Parashah 45: Va'etchanan (I pleaded); Deuteronomy 3:23 through 7:11

Shalom, everyone!  We’re posting this week’s Torah portion a little earlier than usual, as we will be offline for the next few days. The Torah portion can be found on our website.

In this week's parashah we find Moshe continuing to recap the Ten Commandments to the "new generation" - which were originally presented in Exodus 20. This parashah serves to remind us of what YHWH said in Numbers 15 concerning the obedience of, and continued worship by, His people once they entered the "Promised Land":

Numbers 15: 17 ADONAI said to Moshe, 18 "Speak to the people of Isra'el; tell them, 'When you enter the land where I am bringing you 19 and eat bread produced in the land, you are to set aside a portion as a gift for ADONAI. 20 Set aside from your first dough a cake as a gift; set it aside as you would set aside a portion of the grain from the threshing-floor. 21 From your first dough you will give ADONAI a portion as a gift through all your generations.

This parashah reading makes it abundantly clear that YHWH expected not only faith and belief in Him, but also obedience to His Torah (Divine Instructions in Righteousness) - And we must ask ourselves, was "obedience" abolished with the death of Yeshua?

For more, please click on the link above!

Counter-missionary asks: “Did Yeshua keep the Torah?…

COUNTER-MISSIONARRY COMMENT:  Did Yeshua keep the Torah?  Did he repent of his sin and afflict his soul on Yom Kippur?”

OUR RESPONSE:

“Did Yeshua keep the Torah?” One need only read the Gospels to find that out! “Did he repent of his sin and afflict his soul on Yom Kippur?” Anyone who has ever read the NT knows that he couldn’t have been YHWH’s Divine Messiah if he had ever committed any sins! (Isaiah 53:9; Hebrews 7:27; 10:10; 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 1:35; 1 John 3:5; Matthew 27:24, etc.)

YHWH caused him to be born from a virgin whose hymen was broken from the inside-out, and caused him to KNOW who he was, and therefore, he remained sinless. Please read our indepth study about this issue:  Yeshua’s Last Yom Kippur.

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.

A testimony about Deuteronomy 1:6

In reading Deuteronomy 1:6, I was reminded about how loudly this verse spoke to me, back in the Fall of 1996, when I was still considered to be a "baby Christian" at the little Baptist church in Missouri where the Ruach had opened my spiritual eyes.

"ADONAI spoke to us in Horev. He said, 'You have lived long enough by this mountain...'" (Deut 1:6, CJB)

When I saw this verse as I was reading my way through the Bible, I truly felt it was "a word" for me, because I had been floundering around, wondering what to do with myself, after another broken relationship. You see, things just didn't work out between me and the guy who had "led me to the Lord" and brought me to his church, and I was - for the first time in my life - asking God what HE wanted me to do, and where HE wanted me to move....

I "got saved" in January 1995 in that little church - something that had absolutely turned my life upside-down ... and I was honestly prepared to settle down and stay there forever because I loved my pastor and his church, and I couldn't imagine ever being anywhere else.

But then everything was shattered when my relationship broke apart; and around the same time, the pastor informed me that he and his family were being transferred to some other church down South!

I didn't realize it then, but it was a nudge by the Ruach to get me thinking about moving, and I kept hearing this little voice in my mind telling me to "move to Colorado!" Well, in all honesty, I kept trying to squelch that stupid little voice, because I HATED Colorado! Colorado was where my childhood was ruined because of a sexually abusive adoptive father.... SURELY God couldn't expect me to go back there!

But He did. He bugged me for at least six months to "move to Colorado!" I could NOT believe He would really do that to me!

But He did....

Okay. And so, one day, while reading the workbook, "Experiencing God," I read a passage that said something like this: "Whenever God gives you a God-sized task, it always leads you to a crisis of belief - and what you do about it, shows how you really feel about God."

Shocked, I thought, "Well, I really love Him, and will live my life according to HIS will because MY will has always gotten me into trouble - so I guess - as much as I do NOT want to - I'll move to Colorado..."

Well, right around the same time, I "happened" to be reading the Book of Deuteronomy, when this smacked me in the face:

Deuteronomy 1:6 The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. (NIV)

That's when it hit me: "How much clearer could He be? He's been shaking my whole foundation lately and 'Move to Colorado' has been stuck in my mind for months ... and now this: 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain."

AAARGH!

Anyway, that's how I ended up putting my house on the market, selling all my furniture and anything that wouldn't fit in my car; and me and my dog moved to Colorado.

It was the BEST decision I've ever made (and all glory goes to YHWH!) because it was here He led me to Torah (where I finally got ALL the answers to my questions that were never answered in church). It was here God healed me from the horrors of my childhood by causing me to end up in a church that ultimately made me a summer camp counselor for abused and neglected children. And it was here where He gave me my like-minded, Torah observant, "forever husband," Bill….

