, Scripture is unfolding before our very eyes. People’s mouths are constantly moving; and if they’re not talking, then they are texting or posting their thoughts on Facebook or some other social network, expressing personal opinions, even on things that they really know nothing about. (I’ve often wondered if this isn’t what the “knowledge will increase” passage in Daniel 12:4 refers to … people constantly seeking and erroneously believing themselves to have gained YHWH’s knowledge, and then, without truly knowing what they are talking about, they try to force that “knowledge” down the throats of everyone they meet; a “smart-alecky” kind of knowledge that comes from arrogant and self-centered pride.)
Most today, it seems, don’t want laws or rules; they want to do and say whatever they want, without any consequences. Everybody thinks they know everything – and they will beat you to a pulp to ensure that YOU know their “knowledge” too....
And so, after I watched the ever-dire, depressing news on TV this morning, I decided to ask the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) what I could do to get over this encroaching feeling of despair. But, no sooner had I sat down at my computer than I “happened upon” Second Timothy – which I immediately realized was my answer:
Second Timothy 2: 1. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is by Y’shua the Mashiyach. 2. And the things you have heard from me by many witnesses, these commit you to faithful men who are competent to teach others also. 3. And endure evils as a good soldier of Y’shua the Mashiyach. 4. No man, on becoming a soldier, entangles himself with the business of the world; that he may please him who enlisted him.
I personally need this reminder constantly, because I receive endless attacks from atheists, Satanists, Christians and traditional Jews, all coming at me with their respective OPINIONS about how “wrong” my teachings are. I have even been severely attacked by a member of the Jewish terrorist organization Yad Lachim who likes to photoshop my image and turn it into vicious, vulgar, mean-spirited memes that in no way reflect YHWH’s Holiness! (I guess I’m doing something right, or else I wouldn’t be such a threat, right?)
Continuing with Second Timothy 2: 5. And if one competes (in the games), he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.[1] 6. The husbandman who labors should be first to feed on his fruits. 7 Consider what I say. Our Master (Y’shua) give you wisdom in all things. 8. Be mindful of Y’shua the Mashiyach, that he arose from the dead; who was of the seed of Dawid, according to my proclamation, 9. in which I suffer evils to bonds as if an evil-doer: but the Word of Elohim is not in bonds. 10. Therefore I endure everything for the elect’s sake; that they also may obtain life in Y’shua the Mashiyach with eternal glory. 11. Faithful is the saying, For if we will have died with him we will also live with him; 12. and, if we will have suffered, we will also reign with him. But if we will have rejected him, he will reject us.
OH MY – I see myriads rejecting Y’shua today! I recently left Facebook because so many of my Facebook friends are literally rushing headlong toward traditional Jewish teachings and rejecting Y’shua and dismissing the New Testament, altogether. What’s truly disturbing is that they couldn’t bring themselves to “just leave” Y’shua; no – they all seem to feel they have to tell the whole world in a most rude, spiteful and hateful manner! Instead of becoming more “godly” in their “new belief” they have turned into mean and vicious ogres, constantly and endlessly ranting against anyone who believes in Y’shua! (See just one of our articles that reveals the types of things they are doing.) My question is: Now since they’ve rejected Him, can they ever return? Judging by what these scriptures say, it wouldn’t appear to be so, but then, only YHWH Himself knows!
Numbers 15:30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people.
Hebrews 6:4 But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)
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, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies.
The above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the conscious choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly. Those who lie, cheat, steal, pillage, plunder, murder – and yes, willingly choose to reject the WHOLE of YHWH’s Word – are guilty of, and will stand, before Him on Judgment Day to explain themselves. We ALL will get that chance…and some of us won’t be happy with the result.
1 Corinthians 6: 9. Or don't you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim? Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, 10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)
“Oppressors” is what we call people who attempt to lord or to rule over others! YHWH said what He said, and no amount of Scripture twisting is going to change what He said! And what He said is that HE is our ELOHIM and that He would send us “a prophet like unto Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19. See also our article: Qualifications of Messiah.)
2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.
Yeshua said: Revelation 3: 16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (Those who have rejected Him are certainly guilty of being “lukewarm!)
Isaiah 66:24 "As they leave, they will look on the corpses of the people who rebelled against me. For their worm will never die, and their fire will never be quenched; but they will be abhorrent to all humanity.
And take a look at this – which should bring shivers to the system of someone who is truly seeking, but yet dares to skulk around on “anti-missionary” websites and blogs and threads to bash Him!
Hebrews 10: 29 Think how much worse will be the punishment deserved by someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God; who has treated as something common the blood of the covenant which made him holy; and who has insulted the Spirit, giver of God's grace! 30 For the One we know is the One who said, "Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay," and then said, "ADONAI will judge his people." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
Y’shua never said He was “replacing YHWH!” NEVER! Nor did He ever suggest that YHWH’s Torah would be abolished. Those who preach those lies are practicing man-made “religion”; not the Word of YHWH!
Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened.
Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.
Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."
Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.
Continuing with Second Timothy 2: 13. And if we will have not believed in him, he abides in his fidelity; for he cannot reject himself. 14. Of these things admonish you them and charge (them) before our Master (Y’shua) that they do not argue with unprofitable words to the subversion of those who hear them. 15. And study to present yourself before Elohim perfectly, a laborer who is not ashamed, one who correctly announces the Word of Truth. 16. Avoid vain discourses in which there is no profit; for they very much add to the wickedness of those occupied with them. 17. And their discourse, like an eating cancer, will lay hold upon many. And one of these is Hymeneus, and another Philetus 18. who have wandered from the truth while they say, The resurrection of the dead has passed: and they subvert the faith of some.
The above reminded me to NOT become depressed, suppressed, or to take revenge upon those who attack me - but to “count it all joy” (James 1:2) and let it go, for YHWH will take care of the loudmouths and the know-it-alls.
Continuing with Second Timothy 2: 19. But the firm foundation of Elohim stands and it has this seal; Master YHWH knows them who are His: and, Let everyone who invokes the name of our Master (Y’shua) stand aloof from iniquity. 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold or silver, but also of wood and of pottery; and some of them for honor, and some for dishonor. 21. If therefore anyone purge himself from these things, he will be a pure vessel for honor, fit for the use of his Master (Y’shua) and prepared for every good work.
22. Fly from all the lusts of youth; and follow after righteousness and faith and love and peace with them that invoke our Master (Y’shua) with a pure heart. 23. Avoid those foolish discussions which afford no instruction; for you know that they generate arguments. 24. And a servant of our Master (Y’shua) you should not contend with, but to be mild towards everyone and instructive and patient;[2] 25. that with mildness he may enlighten those who dispute against him if perhaps Elohim may give them repentance and they may acknowledge the truth, 26 and may recollect themselves and may escape out of the snare of Satan, at whose pleasure they have been held ensnared.
WHAT A WONDERFUL REMINDER! Let those who wish to be evil, be evil. Let those who wish to reject Y’shua, do so. Let those viper pit blogs that speak out against Torah, speak out against Torah! It’s NOT MY PROBLEM! YHWH will take care of those who twist His Word! I am to REJOICE and not become despondent in my belief in YHWH/Y'shua/Torah - the WHOLE of Scripture!
In closing, what I felt the Ruach say to me this morning was: “As for you, My Servant, just proclaim MY WORD and go about MY business! I will deal with the scoffers and the know-it-alls and those who believe themselves to be godly while their hearts are far from Me! You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone but ME!”
Halleluyah! What a wonderful GOD we serve! HE is our "mute button" that quiets the "noise" of this world...He truly "leadeth us beside still waters!" (Psalms 23:2)
FOOTNOTES to Second Timothy 2, from the Aramaic English New Testament:
[1] Here the word namusa, which frequently refers to Torah, is clearly being used to denote man-made rules. To properly understand Rav Shaul’s writings, it is critical to understand when Rav Shaul is referring to the Torah of YHWH and when he speaks about man’s rules.
[2] Here is a double implied Aramaic wordplay; the synonyms of two terms suggest a deeper meaning. In this case “instructive” (from malpana, teacher) suggests “the instruction” or Torah, since Paul uses the other synonym (taara) elsewhere in his writings, such as in Galatians. Then “patience” (nagira) suggests its synonym of sebar (to endure), from which we get the Aramaic word for “Good News”!
Just watching the “noise” on the evening news on TV is enough to drive someone insane, isn’t it? We see beheadings and all kinds of atrocities being perpetrated by crazed lunatics who do it for the pleasure of watching others die. We see passenger jets being shot out of the sky over the Ukraine; we see some animals being poached to extinction, all because of man’s greed. And we see rioting and looting and demonic behavior by people who believe they have the right to destroy businesses just because they are upset that a verdict didn’t go the way they wanted it to.
The list of horrors is virtually endless – and so are the opinions and the moving mouths that basically say nothing … which brings me back to my original question: Have you ever muted your television and just sat and watched people’s mouth move? You know they’re talking, but you cannot hear a word they’re saying.
I often wonder if YHWH doesn’t do the same thing, sometimes … mute our voices so He can’t hear the nonsense emanating from our mouths. That’s what I would do if I were God. Most of what we say is totally irrelevant, anyway, in the grand scheme of things. Our human words, thoughts and deeds, they are all pretty much like used menstrual rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6) – especially during those times when we behave like a bunch of ignorant buffoons, screaming and yelling at each other while espousing personal opinion in a world that is falling apart at the seams.
Truly, Scripture is unfolding before our very eyes. People’s mouths are constantly moving; and if they’re not talking, then they are texting or posting their thoughts on Facebook or some other social network, expressing personal opinions, even on things that they really know nothing about. (I’ve often wondered if this isn’t what the “knowledge will increase” passage in Daniel 12:4 refers to … people constantly seeking and erroneously believing themselves to have gained YHWH’s knowledge, and then, without truly knowing what they are talking about, they try to force that “knowledge” down the throats of everyone they meet; a “smart-alecky” kind of knowledge that comes from arrogant and self-centered pride.)
Most today, it seems, don’t want laws or rules; they want to do and say whatever they want, without any consequences. Everybody thinks they know everything – and they will beat you to a pulp to ensure that YOU know their “knowledge” too....
And so, after I watched the ever-dire, depressing news on TV this morning, I decided to ask the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) what I could do to get over this encroaching feeling of despair. But, no sooner had I sat down at my computer than I “happened upon” Second Timothy – which I immediately realized was my answer:
Second Timothy 2: 1. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is by Y’shua the Mashiyach. 2. And the things you have heard from me by many witnesses, these commit you to faithful men who are competent to teach others also. 3. And endure evils as a good soldier of Y’shua the Mashiyach. 4. No man, on becoming a soldier, entangles himself with the business of the world; that he may please him who enlisted him.
I personally need this reminder constantly, because I receive endless attacks from atheists, Satanists, Christians and traditional Jews, all coming at me with their respective OPINIONS about how “wrong” my teachings are. I have even been severely attacked by a member of the Jewish terrorist organization Yad Lachim who likes to photoshop my image and turn it into vicious, vulgar, mean-spirited memes that in no way reflect YHWH’s Holiness! (I guess I’m doing something right, or else I wouldn’t be such a threat, right?)
