So … is there any GOOD news?

COVID-19 pandemic, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsnamies, volcanic eruptions, sickness and disease, mass murders, wars, rumors or wars and evil all over the world ...

With all the bad news we're hearing lately, is there any GOOD news?

YES - Yeshua's Second Coming! Halleluyah!

YHWH's Messiah will put an end to wickedness and evil on this earth. He will rule and reign for a thousand years upon the Earth after he defeats the Antichrist at Armageddon. After that, on Judgment Day, every soul that has ever lived will stand before YHWH to give an account of their life. (Psalm 2:2; Daniel 2:44; Ezekiel 39:7; Revelation 16:14-16, 19:11-16 and 20:1-15).

In Matthew 24 we begin to see that Believers will be translated (cease to exist here on Earth to suddenly find themselves in the Presence of Yeshua). This does not necessarily mean that our physical bodies, upon Yeshua's return, will float up into the air, as depicted by Christian artists! We don't know for sure what will happen; but we do know that, according to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, it will be "in the twinkling of an eye." Matthew 24:40 reveals that this "translation" from physical to spiritual bodies will be sudden. (See also John 5:28-29.)

Note that these scriptures also tell us that the "resurrection of life" is the first resurrection, which happens just prior to Yeshua's Second Coming; and that the "resurrection of judgment" does not occur until a thousand years later at the end of Messiah's millennial reign, when everyone who has ever lived will stand before YHWH on Judgment Day. These things are outlined in Daniel 12: 1-3; Acts 24: 15; Luke 14: 14, and Revelation 20.

(NOTE: This "catching up" will be when Yeshua returns to Earth; not before! According to Daniel 9:26-27, t will occur at the end of that seven year period which will begin when the "Antichrist" makes a seven year peace treaty with Israel. The day we hear of someone making a seven year peace treaty with Israel, we'll be able to count exactly seven years until Yeshua's return!)

Revelation 20:11. And I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it; from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and this their place was not found. 12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life. And the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds.

13. And the sea gave up the dead in it; and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. And they were judged, each one according to his deeds. 14. And death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (namely,) this lake of fire. 15. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire. (AENT)

So, YES, that IS good news … for BELIEVERS!

Atheists and "religion hoppers" and the "lukewarm" and anyone who didn't accept THE Creator, YHWH - the ELOHIM of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - as their God, are facing eternal separation from Him! It will be as if they never existed. (See 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15.)

Unfortunately, most people today don't seem to be concerned with the "hereafter"; let alone YHWH or His Word. Even many Believers don't know the meaning of the word, "wholehearted" - and, as a result, they will NOT be taking that narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

John 3:36, 11:25 and 17:3, etc. reveal that "eternal life" does not consist of simply "believing in Jesus," but living for YHWH according to His Torah rules. (Remember: Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH, do everything His Father commanded, and teach Torah, and then martyr himself on our behalf.)

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.

Most, according to what we read in Scripture, will end up separated from YHWH forever BECAUSE of their refusal to become "wholehearted"; but the believing and obeying remnant will get to spend eternity with Him in "the new heavens and the new earth."

As you know, Yeshua was the "arm" of YHWH (Isaiah 53:1) and the Word (John 1:1-4, 14), and to "believe" in Him is to gain eternal life. Nobody is guaranteed the next day, but we at least have the assurance of salvation, when our life here on earth ends!

So, YES - there are some evil days ahead; but be encouraged ... The indwelling Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) will guide us, with Torah as our Light (Psalm 119:105) – so, go out and BE that light while there is still time!

Isaiah 51:4 "Pay attention to me, my people! My nation, listen to me! For Torah will go out from me; (Yeshua’s spirit embodies Torah; it is the Word!) I will calm them with my justice as a light for the peoples. 5 My righteousness is at hand, my salvation (Yeshua) goes out, my arms will judge the peoples. The coastlands are putting their hope in me, trusting in my arm (Yeshua - Isaiah 53:1).

6 "Raise your eyes toward the skies, look at the earth below. The skies will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like clothing. Those living on it will die like flies; but my salvation (Yeshua) will be forever, and my justice will never end.

7 "Listen to me, you who know justice, you people who have my Torah in your heart: don't be afraid of people's taunts, don't be upset by their insults. 8 For the moth will eat them up like clothing, the worm will eat them like wool; but my justice will be forever, and my salvation for all generations." (CJB)

John 17:1. Y'shua spoke these things and he lifted up his eyes to Heaven and said My Father the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son might glorify you. 2. Just as you have given him authority over all flesh that whomever You have given him, he will give to him life that is eternal. 3. Now this is life that is eternal, that they might know You, that You are the Elohim of Truth, and he alone whom You have sent, the Mashiyach Y'shua.