Oh, and guess what! The first church service I attended when I first moved here in 1996 was about - yep, you guessed it: Deuteronomy 1:6, where the pastor opened with, "'You have stayed long enough at this mountain!"

A message to the Jesus rejecters

So, let’s see if I’ve got this right:

You post your testimony in some counter-missionary convert’s thread, to let the world know that you’ve rejected Jesus and the entire “New Testament” because you’ve “FINALLY found the Truth in the Old Testament” which you insist invalidates the New Testament on every level. “G-d doesn’t ever mention Jesus in Tanach,” you proudly proclaim, “and therefore, Jesus is a myth.” (Well, God never mentioned cell phones or computers, either, but here you are, USING them to graze your way through the 'net to pick up your latest ideas about God and the Bible...)

Okay, fine and dandy. So far so good. But THEN you go on to admit that, as a Christian you never really bothered with the “Old Testament” because that was “just for the Jews” and absolutely NONE of it pertained to Christians.

You even admit that your only exposure to the “OT” was on Sunday morning when the pastor told the congregation to open their Bibles to a certain OT passage before returning to his fluffy, feel-good sermon that served only to tickle ears and never once mentioned obedience to God’s Divine Rules. (After all, that was “just for the Jews"...)

You admit you were all into “Jesus” and the “New Testament” for decades before joining Facebook, where – while cruising around for something you might be interested in - you happened to bump into some Jesus-rejecters who showed you the “TRUTH of Torah!”

So you hung out with these people, started doing some Torah studies and began filling your mind with their myriad anti-Jesus and anti-Paul comments peppered with twisted ideas about what they actually said or taught; and, BAM! … Just like that, you came to the conclusion that Yeshua and the NT were myths. You decided that God couldn't POSSIBLY have a "rest of the story."

WOW! In other words, you admit you were basically brain dead for decades while warming the pews; and now since you FINALLY skimmed your way through BOTH Testaments, you’ve suddenly become a “Bible expert,” thanks to all the Facebook posts you’ve read by others - many of whom had never actually READ or STUDIED the entire Bible, either, until they met some “counter-missionaries” who helped “open their eyes” to "Truth" according to THEIR understanding....

And now you ALL sit around “bashing Jesus” together and insisting you’ve “studied it out for yourselves”; and will rabidly tear to pieces anyone who attempts to remind you that you just MIGHT be mistaken … that it is possible that you MIGHT have MISUNDERSTOOD Scripture, and that ALL you have really managed to do by DIVIDING the Word and bashing what you learned in the first place as a Christian, was to exchange one “religion” for another….

Truth is, you haven’t got it together at all. You didn't understand the Word when you were a Christian (or Hebrew Rooter, or whatever), and you don't really understand it now, because for you, it's ALWAYS been "either, or." You’re still the same BLIND person you always were.

You just managed to find some new interests and outlets that tickled the carnal drive in you to feel “important” by surrounding yourself with like-minded people with "new" ideas and concepts. In other words, you’re simply using YHWH and His Torah, NOT to build and grow yourself for Him; but, rather, as a tool to validate yourself and boost your ego. It's all about YOU!

Soooo - since you're convinced your "religion-hopping" was a marvelous idea - good luck to you in your new endeavors!

One word of caution, though, because there's something you should be aware of: In my 20 years of countering the "Jesus rejecters," I have seen time and time again that they can't let him go. He is pretty much ALL they ever talk about! Sure, they mention Torah, too - but only when they want to use it to BASH JESUS!

Will you do the same? Or will you rise above the fray to REALLY take a look around and see what's actually going on in their camps?

Parashah 44: D'varim (Words) Deuteronomy 1:1 through 3:22

Shabbat shalom, mishpocah/friends/family!  Time to get serious about this week’s Torah portion which, as always, can be found on our website.

Deuteronomy - or D'varim (pronounced "De-var-eem") in Hebrew! The word "d'varim" is the plural form of the word "d'var," which means, "word." This Torah portion actually serves as a recap of the major events in the lives of the Hebrews who were rescued from Egypt...

It just so happens that this particular Torah portion happens to fall in the Hebrew month of Av (the fifth month on the Hebrew calendar), which is traditionally regarded as the most tragic month.

On the first day of Av, Aharon (or Aaron - the first High Priest of Israel) died (see Numbers 33:38), which was regarded as a prophetic omen of the future destruction of both of the Temples on the Ninth of Av. The Ninth of Av, also known as Tishah B’Av, is an annual day of mourning recalling the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the centuries, some of which occurred on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av.

Tishah B'Av also falls between the two times Moshe received the tablets of the covenant (the first during Shavuot and the second after a period of repentance, during Yom Kippur). This means that just two months after celebrating the Sinai revelation, we believers (YHWH's people) mourn for the destruction of the Temple and the beginning of the long exile of the Jewish people. However, two months later, we celebrate national atonement and the restoration of the covenant during the High Holy Day of Yom Kippur!