Continuing with Second Timothy 2: 5. And if one competes (in the games), he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.[1] 6. The husbandman who labors should be first to feed on his fruits. 7 Consider what I say. Our Master (Y’shua) give you wisdom in all things. 8. Be mindful of Y’shua the Mashiyach, that he arose from the dead; who was of the seed of Dawid, according to my proclamation, 9. in which I suffer evils to bonds as if an evil-doer: but the Word of Elohim is not in bonds. 10. Therefore I endure everything for the elect’s sake; that they also may obtain life in Y’shua the Mashiyach with eternal glory. 11. Faithful is the saying, For if we will have died with him we will also live with him; 12. and, if we will have suffered, we will also reign with him. But if we will have rejected him, he will reject us.
OH MY – I see myriads rejecting Y’shua today! I recently left Facebook because so many of my Facebook friends are literally rushing headlong toward traditional Jewish teachings and rejecting Y’shua and dismissing the New Testament, altogether. What’s truly disturbing is that they couldn’t bring themselves to “just leave” Y’shua; no – they all seem to feel they have to tell the whole world in a most rude, spiteful and hateful manner! Instead of becoming more “godly” in their “new belief” they have turned into mean and vicious ogres, constantly and endlessly ranting against anyone who believes in Y’shua! (See just one of our articles that reveals the types of things they are doing.) My question is: Now since they’ve rejected Him, can they ever return? Judging by what these scriptures say, it wouldn’t appear to be so, but then, only YHWH Himself knows!
Numbers 15:30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people.
Hebrews 6:4 But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)
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, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies.
The above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the conscious choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly. Those who lie, cheat, steal, pillage, plunder, murder – and yes, willingly choose to reject the WHOLE of YHWH’s Word – are guilty of, and will stand, before Him on Judgment Day to explain themselves. We ALL will get that chance…and some of us won’t be happy with the result.
1 Corinthians 6: 9. Or don't you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim? Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, 10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)
“Oppressors” is what we call people who attempt to lord or to rule over others! YHWH said what He said, and no amount of Scripture twisting is going to change what He said! And what He said is that HE is our ELOHIM and that He would send us “a prophet like unto Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19. See also our article: Qualifications of Messiah.)
2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.
Yeshua said: Revelation 3: 16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (Those who have rejected Him are certainly guilty of being “lukewarm!)
Isaiah 66:24 "As they leave, they will look on the corpses of the people who rebelled against me. For their worm will never die, and their fire will never be quenched; but they will be abhorrent to all humanity.
And take a look at this – which should bring shivers to the system of someone who is truly seeking, but yet dares to skulk around on “anti-missionary” websites and blogs and threads to bash Him!
Hebrews 10: 29 Think how much worse will be the punishment deserved by someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God; who has treated as something common the blood of the covenant which made him holy; and who has insulted the Spirit, giver of God's grace! 30 For the One we know is the One who said, "Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay," and then said, "ADONAI will judge his people." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
Y’shua never said He was “replacing YHWH!” NEVER! Nor did He ever suggest that YHWH’s Torah would be abolished. Those who preach those lies are practicing man-made “religion”; not the Word of YHWH!
Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened.
Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.
Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."
Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.
Continuing with Second Timothy 2: 13. And if we will have not believed in him, he abides in his fidelity; for he cannot reject himself. 14. Of these things admonish you them and charge (them) before our Master (Y’shua) that they do not argue with unprofitable words to the subversion of those who hear them. 15. And study to present yourself before Elohim perfectly, a laborer who is not ashamed, one who correctly announces the Word of Truth. 16. Avoid vain discourses in which there is no profit; for they very much add to the wickedness of those occupied with them. 17. And their discourse, like an eating cancer, will lay hold upon many. And one of these is Hymeneus, and another Philetus 18. who have wandered from the truth while they say, The resurrection of the dead has passed: and they subvert the faith of some.
The above reminded me to NOT become depressed, suppressed, or to take revenge upon those who attack me - but to “count it all joy” (James 1:2) and let it go, for YHWH will take care of the loudmouths and the know-it-alls.
Continuing with Second Timothy 2: 19. But the firm foundation of Elohim stands and it has this seal; Master YHWH knows them who are His: and, Let everyone who invokes the name of our Master (Y’shua) stand aloof from iniquity. 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold or silver, but also of wood and of pottery; and some of them for honor, and some for dishonor. 21. If therefore anyone purge himself from these things, he will be a pure vessel for honor, fit for the use of his Master (Y’shua) and prepared for every good work.
22. Fly from all the lusts of youth; and follow after righteousness and faith and love and peace with them that invoke our Master (Y’shua) with a pure heart. 23. Avoid those foolish discussions which afford no instruction; for you know that they generate arguments. 24. And a servant of our Master (Y’shua) you should not contend with, but to be mild towards everyone and instructive and patient;[2] 25. that with mildness he may enlighten those who dispute against him if perhaps Elohim may give them repentance and they may acknowledge the truth, 26 and may recollect themselves and may escape out of the snare of Satan, at whose pleasure they have been held ensnared.
WHAT A WONDERFUL REMINDER! Let those who wish to be evil, be evil. Let those who wish to reject Y’shua, do so. Let those viper pit blogs that speak out against Torah, speak out against Torah! It’s NOT MY PROBLEM! YHWH will take care of those who twist His Word! I am to REJOICE and not become despondent in my belief in YHWH/Y'shua/Torah - the WHOLE of Scripture!
In closing, what I felt the Ruach say to me this morning was: “As for you, My Servant, just proclaim MY WORD and go about MY business! I will deal with the scoffers and the know-it-alls and those who believe themselves to be godly while their hearts are far from Me! You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone but ME!”
Halleluyah! What a wonderful GOD we serve! HE is our "mute button" that quiets the "noise" of this world...He truly "leadeth us beside still waters!" (Psalms 23:2)
FOOTNOTES to Second Timothy 2, from the Aramaic English New Testament:
[1] Here the word namusa, which frequently refers to Torah, is clearly being used to denote man-made rules. To properly understand Rav Shaul’s writings, it is critical to understand when Rav Shaul is referring to the Torah of YHWH and when he speaks about man’s rules.
[2] Here is a double implied Aramaic wordplay; the synonyms of two terms suggest a deeper meaning. In this case “instructive” (from malpana, teacher) suggests “the instruction” or Torah, since Paul uses the other synonym (taara) elsewhere in his writings, such as in Galatians. Then “patience” (nagira) suggests its synonym of sebar (to endure), from which we get the Aramaic word for “Good News”!
HANDS UP, DON’T LOOT!
I wasn’t going to do this, but I’m sick of the nonsense coming out of Ferguson, Missouri! People in Ferguson are behaving like a bunch of Troglodytes, without principles, scruples or common sense.
What kind of person would think that criminal behavior should be condoned, just because they’re angry? Fergusonites are screaming and hollering about how the laws need to be changed – but changed to what? To make it LEGAL to rob, loot, pillage and plunder? That’s certainly the picture the world is seeing in Ferguson!
(Now - please understand, I'm not saying that all cops are innocent, either! There are "bad apples" on ALL sides! But my intent for writing this is to show that much of the time, people bring problems on themselves through their own bad behavior.)
Somehow, it’s being shoved under the carpet that Michael Brown, before his death, had just robbed a store and bullied the owner – and was about to be arrested - and then he ended up dead because of his own actions toward a policeman. Officer Wilson didn’t just drive up and shoot a poor, innocent victim kneeling on the pavement with his “hands up” as people would like you to believe (it's now a proven fact that some of the "witnesses" LIED!); he ended up in an altercation with a bully who had just robbed a store and was being completely uncooperative and even resorting to physical violence!
YES, it’s very sad that Brown ended up being killed (he was clearly a lost person, and it's sad that he had to die under those circumstances, because he not only lost his life, but also his chance at eternal life....); but let’s stop white-washing the situation and start telling it like it is. Brown was NOT exactly a bastion of virtue! He was a BULLY and a thief! That much was evidenced by the fact that his actions were caught on video....
What’s worse, Fergusonites quickly turned this into a racial issue (spurred on by our President who seems to love to keep playing the “race card” to get people fired up). And then they’re out there demanding the laws be changed. Changed to WHAT? To ALLOW criminal behavior to go unchallenged? To allow robbing, looting and pillaging and destruction of property without any repercussions? YES, there a bully policemen who are mean to people, but how would that justify violence against local business owners? How does that justify breaking, entering and stealing the property of others? What civilized, intelligent person honestly believes it’s OKAY to resort to violence against INNOCENTS just because they are angry? HOW does it make sense to destroy, blow up or burn the businesses in your OWN neighborhood – just because you’re trying to make a statement? That is NOT how YHWH wants humanity to behave!
There is a name for people who behave like that: HOODLUMS! The only difference between the rioters in Ferguson and ISIS, is that Fergusonites haven’t yet resorted to beheading or killing innocent business owners (although they might as well have because they have certainly ruined some lives by taking away someone’s livelihood – those BULLIES!) Demonic behavior is demonic behavior; there is NO excuse for it! If you want laws to change, there are ways to change them without resorting to violence and rampant idiocy. We have a RIGHT to assemble and voice our opinions in the U.S.; we do NOT have a “right” to go around BREAKING the law!
The rules are simple: If you don’t want to get bothered by law enforcement, then DON’T COMMIT A CRIME. Keep your MOUTH SHUT when a policeman is trying to talk to you. Telling him to go “f- - -“ himself like Michael Brown did with Officer Wilson, is NOT the way a normal human being should behave. But, what we keep seeing, time and time again, is rioters provoking police and then when they’re arrested, then quickly insist “I didn’t do anything.”
People, the bottom line is: If Brown hadn’t committed a crime and then gone on to smart off to a police officer, he would still be alive, and none of this would have happened. He would have been ARRESTED for THEFT! Would the Fergusonites have rioted then, demanding Brown's "right" to steal and bully store owners? Judging from their behavior, that's what they're wanting: The legal right to loot, pillage and plunder....
HANDS UP, DON’T LOOT! The things those thugs stole from the stores they broke into are NOT theirs to keep! They committed a CRIME!
The Bible tells us these things would happen - and they certainly are! People today are behaving exactly as they did "in the days of Noah" - just before YHWH destroyed the earth by Flood!
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. 6. For of them are they who creep into this and that house and captivate the women who are plunged in sins and led away by divers lusts, 7. who are always learning, and can never come to the knowledge of the truth. (AENT)
Okay, rant over. Let's keep ALL "lost folks" in our prayers so they can see the error of their ways and begin to do things according to GOD's will! The way things are going now, all we are doing is sending the whole earth into the pits of hell.