4. I have glorified You on earth. The work that You have given to me to do I have finished it. 5. And now glorify me my Father with You in that glory that I had with You from before the world was. 6. I have made Your Name known to the sons of those men whom You had given to me from the world. They were Yours and You have given them to me, and they have kept Your Word.

7. Now they have known that everything that you have given to me I have given to them and they received them. 8. And they know that I have truly proceeded from your presence, and they believe that You have sent me. (AENT)

A mini-teaching on 2 Corinthians 4

Many of the New Testament passages are used by Christians to show that Torah was “abolished at the cross”; and by Jewish “counter-missionaries” and their adherents to “prove” that the New Testament is full of myths and anti-Torah rhetoric, and that Y’shua couldn’t possibly be the Messiah.

However, when read in context, we can see that the Apostles constantly referred to YHWH’s Torah (Divine Instruction in Righteousness without which we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living).

Take, for instance, the entire chapter of 2 Corinthians 4, which reveals Paul’s love for YHWH, Y’shua and Torah!

2 Corinthians 4: 1. Therefore, we are not weary in this ministry which we have received according to the mercies that have been upon us: 2. But we have renounced the concealments of dishonor, and we walk not in craftiness, nor do we treat the Word of Elohim deceitfully; but by the manifestation[1] of the truth we exhibit ourselves to all the consciences of men before Elohim. (AENT)

NOTE 1: The word here for “manifestation” – galiyota – also means “revelation.” Furthermore, it is from the root of this word that we get the name “Galeela.”

2 Corinthians 4: 3. And if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled to them that perish; 4. To them whose minds the god of this world has blinded, in order that they might not believe, or else the light[2] of the Flame (Good News)[3] of the glory of the Mashiyach (who is the likeness of Elohim)[4] should dawn upon them. 5. For it is not ourselves that we preach, but the Mashiyach, Y’shua our Master;[5] and, as to ourselves, that we are your servants for Y’shua’ sake. (AENT)

NOTE 2: An Aramaic wordplay between “blinded” (aeor) and “light” in Hebrew (aur), which can also become the Aramaic word for “Torah,” i.e. aurayta, since Torah certifies the Good News. Also, in mystical thinking when the aleph is replaced by an ayin (as in the word for blind), even though both have a potential silent or “A” sound, the ayin is said to drain power; so from light to blindness.

NOTE 3: Or, flame, which given the imagery in the previous verse may be a better reading.

NOTE 4: [Damota d’Alaha = likeness of Elohim. This is an interesting word choice because damota denotes likeness but not equivalence. As in the book of Hebrews the earthly Temple vessels are representative of the heavenly; in this case Y’shua is the human face of YHWH. However, Hebrews 1:3 also tells us that Y’shua is “the radiance of His glory” – with a synonym to damota, tzemya – “and the exact representation (tzelma) of His (YHWH’s) nature.”

Tzelma is a much closer idea of the spiritual blueprint of man, which is also the reflection of YHWH. It is not representative like damota, but is almost like reflection in the sense of a cloned image that is the image itself. The word “copy” should be avoided as that would denote two natures of YHWH, which is not supported in the Peshitta text.

NOTE 5: Just as Y’shua spoke in his Father’s Name, so does Paul speak in the name of Y’shua Mashiyach. Paul’s authority was not on the basis of his own name. Neither was Paul given any authority to do away with Torah; this is simply a Pagan or Hellenistic ideology that is projected upon Paul.

2 Corinthians 4: 6. Because Elohim, who commanded the light to arise from darkness, has Himself shined in our hearts, that we might be illuminated with the knowledge of the glory of Elohim on the face of Y’shua the Mashiyach.[6] (AENT)

NOTE 6: This is extremely important, as it shows that this verse strengthens the idea that the glory of Elohim is “REFLECTED” in Y’shua’s face … NOT that Y’shua IS ELOHIM while walking the earth as a human who was born and died (something GOD cannot do)!  Always a PART of YHWH, he was the Word (John 1:1, 14) and the “Arm” of YHWH (Isaiah 53:1) – both of which are supernatural parts of YHWH that were temporarily “made flesh”… After his death, Yeshua was resurrected and ultimately returned to YHWH (Acts 7:55–56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 110:1, etc.)