This whole period is also prophetic because Shavuot (which falls 50 days after Passover) recalls the ascension of Y'shua and the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Tishah B'Av foretells of Israel's long exile and the "age of grace" extended to the Gentiles; and Yom Kippur foretells the coming atonement of the Jewish people at the end of the age, when Israel accepts Y'shua as their great High Priest of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 30:24).

For more, please click on the Parashah link above.

If you’re on Facebook, join us!

We at The Refiner's Fire hosts a Facebook group by the same name, designed to show people the beauty of YHWH/Yeshua/Torah.  If you’re on Facebook, we’d love to have you join us!

We also host the "Countering the Counter-Missionaries" facebook group, designed to prevent some brothers and sisters from making the biggest mistake of their lives by allowing themselves to be talked into rejecting Yeshua and the New Testament by those who erroneously believe they have finally found TRUTH! (Yes, they exist! Led by counter-missionary Jewish rabbis and their converts, there are groups of Yeshua-rejecters whose whole goal in life is to get you to "reject Jesus" - and then use you to spread the world!)

Some have asked why we bother with those who wish to reject Y'shua. "Isn't it a waste of time?" they ask. Well, the thing is, we wouldn't let a family member walk off a cliff or stumble blind-folded onto a busy freeway. So, why wouldn't we do everything in our power to at least try to keep Satan from stealing YHWH's people! They're our brothers and sisters, and we must at least try to show them why they're getting ready to make the biggest mistake of their life!

1 Peter 5:7. And cast all your anxiety upon Elohim; for He cares for you. 8. Be sober and guarded because haSatan, like a lion, roars and goes about and seeks whom he may devour. 9. Therefore resist him, being steadfast in the Faith: and know that the same sufferings befall your Brothers that are in the world. (AENT)

(See also Isaiah 14:3-20, 2 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 12 and 20).)

A simple explanation of YHWH/Yeshua/Torah

The Refiner's Fire website was created in 2001 at the urging of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). It's goal was to lead Jews to Messiah Yeshua and Christians to Torah, and to introduce the whole world to our Creator, whose Name was given to Moshe (Moses). Take a look at Exodus 3:13-15:

Exodus 3:13 And Mosheh said to Elohim, “See, when I come to the children of Yisra’ĕl and say to them, ‘The Elohim of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that which I am.”1 And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” (ISR)

NOTE: The Heḇrew text reads: ’eyeh ’asher ’eyeh, the word ’eyeh being derived from hayah which means to be, to exist, but the Aramaic text here in v. 14 reads: ayah ashar ayah. This is not His Name, but it is an explanation that leads up to the revelation of His Name in v. 15, namely: יהוה.

Exodus 3:15 And Elohim said further to Mosheh, “Thus you are to say to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘יהוה Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Yitsḥaq, and the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ, has sent me to you. This is My Name forever, and this is My remembrance to all generations.’ (ISR)

The English transliteration of the Hebrew letters "Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey" is YHWH. Thus, God Himself revealed His Name to us, and man has had access to it all along; but, Ironically, traditional Jews refuse to utter his Name for fear of mispronouncing it or misspelling it, etc.; while, on the other hand, you'll never hear the Father's Name mentioned in most Christian churches as they are all concentrating on "Jesus" whom they erroneously believe came to replace the Father and abolish all his original Divine instructions/ teachings (Torah, the first five Books of Moshe), without which we would have NO blueprint for holy, moral living.

Jesus' given Hebrew name was actually Yeshua, which means, "YHWH is Salvation." Yeshua who, contrary to popular belief, was the MESSIAH and not someone who came to replace ELOHIM, was the creative Word through which everything was made (Psalm 33:6, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:1-5). He was "echad" (the plural form of "one" ... as in "one bunch of grapes" or "one dozen eggs") with the Father (John 10:30) because of who he was and where he came from (see Isaiah 53).

The divine Messiah whom YHWH placed into Miriam's womb was a holy and perfect image, of his Father! He came NOT to replace YHWH, but to be His MESSIAH who was to preach the Good News and do everything his Father commanded. (See Luke 4:43; Luke 8:1; Acts 28:23; and Acts 24:14 wherein the Apostle Paul also confirmed Torah: "But this indeed I 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.")

The bottom line is, Yeshua taught Torah, constantly mirroring his Father's commands for ALL to obey, as we see outlined in Numbers 15:13-16:

Numbers 15:13 "'Every citizen is to do these things in this way when presenting an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. 14 If a foreigner stays with you - or whoever may be with you, through all your generations - and he wants to bring an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI, he is to do the same as you.

15 For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before ADONAI as yourselves. 16 The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.'" (CJB)

Please re-read the above in case you missed it: Any "foreigner" (Torah-less non-Jew/Hebrew/Israelite) who wishes to accept the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to do exactly as those who are already belong to Him....