What kind of person would think that criminal behavior should be condoned, just because they’re angry? Fergusonites are screaming and hollering about how the laws need to be changed – but changed to what? To make it LEGAL to rob, loot, pillage and plunder? That’s certainly the picture the world is seeing in Ferguson!
(Now - please understand, I'm not saying that all cops are innocent, either! There are "bad apples" on ALL sides! But my intent for writing this is to show that much of the time, people bring problems on themselves through their own bad behavior.)
Somehow, it’s being shoved under the carpet that Michael Brown, before his death, had just robbed a store and bullied the owner – and was about to be arrested - and then he ended up dead because of his own actions toward a policeman. Officer Wilson didn’t just drive up and shoot a poor, innocent victim kneeling on the pavement with his “hands up” as people would like you to believe (it's now a proven fact that some of the "witnesses" LIED!); he ended up in an altercation with a bully who had just robbed a store and was being completely uncooperative and even resorting to physical violence!
YES, it’s very sad that Brown ended up being killed (he was clearly a lost person, and it's sad that he had to die under those circumstances, because he not only lost his life, but also his chance at eternal life....); but let’s stop white-washing the situation and start telling it like it is. Brown was NOT exactly a bastion of virtue! He was a BULLY and a thief! That much was evidenced by the fact that his actions were caught on video....
What’s worse, Fergusonites quickly turned this into a racial issue (spurred on by our President who seems to love to keep playing the “race card” to get people fired up). And then they’re out there demanding the laws be changed. Changed to WHAT? To ALLOW criminal behavior to go unchallenged? To allow robbing, looting and pillaging and destruction of property without any repercussions? YES, there a bully policemen who are mean to people, but how would that justify violence against local business owners? How does that justify breaking, entering and stealing the property of others? What civilized, intelligent person honestly believes it’s OKAY to resort to violence against INNOCENTS just because they are angry? HOW does it make sense to destroy, blow up or burn the businesses in your OWN neighborhood – just because you’re trying to make a statement? That is NOT how YHWH wants humanity to behave!
There is a name for people who behave like that: HOODLUMS! The only difference between the rioters in Ferguson and ISIS, is that Fergusonites haven’t yet resorted to beheading or killing innocent business owners (although they might as well have because they have certainly ruined some lives by taking away someone’s livelihood – those BULLIES!) Demonic behavior is demonic behavior; there is NO excuse for it! If you want laws to change, there are ways to change them without resorting to violence and rampant idiocy. We have a RIGHT to assemble and voice our opinions in the U.S.; we do NOT have a “right” to go around BREAKING the law!
The rules are simple: If you don’t want to get bothered by law enforcement, then DON’T COMMIT A CRIME. Keep your MOUTH SHUT when a policeman is trying to talk to you. Telling him to go “f- - -“ himself like Michael Brown did with Officer Wilson, is NOT the way a normal human being should behave. But, what we keep seeing, time and time again, is rioters provoking police and then when they’re arrested, then quickly insist “I didn’t do anything.”
People, the bottom line is: If Brown hadn’t committed a crime and then gone on to smart off to a police officer, he would still be alive, and none of this would have happened. He would have been ARRESTED for THEFT! Would the Fergusonites have rioted then, demanding Brown's "right" to steal and bully store owners? Judging from their behavior, that's what they're wanting: The legal right to loot, pillage and plunder....
HANDS UP, DON’T LOOT! The things those thugs stole from the stores they broke into are NOT theirs to keep! They committed a CRIME!
The Bible tells us these things would happen - and they certainly are! People today are behaving exactly as they did "in the days of Noah" - just before YHWH destroyed the earth by Flood!
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. 6. For of them are they who creep into this and that house and captivate the women who are plunged in sins and led away by divers lusts, 7. who are always learning, and can never come to the knowledge of the truth. (AENT)
Okay, rant over. Let's keep ALL "lost folks" in our prayers so they can see the error of their ways and begin to do things according to GOD's will! The way things are going now, all we are doing is sending the whole earth into the pits of hell.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
This just in: Why Jews & Christians are at Odds!
It occurred to me recently why Jews don't believe in the Messiah Yeshua: They don't want to believe.
And it occurred to me why Christians don't believe in Torah obedience: They don't want to believe.
I reached this conclusion by consuming the volumes of vitriol produced by both sides in support of their position. Jews cite the many verses which indicate there is no Torah requirement for the death of a sinless man to cover sins, and no Tanack verses "naming" Yeshua as the Messiah, while Christians cite the many verses in the New Testament which (they argue) indicate "all they have to do is believe".
Both are wrong. Both sides "can't see the forest for the trees"!
Jews posses the forest but won't leave the middle, "old growth", to discover the "new growth". They simply won't see the many verses in the Tanack describing a messiah as having been fulfilled in Yeshua - mostly because Christianity has turned the tallit-wearing, Torah obedient, God-fearing "Yeshua" (which means "salvation") into "Jesus", a Torahless, 3-piece suit-wearing "god-alternate" who hands out "everlasting life" like candy.
Consequently, while the Tanack speaks often about YHWH saving His people by sending a deliverer, Jews simply cannot see a God-given "deliverer" in a Messiah who apparently told Christians they can "sin at will" and "eat pork" and ignore the commanded Feasts of YHWH in favor of Easter eggs and a red-suited fat man giving gifts to all around a decorated tree, and, worse, a messiah who says to "follow him" - making "Jesus" a false god. Why would any Jew - God's people - want to believe in "that" messiah? Sigh.
Sadly, many Jews won't read the New Testament to find out who the Messiah Yeshua really is and see the amazing things He did which brought us that long-promised salvation, while many well-schooled Jews who HAVE read the New Testament, have simply found evidence of that "false messiah" they just cannot accept.
Christians, on the other hand, have cut down the "old growth forest" and used the wood to build a wall around the "new growth". Then they pruned the new growth trees leaving only the "Paul said..." branches which flourished in the sun and overcame the "Yeshua said..." branches. Consequently, Christians don't know that their "Jesus" actually never taught that "Torah was abolished", and never said he was a "get out of jail free" card.
They turned the "Good News" into "all I have to do is believe" and since they don't ever venture into old growth forest, they'll never know the true meaning of the "Good News". Most Christians, ignoring the Old Testament, never learn that Yeshua only taught the Word of God from the Old Testament! Consequently it's no wonder that when they read the words of the Messiah in the New Testament, they have no clue what He is saying! Others who have read the Old Testament usually only see it as "that old stuff for the Jews" and "We don't have to do that." Sigh.
So there you have it. It's truly the proverbial "rock and hard place"! Neither side will consider the "whole". Jews don't want to. Christians don't want to. Thus Jews and Christians are both equally blind to the truth contained in the forest, clinging only to their desired group of "trees". That's just the way it is, and it's the way it will remain as the last of prophecy unfolds. It means that only those few, from wherever they stand in the forest, willing to set aside their long-held biases and be open to the Ruach ("Holy Spirit" in Judaism, "Holy Ghost" in Christianity - not the same) will receive wisdom and come to understand "the whole".
May you, regardless of where you are in the forest, find a place in your heart, amongst the trees, for the Ruach.
And it occurred to me why Christians don't believe in Torah obedience: They don't want to believe.
I reached this conclusion by consuming the volumes of vitriol produced by both sides in support of their position. Jews cite the many verses which indicate there is no Torah requirement for the death of a sinless man to cover sins, and no Tanack verses "naming" Yeshua as the Messiah, while Christians cite the many verses in the New Testament which (they argue) indicate "all they have to do is believe".
Both are wrong. Both sides "can't see the forest for the trees"!
Jews posses the forest but won't leave the middle, "old growth", to discover the "new growth". They simply won't see the many verses in the Tanack describing a messiah as having been fulfilled in Yeshua - mostly because Christianity has turned the tallit-wearing, Torah obedient, God-fearing "Yeshua" (which means "salvation") into "Jesus", a Torahless, 3-piece suit-wearing "god-alternate" who hands out "everlasting life" like candy.
Consequently, while the Tanack speaks often about YHWH saving His people by sending a deliverer, Jews simply cannot see a God-given "deliverer" in a Messiah who apparently told Christians they can "sin at will" and "eat pork" and ignore the commanded Feasts of YHWH in favor of Easter eggs and a red-suited fat man giving gifts to all around a decorated tree, and, worse, a messiah who says to "follow him" - making "Jesus" a false god. Why would any Jew - God's people - want to believe in "that" messiah? Sigh.
Sadly, many Jews won't read the New Testament to find out who the Messiah Yeshua really is and see the amazing things He did which brought us that long-promised salvation, while many well-schooled Jews who HAVE read the New Testament, have simply found evidence of that "false messiah" they just cannot accept.
Christians, on the other hand, have cut down the "old growth forest" and used the wood to build a wall around the "new growth". Then they pruned the new growth trees leaving only the "Paul said..." branches which flourished in the sun and overcame the "Yeshua said..." branches. Consequently, Christians don't know that their "Jesus" actually never taught that "Torah was abolished", and never said he was a "get out of jail free" card.
They turned the "Good News" into "all I have to do is believe" and since they don't ever venture into old growth forest, they'll never know the true meaning of the "Good News". Most Christians, ignoring the Old Testament, never learn that Yeshua only taught the Word of God from the Old Testament! Consequently it's no wonder that when they read the words of the Messiah in the New Testament, they have no clue what He is saying! Others who have read the Old Testament usually only see it as "that old stuff for the Jews" and "We don't have to do that." Sigh.
So there you have it. It's truly the proverbial "rock and hard place"! Neither side will consider the "whole". Jews don't want to. Christians don't want to. Thus Jews and Christians are both equally blind to the truth contained in the forest, clinging only to their desired group of "trees". That's just the way it is, and it's the way it will remain as the last of prophecy unfolds. It means that only those few, from wherever they stand in the forest, willing to set aside their long-held biases and be open to the Ruach ("Holy Spirit" in Judaism, "Holy Ghost" in Christianity - not the same) will receive wisdom and come to understand "the whole".
May you, regardless of where you are in the forest, find a place in your heart, amongst the trees, for the Ruach.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
What did Y'shua abolish at the cross?
Did Y’shua abolish the Torah at the cross? The answer, of course, is a resounding, “NO!”
Ephesians 2:13 But now, by Y’shua the Mashiyach, you who before were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of the Mashiyach. 14. He is himself our peace, who has made the two (become) one, and has demolished the wall[1] which stood in the midst, and the enmity, by his flesh; 15. And in his flesh (the) enmity and regulations of commands (contained) in his commandments are abolished[2] (so) that in himself (an occurrence of the divine nature, or qnoma),[3] he might make the two into one, establishing peace. (AENT)
Footnotes:
1. Aramaic for wall is syaga. Ironically, this exact term was picked up by the Talmudic rabbis in Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) 1:1 that commanded, “make a fence around the Torah.” Y’shua specifically warned against this activity in Matthew 15, rebuking the Pharisees in the process. Later on, Y’shua said he was the “door/gate” using a synonym for syaga, known as taarea, which is a homonym “torah” and “teachers,” meaning the Pharisees. So while the Pharisees are busy erecting their fence, Y’shua is pulling it down, allowing everyone access!