2 Corinthians 4: 7. But we have this treasure in an earthen vessel that the excellence of the power might be from Elohim, and not from us. 8. And in every thing we are oppressed, but not suffocated; we are corrected, but not condemned; 9. We are persecuted, but not forsaken; we are prostrated, but not perish. 10. For we bear in our body, at all times, the dying of Y’shua; that the life also of Y’shua might be manifested in our body. 11. For if we are delivered over alive to death, for Y’shua’s sake, even so also will the life of Y’shua be manifested in this our mortal body.

12. Now therefore, in us death is active, but in you, life. 13. Having therefore the same spirit of faith, (as it is written, I believed, therefore also have I spoken,) we also believe, and therefore speak; 14. Knowing that He, who resurrected our Master Y’shua, will also resurrect us by Y’shua, and will receive us, with you, to himself. 15. For all things are for your sakes, that while grace abounds by means of many, thanksgiving may abound to the glory of Elohim.

16. For this cause we do not faint; for though our outward man perish, yet the inner (man) is renovated day by day. 17. For the affliction of the present time, though very small and light, prepares for us great glory, without end, for ever and ever; 18. While we look not at these seen things, but at those not seen; for these seen things are temporary, but those not seen are eternal. (AENT)

To reiterate:  Paul’s teachings didn’t “abolish” one yud or stroke from the Torah!  He constantly spoke in the name of Y’shua Mashiyach; never in his own name. As a mere human, Paul didn’t have the right to teach anything except what YHWH commanded and what Y’shua taught.  It is mere  Pagan or Hellenistic ideology to suggest that Paul enlightened us to believe in the erroneous “Jesus plus nothing” theology.

Do you find Paul’s writings confusing?

So many attempt to use Paul's writings to show that Torah was "abolished at the cross," because "Paul basically said so."

Well, here's a serious question: Does your Bible read: In the beginning was Paul, and Paul was with God, and Paul was God?

If it doesn't then why would you place his writings over what the Messiah is recorded as saying? Stop being a part of the group Peter spoke of in 2 Peter 3!

2 Peter 3: 15 And account the long suffering of Master YHWH to be redemption; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom conferred on him, wrote to you; 16. as also in all his letters speaking in them of these things in which there is something difficult to be understood; (and) which they who are ignorant and unstable pervert, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, [1] to their own destruction. (AENT)

NOTE: It’s rather shocking that Peter writes of how Paul’s letters had already been turned into a Torahless fiasco, even in Peter’s day! Certainly it was not the Pharisees who were renouncing Torah Observance, but the humanist, pagan and materialist, “modernists” who operated under “Christian” labels.

So, the answer to the question above is a resounding "NO!" That is NOT what the Bible says!

Acts 24: 14 "But this I do admit to you: I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets.

In the above you can see Paul was not a "Christian" suggesting that Torah was abolished...

Even the anti-Semite Martin Luther (1483-1546), said: "If I were younger I would want to learn this language [i.e. Hebrew], for without it no one can properly understand the Holy Scripture.... For that reason they have said correctly: 'The Jews drink out of the original spring, The Greeks drink out of the stream flowing out of the stream, The Latins, however, out of the puddle.'"

The scriptures of Rabbi Sha'ul (Apostle Paul) whose native tongue was Hebrew, have been mistranslated or misunderstood since the advent of the "church age." This is because people are viewing his teachings through a "Greek" as opposed to a "Hebrew" mindset.

Paul never went against Yeshua's teachings, nor did he forsake the Torah. This article shows that Paul's declarations have either been misunderstood, mistranslated, or wrongly interpreted - not to mention, used by some Gentile churches as an excuse to negate God's Torah and thus continue the age-old, anti-Semitic stance against the Jews.

Many people tend to forget that Paul was a Jew (actually, he was from the Tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1, Philippians 3:5), but "Jew" is a blanket term for all Israel) whose teachings NEVER contradicted Torah (God's original teachings/instructions). If he had, he would have rendered Scripture contradictory.

Acts 21:15-21 - which was written after Paul had written the Galatians - clearly reveals Paul was Torah observant. It is commonly misunderstood that Paul's teachings - especially the idea that Paul said in Galatians, "if one is led by the Spirit, he or she is not under law..." - that the authority of the law has been abolished for believers in Yeshua and that the Torah has been superseded. Many people are confusing legalism (man's requirements) with Torah observance.

When Paul speaks of being "under the law" or the "works of the law," he is speaking against legalism, and not against the Torah. There is no Hebrew word for the concept of "legalism" or "legalist" so Paul was hindered in his attempt to explain to the Gentiles that legalism was not what God intended. Paul was not teaching against Torah observance by believers of Yeshua; rather, he was being careful in his language to make it clear that Torah was not given by God to be used in a legalistic manner.