And Paul confirmed it:

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

As you can clearly see, YHWH, Yeshua and Torah go hand-in-hand! Attempts to separate them is a very grave mistake!

Confronted by police? Zip your mouth and cooperate!

Here's a novel, common sense idea for someone confronted by police for whatever reason: Shut up and cooperate! Zip your lips, raise your hands if told to do so, and don't try to fight or run because if you do, you'll make yourself look guilty.

And if you make yourself appear to be guilty, guess what? They're going to do their job and arrest you - because their job is protect the rest of us. And if you mouth off or fight, or reach for your weapon and try to run away, they're going to SHOOT you! What do you expect???

Also, if you cooperate, you won't cause riots where those who weren't there won't have to jump to conclusions and automatically make the police look like "the bad guys." We have a police force for a reason: To enforce the law!

This is happening way too often because people mouth off and argue and fight, instead of simply cooperating.

An urgent message from an Israeli citizen about the latest Hamas attacks

An urgent video message from a friend in Israel:  She wrote:

“Sabbath…

This is our daily lives here..

Hamas burning our land and sending rockets over our people.. Non stop!

This Sabbath over 200 rockets were launched over shouthern Israel..

Where is the world's condemnation to that? The hypocrisy is overwhelming!

Please share this video so that the world will know the truth about Israel!

Please pray for the peace of Israel.”

People, what all these hateful nations seem to forget is the warnings in the Bible. Here are just a few examples:

Psalm 83:1-18 A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—

Revelation 16:13-16 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

Zechariah 12:9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

And in the end, it all comes down to this - HALLELUYAH!

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Please PRAY for Israel and its citizens against the demonic attacks by Muslims!

SHAME ON ARIANA GRANDE!!!!

Sorry, but I must vent my spleen about something I find absolutely DISGUSTING and SICKENING! Ariana Grande’s latest “hit” - a blasphemous, demonic, pornographic song entitled “God is a Woman” - is swinery at its worst. But. of course, “the world” loves it! You have to see it for yourself, to see what I mean (if you can stand the disgusting sexual gyrations and innuendos)….

Now, I don’t know anything about Ms. Grande, and I don’t care what “the world” does, because Scripture warns us that these things would happen. (See Matthew 24, Romans 1:22-32, 2 Peter 2:19-22, .) But I cannot and will not be silent over something like this!

SHAME on Ariana Grande and anyone who lauds her filthy, decadent, blasphemous “art!”

As one admirer of hers wrote, “…the video is a truly mind-melting mash-up of galactic and religious imagery…. If you’re surprised to see so much overt sexuality in a video about God, don’t be. The theology Grande lays out in “God Is a Woman” is deeply rooted in her own sexual competence. “You love it how I touch you,” she sings in the chorus. “My one, when all is said and done / You’ll believe God is a woman."

He continues: “In other words, she’s so good at sex, she automatically converts her partners to the spiritual doctrine of womanhood! The female god Grande envisions is mostly a benevolent one—in addition to pleasuring the Earth (and a tornado), she reigns over a crowd of disciples who writhe around in foam, sits peacefully among the planets with her hands pressed into a yonic shape, and, ever so gently, hula hoops an entire galaxy."

Fellow Believers, by all means, pray for lost souls like Ariana Grande, but at the same time, RISE UP and SPEAK OUT against those who are foolish enough to think they have the right to blaspheme our Creator! We cannot sit silently by and pretend these things aren’t happening. The world hears our deafening silence.

And so does ADONAI, who has amply warned us:

Ephesians 5:11-13: Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (CJB)

2 Timothy 4: 1 I solemnly charge you before God and the Messiah Yeshua, who will judge the living and the dead when he appears and establishes his Kingdom: 2 proclaim the Word! Be on hand with it whether the time seems right or not. Convict, censure and exhort with unfailing patience and with teaching.

3 For the time is coming when people will not have patience for sound teaching, but will cater to their passions and gather around themselves teachers who say whatever their ears itch to hear. 4 Yes, they will stop listening to the truth, but will turn aside to follow myths. 5 But you, remain steady in every situation, endure suffering, do the work that a proclaimer of the Good News should, and do everything your service to God requires. (CJB)

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)

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS ONE:

Zephaniah 1:18 14 The great Day of ADONAI is near, near and coming very quickly; Hear the sound of the Day of ADONAI! When it's here, even a warrior will cry bitterly. 15 That Day is a Day of fury, a Day of trouble and distress, a Day of waste and desolation, a Day of darkness and gloom, a Day of clouds and thick fog, 16 a Day of the shofar and battle-cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers [on the city walls].

17 "I will bring such distress on people that they will grope their way like the blind, because they have sinned against ADONAI. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their bowels like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of ADONAI's fury, the whole land will be destroyed in the fire of his jealousy. For he will make an end, a horrible end, of all those living in the land." (CJB)

Double Portions this week: Parashah 42 (Mattot [Tribes] Numbers 30:1 through 32:42); and Parashah 43 (Masa'ei [Stages] Numbers 33:1 through 36:13)

This week features a double Torah portion:

Parashah 42 discusses how critical spoken words can be because YHWH takes oaths very seriously - especially ones that were made to Him!  As a matter of fact, volumes could be written about the very first verse in Numbers 30 where we see YHWH's instructions regarding the making of vows.