2. The grammatical structure here fully guarantees that namusa is referring to “customs” as in the traditions of the Pharisees, not Torah itself. Mashiyach abolishes the “enmity” (hatred or animosity) that has been brought against YHWH by religious tradition and false interpretations of Torah, which was a heavy burden that people could not bear. Christian theologians, however, twist this verse and teach that it was YHWH’s Torah that brought the hatred and that Mashiyach did away with Torah, which is a very reckless and evil theology. Mashiyach sent the Ruach haKodesh to write YHWH’s Torah upon the hearts of his people, not abolish it. (See AENT's appendix: Eighteen New Testament Misconceptions #11: Commandments Nailed to the Torture Stake.)
3. Qnoma can mean “core substance” or “occurrence.” Although Greek reads “self” Aramaic does not; “self” leads to assumptions of “personhood” which breeds idolatry.
Theologian Skip Moen at StudyLight.Org explains it thusly:
Two Into One – There are a host of issues with this verse (Ephesians 2:15), none of which are easily resolved without understanding principle #3 – binyan av mikatuv echad (“building a teaching principle based on a verse”). You will notice all of the words in brackets in the NASB translation. Most English translations will have to add words to try to make sense of Sha’ul’s interpretation because there is a prior commitment to replacement theology (the idea that grace replaces the Torah) which makes it necessary to read this verse in a way that is not Jewish. But these translations ignore Sha’ul’s rabbinic exegesis. In this verse, Sha’ul is arguing from a particular verse to a larger principle. He is building on one thought in order to draw a greater conclusion. In other words, he says that same thing twice, once in particular and the second time in general.
Let’s see how he does this. First Sha’ul says Yeshua broke down the wall that separated us from peace with God (v. 14). How did He do that? He did it by bearing the enmity between God and Man in His own flesh. Now here’s the telling point. What was the enmity? Was it the Law (as the NASB translation suggests), or was it something else? Notice the introduction of the bracketed phrase [which is] actually implies that the enmity is the Torah. But this ignores the third principle. The principle suggests that Sha’ul is really repeating one idea with a larger, more general idea. So, abolishing the enmity is the same as making the two into one. Sha’ul tells us Yeshua removed the thing that separated us from God and restored peace. What separates us from God? It simply cannot be the Law.
Sha’ul himself tells us the Law is good and holy. God gives the Law in order that men might know His will for living. No; what separates us from God is our disobedience of the Law. Yeshua takes the results of this disobedience on Himself in order that the two opposing parties might be at peace. The new man is once again restored to a place where he can find peace with the Law of God because now he is able to obey it. Sha’ul argues from the single case of Yeshua taking on the punishment due sinners to the general case that we are now at peace with God. This verse has nothing at all to do with removing the Law from a believer’s life. It is about the result of sin and the relief of forgiveness found in the blood of the Lamb.
Many Christians misunderstand this verse simply because they fail to apply rabbinic interpretative principles. They treat the rabbi Sha’ul as if he were a Greek named Paul. Applying Greek exegetical categories leads us to terrible dilemmas: 1) the Law is good but somehow also bad, 2) the Law was for Jews but not for Christians, and 3) the Law was replaced by grace and now we are left with “spiritual” guidance based on our own views about love. Worst of all, we just can’t make any sense of Yeshua’s practice of Torah. We need new eyes, my friends. And God will give them to us – if we look.
Ephesians 2:13 But now, by Y’shua the Mashiyach, you who before were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of the Mashiyach. 14. He is himself our peace, who has made the two (become) one, and has demolished the wall[1] which stood in the midst, and the enmity, by his flesh; 15. And in his flesh (the) enmity and regulations of commands (contained) in his commandments are abolished[2] (so) that in himself (an occurrence of the divine nature, or qnoma),[3] he might make the two into one, establishing peace. (AENT)
Footnotes:
1. Aramaic for wall is syaga. Ironically, this exact term was picked up by the Talmudic rabbis in Pirkei Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) 1:1 that commanded, “make a fence around the Torah.” Y’shua specifically warned against this activity in Matthew 15, rebuking the Pharisees in the process. Later on, Y’shua said he was the “door/gate” using a synonym for syaga, known as taarea, which is a homonym “torah” and “teachers,” meaning the Pharisees. So while the Pharisees are busy erecting their fence, Y’shua is pulling it down, allowing everyone access!
2. The grammatical structure here fully guarantees that namusa is referring to “customs” as in the traditions of the Pharisees, not Torah itself. Mashiyach abolishes the “enmity” (hatred or animosity) that has been brought against YHWH by religious tradition and false interpretations of Torah, which was a heavy burden that people could not bear. Christian theologians, however, twist this verse and teach that it was YHWH’s Torah that brought the hatred and that Mashiyach did away with Torah, which is a very reckless and evil theology. Mashiyach sent the Ruach haKodesh to write YHWH’s Torah upon the hearts of his people, not abolish it. (See AENT's appendix: Eighteen New Testament Misconceptions #11: Commandments Nailed to the Torture Stake.)
3. Qnoma can mean “core substance” or “occurrence.” Although Greek reads “self” Aramaic does not; “self” leads to assumptions of “personhood” which breeds idolatry.
Theologian Skip Moen at StudyLight.Org explains it thusly:
Two Into One – There are a host of issues with this verse (Ephesians 2:15), none of which are easily resolved without understanding principle #3 – binyan av mikatuv echad (“building a teaching principle based on a verse”). You will notice all of the words in brackets in the NASB translation. Most English translations will have to add words to try to make sense of Sha’ul’s interpretation because there is a prior commitment to replacement theology (the idea that grace replaces the Torah) which makes it necessary to read this verse in a way that is not Jewish. But these translations ignore Sha’ul’s rabbinic exegesis. In this verse, Sha’ul is arguing from a particular verse to a larger principle. He is building on one thought in order to draw a greater conclusion. In other words, he says that same thing twice, once in particular and the second time in general.
Let’s see how he does this. First Sha’ul says Yeshua broke down the wall that separated us from peace with God (v. 14). How did He do that? He did it by bearing the enmity between God and Man in His own flesh. Now here’s the telling point. What was the enmity? Was it the Law (as the NASB translation suggests), or was it something else? Notice the introduction of the bracketed phrase [which is] actually implies that the enmity is the Torah. But this ignores the third principle. The principle suggests that Sha’ul is really repeating one idea with a larger, more general idea. So, abolishing the enmity is the same as making the two into one. Sha’ul tells us Yeshua removed the thing that separated us from God and restored peace. What separates us from God? It simply cannot be the Law.
Sha’ul himself tells us the Law is good and holy. God gives the Law in order that men might know His will for living. No; what separates us from God is our disobedience of the Law. Yeshua takes the results of this disobedience on Himself in order that the two opposing parties might be at peace. The new man is once again restored to a place where he can find peace with the Law of God because now he is able to obey it. Sha’ul argues from the single case of Yeshua taking on the punishment due sinners to the general case that we are now at peace with God. This verse has nothing at all to do with removing the Law from a believer’s life. It is about the result of sin and the relief of forgiveness found in the blood of the Lamb.
Many Christians misunderstand this verse simply because they fail to apply rabbinic interpretative principles. They treat the rabbi Sha’ul as if he were a Greek named Paul. Applying Greek exegetical categories leads us to terrible dilemmas: 1) the Law is good but somehow also bad, 2) the Law was for Jews but not for Christians, and 3) the Law was replaced by grace and now we are left with “spiritual” guidance based on our own views about love. Worst of all, we just can’t make any sense of Yeshua’s practice of Torah. We need new eyes, my friends. And God will give them to us – if we look.
The "suffering servant" of Isaiah 53 cannot possibly be about "Israel"
I recently saw a meme that read: “Israel’s identity hijacked and given to Yeshua/Jesus” - and it brazenly went on to claim that Isaiah 53 is all about Israel. The originator of the meme suggested that “the suffering servant” of Isaiah 53 is a synecdoche (a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs - meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”). So, according to the meme, “the suffering servant” HAD to refer to Israel, and NOT to Messiah Y'shua. As "proof" they used the following verses that show that Israel is God's servant:
Isaiah 41:8 "But you, Isra'el, my servant; Ya'akov, whom I have chosen, descendants of Avraham my friend, 9 I have taken you from the ends of the earth, summoned you from its most distant parts and said to you, 'You are my servant' - I have chosen you, not rejected you.
Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses," says ADONAI, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you can know and trust me and understand that I am he no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me. 11 I, yes I, am ADONAI; besides me there is no deliverer.
Isaiah 44:1 "Now listen, Ya'akov my servant, Isra'el whom I have chosen: 2 Thus says ADONAI, who made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you: Don't be afraid, Ya'akov my servant, Yeshurun, whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 44:21 "Keep these matters in mind, Ya'akov, for you, Isra'el, are my servant. I formed you, you are my own servant; Isra'el, don't forget me
Isaiah 45:4 It is for the sake of Ya'akov my servant, yes, for Isra'el my elect, that I call you by your name and give you a title, although you don't know me.
Isaiah 48: 20 Get out of Bavel! Flee the Kasdim! With shouts of joy announce it, proclaim it! Send the news out to the ends of the earth! Say, "ADONAI has redeemed his servant Ya'akov."
Isaiah 49:3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Isra'el, through whom I will show my glory."
There is no doubt that the above passages refer to “Israel”; but there is not one shred of evidence to suggest that these passages prove that the "suffering servant" of Isaiah 53 is about Israel! “Israel” is not mentioned once in Isaiah 53! Parts of Isaiah 53 cannot possibly be about Israel!
Ask yourself this:
First of all, Isaiah 53:1-2 cannot possibly be about "Israel" because Israel is often referred to YHWH’s “servant”; never the “arm”. An ARM is connected to a BODY [whether physically or allegorically], which - for those trying to force "Israel" into Isaiah 53 - are erroneously suggesting that “Israel” as "an arm" of YHWH is“divine” .... which cannot be because Israel consists of land and human beings! Check out this passage:
Isaiah 50: 1 ADONAI says: "Where is your mother's divorce document which I gave her when I divorced her? Or: to which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins; because of your crimes was your mother divorced. 2 Why was no one here when I came? Why, when I called, did nobody answer? Is my arm too short to redeem? Have I too little power to save? With my rebuke I dry up the sea; I turn rivers into desert, their fish rot for lack of water and they die of thirst; 3 I dress the heavens in black to mourn and make their covering sackcloth."
Now - ponder the following:
Isaiah 53: 3 He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. 6 All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due. 9 And they made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich his tomb; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.'
