A short discussion of Peter's vision

Many attempt to use Acts 10 as proof that YHWH has made all foods clean.  But what does it really mean?  Let’s check it out….

ACTS 10: 10. And he hungered and desired to eat.  And while they prepared for him, a stupor fell over him.  11. And he saw heaven being opened and a certain garment being held by four corners.  And it resembled a great linen cloth.  And it was descending from heaven to earth.  12. And there were in it all creatures of four legs, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of heaven.  13. And a voice came to him that said, “Shimon!  Rise up.  Slaughter, and eat!”  14. And Shimon said, “(Elohim) forbid, my Master, because I have not ever eaten anything that is defiled and unclean!”  15. And again a second time a voice came to him that (said), “That which Elohim has cleansed, you should not consider defiled!”  16. And this happened three times, and the garment was taken up to heaven. (AENT)

Many read the above and assume YHWH is telling Peter that "all animals are okay to eat, now - so, go ahead and eat!" But this is NOT what this is saying. Here is an analogy to help clear this up:

You are the parent of a 13 year old who wants to go see an R-rated movie. Your child begs you and you say NO! The child says WHY? You say, here, touch this hot stove....The child says "No, it's hot, you taught me not to touch a hot stove!" To which you say: "That's right, then don't question me when I say you cannot see an R-rated movie!"

So in Acts 10:13 when YHWH is saying "kill and eat", He is the parent soliciting the response from the child (Peter), and Peter gives the proper response: "No, I would not eat unclean animals, you taught me that". To which YHWH responds in verse 15: "That's right, now what I have cleansed, no longer consider unholy!"

Peter learns this meaning of his dream when he tells others about the dream at the beginning of Acts 11. Then in Acts 11:17-18 it becomes clear: 17. If therefore Elohim gives in an equal way the gift to Gentiles, those who believe in our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach, as also to us, who was I that I should be able to hinder Elohim.”  18. And when they heard these words they became silent and they praised Elohim.  And they were saying that, “Perhaps Elohim has given the Gentiles repentance to life.” (AENT)

A footnote in the Aramaic English New Testament explains:

Gentiles are called to enter into the Malchut Elohim to follow Mashiyach and observe Torah; this is not about the consumption of unclean food. Y'shua casts demons into a herd of swine Matthew 8, Mark 5, Luke 8. Swine meat is unclean, demons are unclean; Y'shua destroys both. Peter never ate unclean animals before or after this vision; followers of Y'shua don't eat unclean foods. The Hellenized Christian church endorsed eating unclean foods, because non-Jews have always eaten it as a cultural normative.

It is a continuum of pagan culture. Isaiah 66:17-24 clearly prophecies of a rebellious people who dine on swine's flesh, eat mice and choose to defy the Word of YHWH and His Mashiyach. Gentiles must not assume that these teachings single them out as unclean; Yehudeans are equally as unclean when choosing to defy YHWH and His Mashiyach (see Haggai 2:14; Ezekiel 44:22; Ezra 9:10-10:1; Isaiah 30:6-12; 65:2, 3; Jeremiah 5:22-31).

It is very important to differentiate between that which is Kosher according to YHWH, and religious "tradition." If unclean food is prohibited for Jewish followers of Y'shua, it is also prohibited for non-Jewish followers; the Kingdom of Elohim is not divided. If unclean food has been proven unhealthy, then it is unhealthy for Jewish and non-Jewish bodies alike; there is One Mashiyach and One Torah.