Numbers 30: 1 Then Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Isra'el. He said, "Here is what ADONAI has ordered: 2 when a man makes a vow to ADONAI or formally obligates himself by swearing an oath, he is not to break his word but is to do everything he said he would do.

Today, contracts don't seem to hold any meaning anymore because, many believe contracts were made to be broken and/or re-written to suit a certain purpose.  Even many couples who are married in church and pledged to stay together "unto death" demonstrate instead that they didn’t take their oath very seriously, and end up divorced.

Unbeknownst to them, the vows made before YHWH stand, regardless! YHWH doesn't care what the reasoning, whether simple carnal desire or profit of some kind. (Yes, there are certain grounds for divorce, according to Torah, but every effort must be made to restore the marriage, first.)   A contract is a contract.  We are to hold to our word.  Scripture tells us that every word that comes from our mouth has consequences!

Words...oaths...curses. We are told to guard our mouths and even to take every thought captive (Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 21:23, 2 Corinthians 10:5, etc).

In Parashah 43 YHWH prophetically declares the borders of Israel (Numbers 34:1-29). And as the Book of Numbers nears the end, we find YHWH's people anxiously waiting on the east side of the Yarden (Jordan) as they prepare to leave the Wilderness to enter the Land that he promised their forefathers many years before…

For more, please click on the “parashah” links above!

A reminder about “judging”

Many attempt to use Romans 2 as proof that we are not to "judge one another" - but that is yet another misunderstanding about the writings of Paul. It's true that YOU can't arbitrarily go around enforcing your own morals on someone, or add your own judgments to those already established in the Torah (which is what "judging" is).

TORAH is our judge, and if you see a brother or sister who has fallen head-long into sin, you can't just stand by and watch, or attempt to "pray it away." You MUST warn that person, or else their blood will be on your hands. But, simply telling someone they're breaking ELOHIM's rules is NOT "judging"!

For a thorough examination of "judging" please check out our website's article.

Is “soul sleep” real?

Someone recently sent a question to our website about “soul sleep.” Soul sleep is the philosophy suggesting that when a person dies that his soul "sleeps" until the time of the future resurrection. In this condition, the person is not aware or conscious. The primary verses used to support soul sleep are found in Ecclesiastes – both of which have been taken out of context:

Eccl. 9:5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten."

Eccl. 12:7 … "then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it."

Regardless, we at The Refiner’s Fire do NOT believe in "soul sleep," in part, because of this scripture:

Revelation 6: 9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them who were slain on account of the Word of Elohim, and on account of the testimony to the Lamb which was with them. 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Master YHWH, you Set Apart and True, do you not Judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11. And to each one of them was given a white robe; and it was told them that they must be quiet yet a little while, until the consummation of their fellow-servants and Brothers who were to be killed as they had been. (AENT)

If the souls were “asleep” or unconscious, how could they speak?

We don't believe in any "New Age" or extra-biblical ideas, such as "reincarnation" where souls supposedly find new bodies after a person dies. A soul makes us who we are. YHWH made each of us with individual souls that are accountable to Him … souls that can die if we choose to sin (Ezekiel 18:20-24; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 14:12; Galatians 6:1-5; Matthew 12:36-37; Hebrews 4:13, etc.).

“Soul sleep” is simply not biblical. Whenever Scripture describes someone “sleeping” in relation to death (Luke 8:52; 1 Corinthians 15:6), it does not mean literal sleep; it is just a way to describe death because a dead body appears to be asleep. Those are our thoughts, anyway.

Anyway, the person who wrote posed two specific questions:

QUESTION ONE: What did Yeshua and his followers believe about life after death?

OUR RESPONSE:

Yeshua never said anything specific about this except that we would "live in the Kingdom". Somehow, after a physical, bodily death, we live. See: John 3:1-16; John 5:24, 28-29; John 11:25; John 14:2-3; Matthew 10:28; Luke 23:42-43 to name a few. In all these verses, Yeshua speaks of a "life" after death but there is no provided detail. It is safe to assume that the apostles knew no more than this.

QUESTION TWO: Is it true that the first century Jews believed the soul lingered around the body after death for 3 days?

OUR RESPONSE:

This idea has its origins in the Talmud, but the "3 days after death" idea is only part of what the Talmud records about the "soul". Here are some specific references, but be forewarned, these are taken out of context:

"Accompanied by divine messengers and conscious of its origins, the soul enters the womb at the time of conception" (Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 60b).

"When people sleep, the soul ascends to heaven, returning renewed in the morning" (Genesis Rabbah 14:9).