Those things all happened to Y’shua; they did NOT happen to “Israel” – See Matthew 27, John 19, etc. And take a look at just these FEW items discussed in Isaiah 53:
Darkness: Exodus 10:22; Matthew 27:45
Male: Exodus 12:5; Matthew 1:16
Firstborn: Exodus 13:15; Luke 2:7
Lamb: Leviticus 23:12; John 1:29
Unbroken: Exodus 12:5; John 19:33
Sacrificed: Exodus 12:21; John 19:34
Death at 3:00 p.m.: Exodus 12:6; Mark 15:34
Hyssop: Exodus 12:22; John 19:29
Outstretched Arm: Exodus 6:6; Matthew 27:35
And finally,ask yourself: WHEN DID “ISRAEL EVER make “intercession for the transgressors??? And what you are going to do with verse 11?
Isaiah 53: 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of the LORD might prosper by his hand: 11 Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Those who are trying to prove that Isaiah 53 is about “Israel” are grasping at straws!
There are plenty of Messianic references in the Tanach, and Y'shua has certainly fulfilled MANY prophecies! No one else in history has ever done so, and no one besides Y'shua ever will! Even the early rabbis taught that Isaiah 53 was about the Jewish Messiah. Please check out our indepth article: Isaiah 53 is not about Israel
Isaiah 41:8 "But you, Isra'el, my servant; Ya'akov, whom I have chosen, descendants of Avraham my friend, 9 I have taken you from the ends of the earth, summoned you from its most distant parts and said to you, 'You are my servant' - I have chosen you, not rejected you.
Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses," says ADONAI, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you can know and trust me and understand that I am he no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me. 11 I, yes I, am ADONAI; besides me there is no deliverer.
Isaiah 44:1 "Now listen, Ya'akov my servant, Isra'el whom I have chosen: 2 Thus says ADONAI, who made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you: Don't be afraid, Ya'akov my servant, Yeshurun, whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 44:21 "Keep these matters in mind, Ya'akov, for you, Isra'el, are my servant. I formed you, you are my own servant; Isra'el, don't forget me
Isaiah 45:4 It is for the sake of Ya'akov my servant, yes, for Isra'el my elect, that I call you by your name and give you a title, although you don't know me.
Isaiah 48: 20 Get out of Bavel! Flee the Kasdim! With shouts of joy announce it, proclaim it! Send the news out to the ends of the earth! Say, "ADONAI has redeemed his servant Ya'akov."
Isaiah 49:3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Isra'el, through whom I will show my glory."
There is no doubt that the above passages refer to “Israel”; but there is not one shred of evidence to suggest that these passages prove that the "suffering servant" of Isaiah 53 is about Israel! “Israel” is not mentioned once in Isaiah 53! Parts of Isaiah 53 cannot possibly be about Israel!
Ask yourself this:
- Can Israel DIE for Israel? (No, but Y’shua did! See Matthew 27.)
- Can Israel be wounded for our transgressions? (No, but Y’shua was! See Matthew 27.)
- Can people take Israel's garments and divide them? (No, but that certainly happened in Y’shua’s case! See John 19:23.)
- WHEN was “Israel” wounded for our transgressions? Crushed because of our iniquities? Has the world been HEALED by “Israel”? Not hardly! Y'shua has filled myriads of Tanach prophecies - and people can reject it all they want, but they cannot CHANGE those facts!
First of all, Isaiah 53:1-2 cannot possibly be about "Israel" because Israel is often referred to YHWH’s “servant”; never the “arm”. An ARM is connected to a BODY [whether physically or allegorically], which - for those trying to force "Israel" into Isaiah 53 - are erroneously suggesting that “Israel” as "an arm" of YHWH is“divine” .... which cannot be because Israel consists of land and human beings! Check out this passage:
Isaiah 50: 1 ADONAI says: "Where is your mother's divorce document which I gave her when I divorced her? Or: to which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins; because of your crimes was your mother divorced. 2 Why was no one here when I came? Why, when I called, did nobody answer? Is my arm too short to redeem? Have I too little power to save? With my rebuke I dry up the sea; I turn rivers into desert, their fish rot for lack of water and they die of thirst; 3 I dress the heavens in black to mourn and make their covering sackcloth."
Now - ponder the following:
Isaiah 53: 3 He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. 6 All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due. 9 And they made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich his tomb; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.'
Those things all happened to Y’shua; they did NOT happen to “Israel” – See Matthew 27, John 19, etc. And take a look at just these FEW items discussed in Isaiah 53:
Darkness: Exodus 10:22; Matthew 27:45
Male: Exodus 12:5; Matthew 1:16
Firstborn: Exodus 13:15; Luke 2:7
Lamb: Leviticus 23:12; John 1:29
Unbroken: Exodus 12:5; John 19:33
Sacrificed: Exodus 12:21; John 19:34
Death at 3:00 p.m.: Exodus 12:6; Mark 15:34
Hyssop: Exodus 12:22; John 19:29
Outstretched Arm: Exodus 6:6; Matthew 27:35
And finally,ask yourself: WHEN DID “ISRAEL EVER make “intercession for the transgressors??? And what you are going to do with verse 11?
Isaiah 53: 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of the LORD might prosper by his hand: 11 Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Those who are trying to prove that Isaiah 53 is about “Israel” are grasping at straws!
There are plenty of Messianic references in the Tanach, and Y'shua has certainly fulfilled MANY prophecies! No one else in history has ever done so, and no one besides Y'shua ever will! Even the early rabbis taught that Isaiah 53 was about the Jewish Messiah. Please check out our indepth article: Isaiah 53 is not about Israel
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Anti-missionaries will go far and wide to deny Yeshua!
Anti-missionaries will go far and wide to deny Yeshua! Their first barb is to refuse to use His given, Hebrew Name which means "YHWH is Salvation" or "Yah Saves". (What better way to distance one's self!) And the second barb is to point out that God never required human sacrifice - which is absolutely correct!
But here is our question: If YHWH created the universe and everything in it, including mankind who was created from dust, why can't He present an aspect of Himself in human form, especially since He's done it before (Genesis 3:8, 18:1-3)?
Those who attempt to negate Y'shua, are correct in suggesting God never demanded a human sacrifice. But there is no Torah prohibition against martyrs - which is what Y'shua was! He was a human martyr who had a divine qnoma/nature. However, while we weren't supposed to offer human sacrifices, YHWH - as our Elohim and Almighty and Creator of the entire universe - certainly can do anything He wants! And what the Bible clearly shows He planned on doing (as evidenced throughout the Tanach, and specifically in Isaiah 53 and in the mo'edim) was to send us a Messiah who would carry out His Word to the letter. And that Messiah chose to martyr Himself....as a sin OFFERING!
According to a footnote in the Aramaic English New Testament:
Offerings "qurbana" and sacrifices "dabekha" are two different entities. Although there are certain aspects to Mashiyach's death that are utterly unique to him (Zechariah 12:10, etc.), his death nevertheless echoes aspects of offerings and sacrifices that came before. The qurbana is the human life (nefesh) that Y'shua voluntarily offers up on the stake. The result of that offering is his blood put out on the "altar"; hence dabekha.
However, this is certainly not, as some critics suggest, human sacrifice. Rather, this indicates Y'shua's status as Mashiyach ben Yoseph. Per strict accordance with Isaiah 53 and Genesis 22:8, Mashiyach ben Yoseph was required to suffer and die. After his death, the offering of himself became a sacrifice that was taken up, and he was resurrected three days later. Many of YHWH's prophets also suffered and were martyred at the hands of those who fought against the Malchut Elohim. In the case of Mashiyach, his shed blood is counted as the acceptable offering, the Lamb of YHWH, which is most Set Apart unto YHWH.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19: I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen, like you (Moses), and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak all that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
YHWH sent us a DIVINE Offering in the form of Yeshua, the Torah observant Messiah in a human "shell", who was an aspect of YHWH sent to Earth in a form with which we could identify - as opposed to talking through a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5), appearing to Abraham in human form/"three men" at the Oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1-2;17; Isaiah 48:12,16) or speaking through a donkey (Numbers 22 and 23). Yeshua was to teach us about YHWH, to show us how we were to worship YHWH, and how to live together according to His desires; and then to offer Himself - the Divine Entity who raised the dead, walked on water and turned water into wine - as the Final Sin Offering.
Yeshua did exactly what the Torah Scriptures predicted. What more could be asked of Him? Isaiah 53 and Daniel 9 both predict the death of Messiah and His resurrection. And Zechariah tells us something very interesting about the Messiah's return:
Zechariah 12:10 "And I (YHWH) will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."
Furthermore, the Talmud (which Jews have no problem adhering to, even though it's simply the thoughts and discussions and writings of the various rabbis throughout the millenia), as well as the New Testament clearly teach that the death of the righteous has atoning power! When the Messiah, laid down His life, it was the ultimate act of atonement in human history.
The Talmud (m. Makkot 2:6;b. Makkot 11b; see also Leviticus Rabbah 10:6) asks the question: Isn't it the exile of the innocent manslayer [in the city of refuge] that expiates? The answer is no. "It is not the exile that expiates, but the death of the high priest." And Milgrom comments, "As the High Priest atones for Israel's sins through his cultic [i.e., ritual] service in his lifetime (Exod. 28:36; Lev. 16:16, 21), so he atones for homicide through his death."
Isn't this the exact portrait of the righteous, Suffering Servant of Yah in Isaiah 53?
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; an the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Notices what God promises:
Verse 12: "Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Y'shua bore our sins! This is exactly what Peter (known as Shimon Kepha) wrote more than 150 years before the Mishnah was finalized:
1 Peter 2:23-25: When the hurled their insults at him he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
But here is our question: If YHWH created the universe and everything in it, including mankind who was created from dust, why can't He present an aspect of Himself in human form, especially since He's done it before (Genesis 3:8, 18:1-3)?
Those who attempt to negate Y'shua, are correct in suggesting God never demanded a human sacrifice. But there is no Torah prohibition against martyrs - which is what Y'shua was! He was a human martyr who had a divine qnoma/nature. However, while we weren't supposed to offer human sacrifices, YHWH - as our Elohim and Almighty and Creator of the entire universe - certainly can do anything He wants! And what the Bible clearly shows He planned on doing (as evidenced throughout the Tanach, and specifically in Isaiah 53 and in the mo'edim) was to send us a Messiah who would carry out His Word to the letter. And that Messiah chose to martyr Himself....as a sin OFFERING!
According to a footnote in the Aramaic English New Testament:
Offerings "qurbana" and sacrifices "dabekha" are two different entities. Although there are certain aspects to Mashiyach's death that are utterly unique to him (Zechariah 12:10, etc.), his death nevertheless echoes aspects of offerings and sacrifices that came before. The qurbana is the human life (nefesh) that Y'shua voluntarily offers up on the stake. The result of that offering is his blood put out on the "altar"; hence dabekha.
However, this is certainly not, as some critics suggest, human sacrifice. Rather, this indicates Y'shua's status as Mashiyach ben Yoseph. Per strict accordance with Isaiah 53 and Genesis 22:8, Mashiyach ben Yoseph was required to suffer and die. After his death, the offering of himself became a sacrifice that was taken up, and he was resurrected three days later. Many of YHWH's prophets also suffered and were martyred at the hands of those who fought against the Malchut Elohim. In the case of Mashiyach, his shed blood is counted as the acceptable offering, the Lamb of YHWH, which is most Set Apart unto YHWH.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19: I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen, like you (Moses), and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak all that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
YHWH sent us a DIVINE Offering in the form of Yeshua, the Torah observant Messiah in a human "shell", who was an aspect of YHWH sent to Earth in a form with which we could identify - as opposed to talking through a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5), appearing to Abraham in human form/"three men" at the Oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1-2;17; Isaiah 48:12,16) or speaking through a donkey (Numbers 22 and 23). Yeshua was to teach us about YHWH, to show us how we were to worship YHWH, and how to live together according to His desires; and then to offer Himself - the Divine Entity who raised the dead, walked on water and turned water into wine - as the Final Sin Offering.
Yeshua did exactly what the Torah Scriptures predicted. What more could be asked of Him? Isaiah 53 and Daniel 9 both predict the death of Messiah and His resurrection. And Zechariah tells us something very interesting about the Messiah's return:
Zechariah 12:10 "And I (YHWH) will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."
Furthermore, the Talmud (which Jews have no problem adhering to, even though it's simply the thoughts and discussions and writings of the various rabbis throughout the millenia), as well as the New Testament clearly teach that the death of the righteous has atoning power! When the Messiah, laid down His life, it was the ultimate act of atonement in human history.
The Talmud (m. Makkot 2:6;b. Makkot 11b; see also Leviticus Rabbah 10:6) asks the question: Isn't it the exile of the innocent manslayer [in the city of refuge] that expiates? The answer is no. "It is not the exile that expiates, but the death of the high priest." And Milgrom comments, "As the High Priest atones for Israel's sins through his cultic [i.e., ritual] service in his lifetime (Exod. 28:36; Lev. 16:16, 21), so he atones for homicide through his death."
Isn't this the exact portrait of the righteous, Suffering Servant of Yah in Isaiah 53?
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; an the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Notices what God promises:
Verse 12: "Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Y'shua bore our sins! This is exactly what Peter (known as Shimon Kepha) wrote more than 150 years before the Mishnah was finalized:
1 Peter 2:23-25: When the hurled their insults at him he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Israel - we are so sorry about that synagogue terrorist attack!
My goodness, this world has gone crazy! If you haven't heard the news yet, a couple of Muslim lunatics charged into a synagogue in Jerusalem and killed five Israelis today (four of them were rabbis!!!)….
Why? Who knows? Muslims just like to kill, I guess. They do it all the time. I would sure hate to be those murderers on Judgment Day!
'Nuff said.
There is so much I could say about the world in which we live, but suffice it to say that we ARE in the end times as outlined in the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Take a look at what all has happened in just this past year! It won't be much longer before Y'shua returns. It is imperative that we "get ourselves right with God" while there's still time. Don't wait!
Why? Who knows? Muslims just like to kill, I guess. They do it all the time. I would sure hate to be those murderers on Judgment Day!
'Nuff said.
There is so much I could say about the world in which we live, but suffice it to say that we ARE in the end times as outlined in the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Take a look at what all has happened in just this past year! It won't be much longer before Y'shua returns. It is imperative that we "get ourselves right with God" while there's still time. Don't wait!
Why is the world "meh" to ISIS?
I don't know about you, but I am wondering what is going on in the world! Here we have an organization the world calls "ISIS" - a brutal, barbaric organization of Muslims taking action to "convert" the world to strict "Sharia Law" (where the men get to rule with sub-human brutality), yet the world seems to be turning a blind eye.
ISIS is a threat to ALL RELIGIONS, yet not one seems to be taking action to combat and defeat this scourge on society! And this holds true especially of those of Islam! Really! How many times have you heard "Islam is a religion of peace"? You've heard it from Islamic leaders, and world political leaders alike - including US Presidents! Yet if it's true, you'd think that all the billions of "peace" loving Muslims out there would be joining forces to destroy "ISIS" - who claim to be "Islam", yet are out there destroying the world!
Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say. Here we have Islam's true colors surfacing, and the reason you don't see "peaceful Islam" going against ISIS is because there is no such thing as "peaceful Islam"! And the reason you don't see the rest of the world taking up arms against ISIS is they are oblivious to what's going on! Since the Christian world pays no attention to the "Old Testament" in favor of their Torah-less, Adonis "Jesus", and the false doctrine of "grace", and are out there actively seeking to embrace gays and their $$$, they don't see the danger, and the other major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism for example, are too much in their "new age" mantras and attaining "enlightenment" to recognize the danger to them!
Well "wondering what's going on in the world" is really only a cliché, for I really already know what's going on! My head is not in the sand! If you are not "ready" by your spirit to go through these end-times, perhaps it's time you paid attention! Here's a good book for you to curl up next to a fire and digest: http://www.amazon.com/War-Heaven-Surviving-End-Times/dp/1623740045
ISIS is a threat to ALL RELIGIONS, yet not one seems to be taking action to combat and defeat this scourge on society! And this holds true especially of those of Islam! Really! How many times have you heard "Islam is a religion of peace"? You've heard it from Islamic leaders, and world political leaders alike - including US Presidents! Yet if it's true, you'd think that all the billions of "peace" loving Muslims out there would be joining forces to destroy "ISIS" - who claim to be "Islam", yet are out there destroying the world!
Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say. Here we have Islam's true colors surfacing, and the reason you don't see "peaceful Islam" going against ISIS is because there is no such thing as "peaceful Islam"! And the reason you don't see the rest of the world taking up arms against ISIS is they are oblivious to what's going on! Since the Christian world pays no attention to the "Old Testament" in favor of their Torah-less, Adonis "Jesus", and the false doctrine of "grace", and are out there actively seeking to embrace gays and their $$$, they don't see the danger, and the other major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism for example, are too much in their "new age" mantras and attaining "enlightenment" to recognize the danger to them!
Well "wondering what's going on in the world" is really only a cliché, for I really already know what's going on! My head is not in the sand! If you are not "ready" by your spirit to go through these end-times, perhaps it's time you paid attention! Here's a good book for you to curl up next to a fire and digest: http://www.amazon.com/War-Heaven-Surviving-End-Times/dp/1623740045
Challenging: “Why The Jews Don’t Believe In Jesus…And Never Will”
Rabbis at both Aish.comhttp://www.aish.com / and Jews for Judaism are knocking themselves out to prove Y’shua is NOT the Messiah. They post: “One of the most common questions we receive at Aish.com is: ‘Why don’t Jews believe in Jesus?’ Let’s understand why ― not in order to disparage other religions, but rather to clarify the Jewish position." And then they go to great lengths to disprove “Jesus and the New Testament” – suggesting, in part, that it was due to the mistranslations of the myriad Bible “versions”, etc.
Our question at The Refiner’s Fire is: If they’re not out to “disparage other religions” then why do they spend enormous amounts of time and energy trying to DISPROVE Y’shua and the New Testament? (Google the terms “anti-missionaries” or “counter missionaries” and see how many articles come up – it’s absolutely mind-boggling!) One can certainly “clarify the Jewish position” by simply ignoring the “noise” and just concentrating on teaching the Torah and Tanach. Instead, “they” are out there on various radio and YouTube videos blatantly making fun of those who teach about Y’shua!
Traditional Jews spend about as much time on disproving Y’shua as Christians spend on proving why December 25th is the supposed real birthdate of “Christ” (even though man-made traditions and “holy days” are rendered worthless by God Himself – see our articles on the pagan origins of Christmas and Christmas is unbiblical.)
The bottom line is: This whole Judaism vs. Christianity/Messianic Judaism/Hebrew Roots is nothing more than a “you say/we say” battle ground, fraught with mostly opinions that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Everybody has an opinion. “The Word says this!” “Oh no, it doesn’t! It says THAT!” … OPINIONS! Anybody can take a Bible verse and twist it into meaning what THEY want it to mean. It’s an endless battle of “my religion is better than yours.”
Well, here’s something to chew on: YHWH’s Word is not about “religion” or “opinions”; “religion” is simply man-made nonsense – theologies based on what MAN THINKS God said! “Religions” have nothing to do with God and the Bible. YHWH’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness as written down by Moshe in the Torah are Truth! The Neviim (prophets) are Truth; the Ketuvim (writings) are Truth … as are the Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Netzarim/Nazarenes), commonly known as Brit Chadasha/New Testament. Whether traditional Jews (and their mean-spirited converts who write snippy comments all over the Internet) choose believe the Ketuvim Netzarim or not, the fact remains that YHWH constantly alluded to a “rest of the story” – which, upon non-biased inspection from a Hebrew viewpoint - perfectly fits into, and lines up with, the first two-thirds of the Bible!
The only problem is, “man” (including Jewish rabbis) has skewed the entire Bible so much, that confusion, misperception and doubt overshadow YHWH’s TRUTH. (There are Bible verses – in both the OT and the NT that predict this would happen!)
Returning to the original point - sure, it’s okay to challenge someone’s ideas and opinions and theology, but we really need to examine ourselves if our WHOLE FOCUS in life becomes arguing, fighting and challenging the OPINIONS of others! Case in point, Rabbi Skobac of Jews for Judaism is in the process of trying to dissect and disprove every one of the 365 Messianic prophecies listed in our article! (This radio interview is just one example of many.) While we certainly respect his position and knowledge of Torah, we also realize he is just a man, like all the rabbis before him, trying to understand God. He is just as fallible as the rest of us....
Another “mere man” - a young, Jewish lawyer – came to believe that Y’shua is THE Messiah, after trying to disprove Him, back in 2005. The 48 prophecies in this article came straight from the mind of this young man, who graciously allowed us to post them on our site for all to see!
Aramaic scholar and author Andrew Gabriel Roth (Aramaic English New Testament and One Faith One People Ministries) has a similar story. He told us he used to have fun debating Christians (and pretty much making mincemeat out of their theology) while he was in college ... until one day when it suddenly dawned on him that Y’shua was the “netzer/branch”. Afterwards, he began to study the NT like never before, and a whole new world opened for him! He once wrote: “Netzarim is a SCRIPTURAL and not a cultural, title. Y'shua says in John ‘I am the vine and you are the branches,’, and from there is natural to link ‘He will be called a Nazarene’ (Matthew 2:23) with NETZER as righteous branch in Isaiah. It’s a name that Rav Shaul agrees is proper under interrogation in Acts 24:5. If anyone were to use ANY alternate term, it would Mishkhanee (Messianic). The only OTHER title for Gentiles, is KRISTIANAY, which does appear twice even in Aramaic because that's what Gentile believers were called. But the Shlichim (Apostles) NEVER WERE “Christian!” … which certainly punches a hole in the endless insistence of traditional Jews who INSIST that once a Jew believes in Y’shua, he/she is automatically “Christian”....