"Although the soul protests its birth into the world, it also protests the body s death. It lingers near the body for three days, hoping that it will return to life" (Tanhuma, Miqetz 4; Pequdei 3).

"After three days, the soul returns to God to await the time of resurrection" (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 90b-91a).

"During the first twelve months after death, the soul remains in contact with the disintegrating body" (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 152b-153a).

You see from this, that the Jewish sages really had no idea what happens to the soul upon death! Only their speculation is recorded in the Talmud. Unfortunately, Jews are taught to accept everything a Jewish rabbi says; therefore,some have taken these out-of-context statements from the Talmud and perpetuated them as truth..

A beautiful lesson on life in Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:1 My son, don't forget my teaching, keep my commands in your heart; 2 for they will add to you many days, years of life and peace. 3 Do not let grace and truth leave you -bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and esteem in the sight of God and of people. 5 Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.

7 Don't be conceited about your own wisdom; but fear ADONAI, and turn from evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and give strength to your bones. 9 Honor ADONAI with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your income. 10 Then your granaries will be filled and your vats overflow with new wine.

11 My son, don't despise ADONAI's discipline or resent his reproof; 12 for ADONAI corrects those he loves like a father who delights in his son. 13 Happy the person who finds wisdom, the person who acquires understanding; 14 for her profit exceeds that of silver, gaining her is better than gold, 15 she is more precious than pearls -nothing you want can compare with her.

16 Long life is in her right hand, riches and honor in her left.

17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her; whoever holds fast to her will be made happy.

19 ADONAI by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens, 20 by his knowledge the deep [springs] burst open and the dew condenses from the sky. 21 My son, don't let these slip from your sight; preserve common sense and discretion; 22 they will be life for your being and grace for your neck. 23 Then you will walk your way securely, without hurting your foot.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Don't be afraid of sudden terror or destruction caused by the wicked, when it comes; 26 for you can rely on ADONAI; he will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. 27 Don't withhold good from someone entitled to it when you have in hand the power to do it.

28 Don't tell your neighbor, "Go away! Come another time; I'll give it to you tomorrow," when you have it now. 29 Don't plan harm against your neighbor who lives beside you trustingly.

30 Don't quarrel with someone for no reason, if he has done you no harm. 31 Don't envy a man of violence, don't choose any of his ways; 32 for the perverse is an abomination to ADONAI, but he shares his secret counsel with the upright.

33 ADONAI's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 The scornful he scorns, but gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise win honor, but fools win shame. (CJB)

A word about the US border situation

LET'S SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT!!!

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.

IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.

IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.

IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET ....... !!!

A JOB, A DRIVERS LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, WELFARE, FOOD STAMPS, CREDIT CARDS, SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE, FREE EDUCATION, FREE HEALTH CARE, A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION !!!

- Bob Easterling, (SGM, US Army retired)

Parashah 41: Pinchas (Phineas) Numbers 25:10 through 30:1 (29:40 in some versions)

Shabbat shalom, everyone!  Well, we’re already on Parashah 41.  Time certainly has gone by quickly this year!  Anyway, as always, a synopsis of this week’s Torah portion can be found on our website.  This parashah holds many nuggets, and we see that YHWH does not condone "tolerance" as seems to be the buzzword of modern Western society! He is very adamant about purity and righteousness in HIS people! In today's portion we see YHWH making a covenant of peace.... (Click on the link to read more!)

A mini-lesson on praying

Matthew 6: 7 "And when you pray, don't babble on and on like the pagans, who think God will hear them better if they talk a lot. 8 Don't be like them[1], because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 You, therefore, pray like this: `Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.

11 Give us the food we need today. 12 Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us. 13 And do not lead us into hard testing[2], but keep us safe from the Evil One. For kingship, power and glory are yours forever. Amen.' (CJB)

{1] It is imperative to keep in mind that prayer is a dialogue with ADONAI; not a monologue. Having a relationship with YHWH is not mere “religion”; it is an actual give-and-take relationship that includes accountability between each individual and YHWH.

{2] YHWH has never led His people into “temptation”; however, He tests and proves them – not for Himself, but for teaching purposes that refine us like silver that reflects Him.. (See Deut. 13:3; Job 1:7-12; and James 1:14). (Some versions use the word “trials” in this passage.)

Love the sinner, but hate the sin? Does Scripture actually say that?

Psalm 139:16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed. 17 God, how I prize your thoughts! How many of them there are! 18 If I count them, there are more than grains of sand; if I finish the count, I am still with you. 19 God, if only you would kill off the wicked! Men of blood, get away from me!

20 They invoke your name for their crafty schemes; yes, your enemies misuse it. 21 ADONAI, how I hate those who hate you! I feel such disgust with those who defy you! 22 I hate them with unlimited hatred! They have become my enemies too. 23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way. (CJB)

Some would argue that Y'shua said we are to love our enemies and to pray for them - but this was referring to other believers; not evil, worldly unbelievers with whom we have nothing in common, and who would, in a heartbeat, lead us astray with their worldly ways.