The thing is, traditional Jews absolutely refuse to “see the other side.” They automatically reject it – and they LOVE to micromanage the Messianic prophecies! (They even came up with a “Six-minute counter missionary course” - which supposedly proves that Yeshua and the New Testament are “a farce” ... Well, we have answered every one of their allegations in our short article, as well!) Some Jews have no problem believing that the "Lubavitcher Rebbe" - Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who died June 12, 1994 is the promised Jewish Messiah, and they are still waiting for him to raise the dead! (We have shown in this article why he can't possibly even qualify!) It's totally ironic that they believe a mere MAN can be Messiah, and that they have no problems living by the Talmud and engaging in Kaballah; but mention Y'shua, and they go berserk! There is one woman on Facebook (someone who used to be Christian and has rejected Messiah Y'shua) who is constantly NOMINATING some guy in Israel to be the Messiah - and people are "liking" her posts in droves! Where in Scripture are we told we can NOMINATE the Messiah???
No matter how many Bible verses one can produce to counter “them” (and woe be unto you if you attempt to present New Testament scripture because they’ll immediately pounce on those), they will NEVER address YOUR points or bother to answer YOUR questions! They always steer the conversation onto the next “challenge” on their agenda. We know this because we have actually ANSWERED many of their challenges! Our responses have been on The Refiner’s Fire for at least 10 years, but we have yet to see ONE traditional Jew show us biblically where we are wrong! But they are certainly out there, continuing to toot their own horns and push the same, tired “challenges” time and time again. (Much like Christians who will pound you to death with the SAME, TIRED theology about how we are “under grace” because “Jesus paid it all” and nothing else is required, because all those “laws” were meant “only for the Jews”.... They have never yet figured out that it's "same God, same rules!")
Below is a short list of some traditional Jewish arguments – with the links in parentheses to our articles that counter them:
“Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah because”:
1. Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies. (The Refiner's Fire responds: See Accurate Messiah Prophecies and Messianic Prophecies, and decide for yourself - without letting your personal opinions get in the way! Replying, “No he didn’t! Isaiah 53 is about Israel” or any other personal opinion, doesn’t cut it!)
2. Jesus did not embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah. (The Refiner's Fire responds: See Qualifications of Messiah in a nutshell.)
3. Biblical verses “referring” to Jesus are mistranslations. (The Refiner's Fire responds: Yes, let’s look at some of the revisionism that can be found in the JPS, shall we?)
4. Jewish belief is based on national revelation. (The Refiner's Fire responds: True! The Tribe of Yehudah was chosen to take Torah into the world and safeguard and preserve it [Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2]. But, let's not forget: YHWH caused Yeshua to be born into the Tribe of Yehudah/Judah. See the many articles the answer more of their challenges on our Messianic Judaism page.)
5. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28). (The Refiner's Fire responds: See Yeshua qualifications.)
6. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6). (The Refiner's Fire responds: There is no language that specifies the Messiah will bring the Jews back to Israel. The language states only that God will lead the Jews back to Israel. If you then point to Isaiah 11:10 - 11:12, you must distinguish between what the Messiah will do: "BE a banner to all nations" and what God will actually do: "RAISE a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel." Thus, one must distinguish between the roles of God in heaven, and the Messiah on earth. This contention is reinforced by Zechariah 10:8-12, which provides that God (not the Messiah on earth) will gather the Jews back to Israel.)
7. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4) – (The Refiner's Fire responds: See Yeshua Qualifications.)
8. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: “God will be King over all the world ― on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One” (Zechariah 14:9). (The Refiner's Fire responds: See our article Yeshua Qualifications.)
As mentioned above, anyone can twist Scripture to suit their agenda. But the bottom line is, arguing really doesn’t resolve anything. As the old adage goes: "Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still." The traditional Jews and their hangers-on/converts have literally taken their lives into their own hands by playing “word games” and thus rejecting Y'shua! Just because MAN with his many Bible "versions" and misinterpretations has missed the mark doesn't mean that YHWH did!
One day, when we are all out of our “earth suits” we will stand before our Maker to give an account of our life here on earth, and then we WILL ALL KNOW HIS TRUTH! In the meantime, our prayer is that “religious folk” would stop the arguing and bickering and start concentrating on God and His Word – ALL of it.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Countering the “Six-minute counter missionary course” offered by Jews for Judaism
Traditional Jews are out there loudly tooting their own horns about the “Six-minute counter missionary course” (which supposedly proves that Yeshua and the New Testament are “a farce”) Well, we have answered every one of their allegations in our short article, if you are interested!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Can Women Teach Men?
They most certainly can! And please, men, come down from your pedestal and stop saying they can't!
Here are the verses which so many conclude is a Biblical prohibition of women teaching men: "Let a woman learn in silence, with all submission: for I do not allow a woman to teach or to be assuming over the man; but let her remain in stillness." (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
Yes, there are behaviors expected of women clearly specified in scripture, but there are behaviors expected of men too! But when you read 1 Timothy 2:11-12, please take the time to understand the context before you conclude these two verses are a prohibition of women teaching men! I assure you, Paul did not say that "women can't teach men", rather, he was declaring what needed to be stated to Timothy, so he, Timothy, could properly spread the Gospel in Ephesus!
So what is the context?
Turn to 1 Timothy 1:3-4:
"When I was going into Macedonia, I requested you to remain at Ephesus and to charge certain persons not to teach different doctrines, and not to throw themselves into fables and stories about genealogies of which there is no end, which produce contention rather than edification in the Faith of Elohim."
So already we know that in Ephesus, false doctrine, fables and stories were being taught, and Timothy was charged to "get this under control". Indeed, we learn a bit more in verses 6 and 7: "But from these some have strayed and have turned aside to vain words; because they wished to be teachers of Torah, while they understood not what they speak, nor the thing about which they contend." Here we see that Timothy was having to deal with people who were trying to teach Torah while they neither understood Torah nor the subject they were addressing!
We must keep this charge to Timothy in mind as we read on in the letter. When we get to 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul says "For this is good and acceptable before Elohim our life-giver, who would have all men live and be converted to the knowledge of the truth." So here again, we see that Timothy is being told that Paul is seeking that only "truth" be presented and not the myths and fables. Paul goes on in verse 7-8 to say "...of which I am constituted a herald and apostle. I speak the truth and do not lie, for I am the teacher of the Gentiles in the belief of the truth. I desire therefore, that men may pray in every place while they lift up their hands with purity, without wrath and without disputations." Paul would have no need to say this to Timothy if it were not a problem in Ephesus that gatherings were being disrupted by wrath and disputation. We are not told what these issues are, all we know up to this point is that Timothy has been charged with trying to get the situation under control.
But Paul continues by speaking to one of the issues! He says (verses 9-14): "So also, that women (appear) in a chaste fashion of dress; and that their adorning be with modesty and chastity; not with curls or with gold, or with pearls, or with splendid robes; but with good works as is becoming to women who profess reverence for Elohim. Let a woman learn in silence, with all submission: for I do not allow a woman to teach or to be assuming over the man; but let her remain in stillness." What do we learn here? There is so, so much! At last we have a concrete example of the problem Timothy was facing.
Paul said, right after he said "Worship should be held without wrath and disputation", that "women need to be modest in dress, and stop disrupting!" Clearly, this was one of the problems in Ephesus. Women were not behaving as women of Torah were expected to behave, and they were "speaking out" in gatherings when they should not be speaking or usurping the authority of the congregational leaders. Indeed, the (gentile) women were dressing inappropriately and saying things they should not be saying, otherwise, Paul would have had no need to cite the behavior. What could they possibly be "speaking out" about that was so offensive?
Paul alludes to the issue in the very next verse! He says (verse 13) "For Adam was first formed, and then Eve. And Adam was not seduced, but the woman was seduced and transgressed the command." Huh? Where did this come from? Why would Paul mention Adam and Eve here? To understand, let's look again at the context. This time, historically.
Remember, Timothy is in Ephesus. This is a Greek town deep in the Mediterranean area of the Greek empire. Know also that the purpose of Paul's and Timothy's mission was to spread the Gospel to the gentiles. So here in Ephesus, Timothy was trying to coordinate the teaching of Torah and the Gospel to gentiles who themselves were mired in the ancient and false teachings of Greek life. And that Greek life included many false doctrines of false gods. Indeed, one of the false teachings at this time was the myth that women were like Eve ("Zoe" in Greek) and that it was women who were created first! The myth taught that women brought spiritual life to man and demonstrated that the creator of the world was not the true God. This is a form of Gnosticism and was prevalent in the Greek empire at this time, and it was this sort of teaching that gentile women were bringing with them to gatherings. Now we understand why Paul said: "For Adam was first formed, and then Eve. And Adam was not seduced, but the woman was seduced and transgressed the command" in his letter to Timothy! This was clearly a direct reference to a false teaching in Ephesus, that was one of the disruptions of which Timothy had to prevent.
Now we know the whole context of 1 Timothy 2:11-12! It is not a blanket prohibition of women teaching men! It is but an example of how Paul controls the congregation so only truth is permitted in a locale where much false teaching is prevalent! Remember Timothy's charge in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (above). Still there is more evidence that there is no blanket prohibition of women teaching men. It is found in Acts.
In Acts 18:24-26, Luke writes: "And a certain Jewish man from Alexandria named Apollos, who was trained to eloquence, and well taught in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. He had been instructed in the ways of Master YHWH, and was fervent in spirit; and he discoursed and taught fully respecting Y’shua, while yet he knew nothing except the immersion of Yochanan. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him to their house, and fully showed him the way of Master YHWH." Here we find a woman (Priscilla), teaching a man about the Gospel of which the well-schooled Jewish man was unaware. If there was a prohibition against women teaching men, Luke would surely have known about it and he would have admonished Aquila and Priscilla. Yet he said nothing. Surely, if women were not to be teaching men, he would have indicated it here! He would have said something like "...this unrighteous woman blasphemed the Lord by teaching Apollos!" But he said nothing of the sort. And Paul mentions the help of women in spreading the Gospel in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Philippians, and Philemon.
No, all Paul cared about in his letter to Timothy was the proper teaching of truth to the Gentiles. (See 1 Timothy 2:7) To this goal, he had to ensure the synagogues were not disrupted by false teachings and by gentile women who saw the opportunity to compare themselves to "Zoe" by their Greek upbringing. Paul most certainly understands the role of both women and men, indeed he goes on in his letter to define the qualifications of the elder. And he discusses the qualifications of a righteous woman and her role in teaching the young. He says all this so Timothy can bring about good order in Ephesus. But while Paul held to the traditions of male authority in the Synagogue, Paul, like Luke, does not seem to be the kind of man who would deny a qualified woman - who knew Torah and her role - to teach men when it was appropriate. And there is most certainly no prohibition against it.
Here are the verses which so many conclude is a Biblical prohibition of women teaching men: "Let a woman learn in silence, with all submission: for I do not allow a woman to teach or to be assuming over the man; but let her remain in stillness." (1 Timothy 2:11-12)
Yes, there are behaviors expected of women clearly specified in scripture, but there are behaviors expected of men too! But when you read 1 Timothy 2:11-12, please take the time to understand the context before you conclude these two verses are a prohibition of women teaching men! I assure you, Paul did not say that "women can't teach men", rather, he was declaring what needed to be stated to Timothy, so he, Timothy, could properly spread the Gospel in Ephesus!