Yes, by all means, show mercy and be kind to everyone. But also, be discerning.....

Jude 1: 21 Thus keep yourselves in God's love, as you wait for our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to give you the mercy that leads to eternal life. 22 Rebuke some who are disputing;23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and to yet others, show mercy, but with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their vices. (CJB)

An advance word on the 2019 Biblical Calendar

Remember 2016 and the many “calendar arguments”? No? Well 2016 was the most recent year that the traditional calendar of Judaism established the month of Passover in the wrong month by the moon. What this means is that the traditional calendar of Judaism identified Passover in 2016 at the Full moon in April when it should have been identified at the full moon of March. We wrote extensively about the issue in our blog article “2016 Calendar Craziness!”  Sadly the same problem happens again in 2019! So be forewarned that 2019 will be another year when Passover by the traditional calendar is on the wrong date and many calendar many arguments will ensue!
Unfortunately, we have to look forward to this problem more and more often as the modern, traditional Jewish calendar gets more and more out-of-sync with the real moon. This happens again in 2024, 2026, and 2035. (And that’s only as far ahead as I looked!)

Why is this happening?

It happens because the modern traditional Jewish calendar instead of using the real moon, calculates the annual calendar using what is called the “Metonic Cycle” to determine the calendar year in which to include a “Leap Month”.  That is to say, that a leap month is rigidly inserted every 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th year of the 19-year Metonic Cycle.  So what is the problem using this formula?

The problem is that the Metonic Cycle works quite well over the span of the entire 19 years, but within the 19 years, the Metonic Cycle often requires a leap month when the actual moon indicates a leap month is not required!  That is exactly what happens in 2019.

The “rule” of when Passover falls is that Passover must be on or as close as possible after the Vernal Equinox. That is the scriptural requirement, (Deuteronomy 16:1).  In 2019, the Vernal Equinox is on March 20th, just before midnight Israel time. And the full moon, of the 14th of the month happens on March 21st – clearly after the Vernal Equinox.  So March 21st 2019 should be the 14th of Nissan, but the traditional Jewish calendar inserts the leap month, so March 21st is instead identified as the 14th of Adar II.  By the Jewish calendar then, Passover in 2019 is not till the 19th of April – a full lunar cycle late! By scripture, holding Passover a full lunar cycle late establishes Passover “in the wrong season” (Deuteronomy 16:1, 6).

Toward the end of our annual Hebrew calendar we include an 8-page narrative of how the calendar should work. You are welcome to review it. Our 2019 calendar is found here.

We never argue with anyone about the “authority” of our calendar and we do not ask that “our calendar” be followed. Clearly, we do not have authority. But that is not the point. (The modern Jewish calendar also has no authority since no Great Sanhedrin authorized the many “rules” added to today’s calendar, and that calendar has many problems.)  Scripture is clear, even though no calendar formula is found within Scripture, that YHWH’s appointed times are based on a calendar only of the sun, moon, and stars. Period. (Genesis 1:14). No “barley”, no “Metonic Cycle”, and no “postponements”!  We have striven to identify the calendar of the Bible and that’s all.
Questions can always be addressed to calendar@therefinersfire.org.

July 2018 Lunar Eclipse is NOT a “Blood Moon”!

The mainstream media (MSM) is making a big deal about the total lunar eclipse of July 27-28 this year (2018). Some of these intellects are even calling it the “Longest Blood Moon of the Century”!

YAWN!

First, it is not a “blood moon”! I am so sick of the term “blood moon” I could spit! This is an ordinary total lunar eclipse! The term “blood moon” should be reserved for the biblical event when the moon turns blood red when it is not expected to be in eclipse. (See Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20, Revelation Chapter 6, vs 11-13). This term was abused by authors Biltze and Hagee – shame on them.

Second, who cares how “long” a total lunar eclipse is?!!! Since the “length” of a total lunar eclipse depends on the moon’s distance from earth, some eclipses will be “long” and some “short” based on that distance.

You want the truth?

This is an ordinary total lunar eclipse. Period. And do you know what? It is not visible in totality from the North American continent which includes all of the USA! From a biblical perspective this is important. If something in the heavens is not visible* to you – you did not know it happened and it can have no significance!

This was the great flaw in Biltz’ and Hagee’s theory of the great “tetrad” of lunar eclipses back in 2014-15. They wrote of gloom and doom (an profited from it) when the truth was that NONE of those total lunar eclipses could have indicated anything prophetic for Israel because NONE of those eclipses were visible from Israel! As far as Israel is concerned, those eclipses never happened! See https://www.therefinersfire.org/blood_moons.htm

Folks, ordinary total lunar eclipses are not “blood moons”! That is simply MSM and popular ignorance. This eclipse in July this year, for example, will go completely unnoticed in the United States. For all practical purposes, from our perspective in the US, the eclipse did not happen. This is the same sort of situation during the “tetrad” of 2014-15 hyped by Biltz and Hagee: As far as Israel was concerned, those eclipses never happened.