So what is the context?
Turn to 1 Timothy 1:3-4:
"When I was going into Macedonia, I requested you to remain at Ephesus and to charge certain persons not to teach different doctrines, and not to throw themselves into fables and stories about genealogies of which there is no end, which produce contention rather than edification in the Faith of Elohim."
So already we know that in Ephesus, false doctrine, fables and stories were being taught, and Timothy was charged to "get this under control". Indeed, we learn a bit more in verses 6 and 7: "But from these some have strayed and have turned aside to vain words; because they wished to be teachers of Torah, while they understood not what they speak, nor the thing about which they contend." Here we see that Timothy was having to deal with people who were trying to teach Torah while they neither understood Torah nor the subject they were addressing!
We must keep this charge to Timothy in mind as we read on in the letter. When we get to 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul says "For this is good and acceptable before Elohim our life-giver, who would have all men live and be converted to the knowledge of the truth." So here again, we see that Timothy is being told that Paul is seeking that only "truth" be presented and not the myths and fables. Paul goes on in verse 7-8 to say "...of which I am constituted a herald and apostle. I speak the truth and do not lie, for I am the teacher of the Gentiles in the belief of the truth. I desire therefore, that men may pray in every place while they lift up their hands with purity, without wrath and without disputations." Paul would have no need to say this to Timothy if it were not a problem in Ephesus that gatherings were being disrupted by wrath and disputation. We are not told what these issues are, all we know up to this point is that Timothy has been charged with trying to get the situation under control.
But Paul continues by speaking to one of the issues! He says (verses 9-14): "So also, that women (appear) in a chaste fashion of dress; and that their adorning be with modesty and chastity; not with curls or with gold, or with pearls, or with splendid robes; but with good works as is becoming to women who profess reverence for Elohim. Let a woman learn in silence, with all submission: for I do not allow a woman to teach or to be assuming over the man; but let her remain in stillness." What do we learn here? There is so, so much! At last we have a concrete example of the problem Timothy was facing.
Paul said, right after he said "Worship should be held without wrath and disputation", that "women need to be modest in dress, and stop disrupting!" Clearly, this was one of the problems in Ephesus. Women were not behaving as women of Torah were expected to behave, and they were "speaking out" in gatherings when they should not be speaking or usurping the authority of the congregational leaders. Indeed, the (gentile) women were dressing inappropriately and saying things they should not be saying, otherwise, Paul would have had no need to cite the behavior. What could they possibly be "speaking out" about that was so offensive?
Paul alludes to the issue in the very next verse! He says (verse 13) "For Adam was first formed, and then Eve. And Adam was not seduced, but the woman was seduced and transgressed the command." Huh? Where did this come from? Why would Paul mention Adam and Eve here? To understand, let's look again at the context. This time, historically.
Remember, Timothy is in Ephesus. This is a Greek town deep in the Mediterranean area of the Greek empire. Know also that the purpose of Paul's and Timothy's mission was to spread the Gospel to the gentiles. So here in Ephesus, Timothy was trying to coordinate the teaching of Torah and the Gospel to gentiles who themselves were mired in the ancient and false teachings of Greek life. And that Greek life included many false doctrines of false gods. Indeed, one of the false teachings at this time was the myth that women were like Eve ("Zoe" in Greek) and that it was women who were created first! The myth taught that women brought spiritual life to man and demonstrated that the creator of the world was not the true God. This is a form of Gnosticism and was prevalent in the Greek empire at this time, and it was this sort of teaching that gentile women were bringing with them to gatherings. Now we understand why Paul said: "For Adam was first formed, and then Eve. And Adam was not seduced, but the woman was seduced and transgressed the command" in his letter to Timothy! This was clearly a direct reference to a false teaching in Ephesus, that was one of the disruptions of which Timothy had to prevent.
Now we know the whole context of 1 Timothy 2:11-12! It is not a blanket prohibition of women teaching men! It is but an example of how Paul controls the congregation so only truth is permitted in a locale where much false teaching is prevalent! Remember Timothy's charge in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (above). Still there is more evidence that there is no blanket prohibition of women teaching men. It is found in Acts.
In Acts 18:24-26, Luke writes: "And a certain Jewish man from Alexandria named Apollos, who was trained to eloquence, and well taught in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. He had been instructed in the ways of Master YHWH, and was fervent in spirit; and he discoursed and taught fully respecting Y’shua, while yet he knew nothing except the immersion of Yochanan. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him to their house, and fully showed him the way of Master YHWH." Here we find a woman (Priscilla), teaching a man about the Gospel of which the well-schooled Jewish man was unaware. If there was a prohibition against women teaching men, Luke would surely have known about it and he would have admonished Aquila and Priscilla. Yet he said nothing. Surely, if women were not to be teaching men, he would have indicated it here! He would have said something like "...this unrighteous woman blasphemed the Lord by teaching Apollos!" But he said nothing of the sort. And Paul mentions the help of women in spreading the Gospel in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Philippians, and Philemon.
No, all Paul cared about in his letter to Timothy was the proper teaching of truth to the Gentiles. (See 1 Timothy 2:7) To this goal, he had to ensure the synagogues were not disrupted by false teachings and by gentile women who saw the opportunity to compare themselves to "Zoe" by their Greek upbringing. Paul most certainly understands the role of both women and men, indeed he goes on in his letter to define the qualifications of the elder. And he discusses the qualifications of a righteous woman and her role in teaching the young. He says all this so Timothy can bring about good order in Ephesus. But while Paul held to the traditions of male authority in the Synagogue, Paul, like Luke, does not seem to be the kind of man who would deny a qualified woman - who knew Torah and her role - to teach men when it was appropriate. And there is most certainly no prohibition against it.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Abbas: We won’t let Israeli extremists ‘contaminate’ Temple Mount; warns of global ‘religious war
The PA president recently announced that Palestinians want all the Jerusalem and West Bank territory captured in 1967; al-Aqsa rioters have ‘right to defend themselves'; and he slammed Hamas for ‘destroying’ unity. And he insists: "We won’t let Israeli extremists ‘contaminate’ Temple Mount" and warned of global ‘religious war.
Israeli extremists aren't supposed to "contaminate the Temple Mount"? Really? Methinks the guy has it backwards: The last time we checked, GOD gave Israel to HIS people (who are referred to as "Jews" - see the Torah!). Yeah, sure, His people were scattered into the nations, but "the world" returned Israel to them in 1948 after the Holocaust (thus making two Bible prophecies come true in one day, just as Jeremiah prophesied). So not only YHWH Himself but also "the world" admitted Israel was a nation that belonged to "the Jews"; not to the squatters who had allowed the Land to become a barren DESERT, who are calling themselves “Palestinians”!!! This also means the Temple Mount NEVER belonged to the Muslims – EVER!
Muslims have always been terrorists, starting with their patriarch, Ishmael - whom YHWH referred to as an uncontrollable "wild donkey of a man.
Genesis 16: 11 The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
Well, time and time again, the descendants of Ishmael have proven who they are! (If you haven't heard, just turn on the news to see how the entire Middle East is now in shambles because of the various factions of Muslims. They can't even get along with each other; let alone the rest of the world!)
Jews are the only people in the world who are continuously forced to justify to others their existence as a nation and spiritual entity and to prove their land rights on Israel. The world HATES "the Jews" - and most don't even know why! Well, here is the reason; here is the crux of it all: The Tribe of Judah was chosen to take Torah into the world and safeguard and preserve it (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2).
Somehow, the world sees this as "bad". (God forbid that the illustrious mankind should have any rules to follow!)
And then, of course, "hate groups" like to add that "the Jews killed Jesus"...What these lukewarm "Bible experts" DON'T know is that "we all killed Jesus"! Yes, "the Jews" initiated it on that fateful day; but who was it that spat on Him, pulled out hanks of His beard, flogged Him AND crucified Him? The Gentiles! The thing is, He HAD to die to become our "Savior"....If He had chosen not to, we would still be forced to kill innocent animals to atone for our sins!
Romans 11:11-12: "But I say: Have they so stumbled as to fall entirely? May it never be! Rather, by their stumbling, life has come to the Gentiles for (awakening) their jealousy. And if their stumbling was riches to the world, and their condemnation riches to the Gentiles; how much more their completeness?"
Please see our Challenging anti-Semitism page for more information concerning Israel and “the Jews.”
Zecheriah 12: 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Genesis 49: 10 The scepter will not pass from Y'hudah, nor the ruler's staff from between his legs, until he comes to whom [obedience] belongs; and it is he whom the peoples will obey.
Micah 4: 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov (Judah's father)! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.
NOTHING says that the Land EVER belonged to the “Palestinians!” The Palestinians have proven themselves to be nothing more than TERRORISTS who seek war at every turn. They don’t just want the Temple Mount (which has NEVER been theirs!!!); they want ALL Israel, and they want “the Jews” DEAD.
Too bad for them, because the very people they are in the process of trying to wipe from the face of the earth are HIS people!
Romans 11:25-27: "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Monster Energy Drink Hype
Many are running around saying the three "claw
marks" on cans of Monster Energy drink are actually three Hebrew
letters, the "vav". And they argue that since the Hebrew "vav" carries
the numerical value of 6 that "vav vav vav" is thus "666" - the mark of
the beast! Here is the logo:
And here is the Hebrew letter "vav", repeated 3 times:
So these people say this is "666". But they are wrong.
Yes, the Hebrew letter "vav" has a numerical value of 6, but Hebrew letters are additive so IF one assumes the claw marks on the cans are the letter "vav", then it would be "18", not "666". Hebrew letters do not covey the decimal notation of arabic numerals. In other words, the "left-most 6" does not represent "600", but simply retains its numerical value, "6". Similarly, the middle 6 does not mean "60". So "vav vav vav" is simply 18. Saying it represents "666" is just ignorance.
There is no doubt that Monster Energy drink is marketed to the godless masses, especially youth, just visit the monsterenergy.com site to convince yourself of this, but to "make up" outrageous claims as to the meaning of the logo puts you in the same ilk.
And here is the Hebrew letter "vav", repeated 3 times:
Yes, the Hebrew letter "vav" has a numerical value of 6, but Hebrew letters are additive so IF one assumes the claw marks on the cans are the letter "vav", then it would be "18", not "666". Hebrew letters do not covey the decimal notation of arabic numerals. In other words, the "left-most 6" does not represent "600", but simply retains its numerical value, "6". Similarly, the middle 6 does not mean "60". So "vav vav vav" is simply 18. Saying it represents "666" is just ignorance.
There is no doubt that Monster Energy drink is marketed to the godless masses, especially youth, just visit the monsterenergy.com site to convince yourself of this, but to "make up" outrageous claims as to the meaning of the logo puts you in the same ilk.