I am appalled that Biltz and Hagee “popularized” the term “blood” moon and I’m even more appalled that the MSM ran with it and still run with it.  Sadly, now the term “blood moon” is used for any, ordinary total lunar eclipse.

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(*About saying “If something in the heavens is not visible to you – you did not know it happened.” - That is generally true, except in the case of the moon.  If the moon is NOT visible sometime during any day of the month, then you know it is in or nearing conjunction! For those who say: “Conjunction can’t be a ‘sign’ because you can’t see it”, well, they are dead wrong! The absence of the visible moon IS the sign! The moon is ALWAYS visible all month – except when it is near or in conjunction! In fact, the day of conjunction can be determined because you can’t see the moon!)

A friendly reminder….

A message for all the “cracked pots” of this world!

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to Elohim who always leads us on, to overcome in Messiah, and manifests through us the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 Because we are to Elohim the fragrance of Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death to death, and to the other the fragrance of life to life. And who is competent for these? 17 For we are not, as so many, adulterating the Word of Elohim for gain – but as of sincerity, but as from Elohim, in the sight of Elohim, we speak in Messiah. (ISR)

I remember reading a story once about a man from long ago who fetched the family’s water at a well at the top of a hill, using two clay pots fastened on either side of a big branch across his shoulders. One of the pots was cracked and usually, by the time he returned to his house, the leaky pot would be half empty. Being poor, he couldn’t afford to buy another pot, and so, grumbling and lamenting over the wasted water, he kept using that broken pot because it was better than nothing.

Then one day, he noticed something: Flowers were blooming all along the trail on the side where the cracked pot had been leaking the water on his trek down the hill. He smiled when he realized the water had not gone to waste after all; that it had been used by Elohim to beautify the otherwise dull hillside to bring smiles and fill the air with wonderful fragrances!

Believers who have “passed through the fire” of this world and ended up with bruises and broken hearts and minds, are similar to that cracked pot - because, at some point, once they have been refined through their experiences, the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) is bound to “leak out” and fill the air with the holy fragrance of YHWH (or Yahweh, the Father), to nudge others. These people exude a certain air that is filled with the shalom (peace) that only YHWH can provide!

YHWH is able to better utilize as witnesses people who are “cracked pots” because they have the best testimonies! They are able to pass on the knowledge and wisdom gained through their trials and tribulations; whereas those born with the proverbial “silver spoons in their mouths”, who rarely (if ever) crack their Bibles and never endured any real hardships, and who have basically had everything handed to them, have nothing tangible to share and never really reflect the Holy Spirit.

They’ve had no need to cling to our Savior or cry out in anguish to Him, because they were never thrust into real hardships. They have never had to deal with gut-wrenching pain or adversity so, when something bad finally does happen to them, they fall apart and end up in the clutches of “the world” (i.e., they might end up making poor or harmful decisions, or turning to drugs or alcohol, and seeking help from psychiatrists or counselors with no knowledge of God or the Bible … basically remaining in the same rut they’ve always been in).

In other words, they are essentially babes who have never had a chance to learn and grow to be what YHWH needed them to be in preparation for the world to come. They’re like lumps of coal with no holy reflection....

Zechariah 13:2 But who can endure the day when he comes? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like the soapmaker's lye. 3 He will sit, testing and purifying the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to ADONAI uprightly. (CJB)

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My Name, and I will answer them; I will say, It is My people; and they shall say, Yahweh my Elohim is my Elohim. (CJB)

Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day when he comes? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like the soapmaker's lye. 3 He will sit, testing and purifying the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to ADONAI uprightly. (CJB)

Isaiah 48:10 "Look, I have refined you, but not [as severely] as silver; [rather] I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (CJB)

Job 23:10 Yet he knows the way I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold. (CJB)

Job 23:10 Yet he knows the way I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold. 11 My feet have stayed in his footsteps; I keep to his way without turning aside. 12 I don't withdraw from his lips' command; I treasure his words more than my daily food. (CJB)

As YHWH's Creations, most of us have gone through "fire" in one way or another and, hopefully, we learned from the experience. Through our trials and tribulations, rough edges were smoothed and sharp edges were sluffed off, until we more closely resembled what we were meant to be.

God allows us to go through hard times so that we may grow and become smooth and shiny. His goal is for us to become a reflection of Him that not only He can see, but also so others can see Him in us.

The astute person will learn to recognize that fact; and the sooner they do, the quicker they can become valuable members of the Family of God, ready and willing to sow seeds and even water them, whenever the opportunity presents itself!

My prayer for all the "cracked pots" of this world is that you will have your spiritual eyes opened to the endless, wonderful possibilities of being ALL you can be! Amein!