Some people insist that there is no explicit text in the New Testament that commands us to "walk in Torah" or in any way continue to adhere to any of the commands of the old covenant. However, Romans 3:31 clearly says: 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law....

It’s time to learn to keep our “carnal natures” in check!

I recently witnessed a group of supposed Believers in a thread on someone’s Facebook wall, making fun of a young man who clearly had some mental issues, as he was busy disfiguring his body with dozens of tattoos and piercings.

My attempts to show that their behavior was anti-Torah and NOT pleasing to haShem, were met mostly with disdain and even rebukes. For instance:

The reality is, Scripture commands us to be kind to those with disabilities – including the disabilities we cannot see. Instead of openly “talking about” a person behind their back, we’re to employ the Matthew 18 method to lead them to onto the path.

And if they’re not a believer, we should certainly employ some common sense and contact them personally, if possible, to see if they’re open to correction. If not, turn them over to YHWH and leave them alone.

We have NO RIGHT to feel entitled to talk about, or make fun of them behind their back! Especially not in a public setting designed to get others to jump on our “bandwagons”….

Leviticus 19: 14 "'Do not speak a curse against a deaf person or place an obstacle in the way of a blind person; rather, fear your God; I am ADONAI. 15 "'Do not be unjust in judging - show neither partiality to the poor nor deference to the mighty, but with justice judge your neighbor.

16 "'Do not go around spreading slander among your people, but also don't stand idly by when your neighbor's life is at stake; I am ADONAI. 17 "'Do not hate your brother in your heart, but rebuke your neighbor frankly, so that you won't carry sin because of him. 18 Don't take vengeance on or bear a grudge against any of your people; rather, love your neighbor as yourself; I am ADONAI. (CJB)

Even Talmud doesn’t allow “lashon hara” (evil tongue/gossip). And Shulcan Aruch (called the “Code of Jewish Law”) says, while it is permissible to mock IDOLATRY (i.e., not only those who worship “other gods”; but also those who “worship” things such as money or possessions, or who are obsessed with their own appearance, etc.), it is NOT permissible to mock or attack PEOPLE or to poke fun at their supposed “lack of intellect” or anything else!

The best thing to do when realizing that someone is a "sick" individual in some way, is to simply pray for God to open their spiritual eyes and heal them. Once that is done, leave them alone, for at that point the proverbial ball is in YHWH’s court. It’s not YOUR problem!

Mishpocah (family/friends), the bottom line to being TRUE believers is to LIVE a “godly” lifestyle according to His Torah! If you’re not “walking the walk” via obedience to His Torah, then why are you even bothering to “talk the talk?” Simply “talking a good game” to give the appearance of holiness makes you nothing more than a hypocrite. You might as well be an UNBELIEVER, because, ultimately, YHWH will only allow the “wholehearted” to remain in His Presence! (Deuteronomy 18:13; 1 Kings 8:61; Jeremiah 29:13; Psalm 37:18 and 119:2; etc.)

Yeshua had the following grave warning for evil-minded people:

Matthew 18: 8. And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better to enter into life lame, or while you are maimed, than while you have two hands or two feet to fall into the fire that is everlasting. 9. And if your eye[1] causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it away from you, for it is better for you that with one eye you enter into life than while you have two eyes to fall into the Gehenna of fire. (AENT)

By the way, this passage does NOT literally mean you are to disfigure yourself in any way! It is metaphor showing people that they are risking their eternal life by behaving in an evil manner toward their fellow human beings.

The “evil eye” is a Hebrew idiom denoting someone who is stingy with their material possessions or having an eye that looks covetously upon the things of others. To enter into Life, we must turn our eyes from carnal and material things and focus them upon YHWH (Matthew 5:29; 6:22, 23; 7:3-5; 20:15). In other words, we must “remove sinful visions from our eyes as if that eye was unable to see.”

An important word to all of YHWH's Chosen AND those who are grafted in!

Those with ears to hear and eyes to see will be able to understand that it's all about YHWH; and not only about the teachings of His Divine Messiah (as the churches insist) who walked this earth for a brief time … to do what? ... to proclaim the Kingdom of God and do everything His Father commanded! (You’ll see the pertinent scriptures below.)

The entire Bible reveals that YHWH's His Torah stands FOREVER! Here is just one passage:

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name! Make his deeds known among the peoples. 9 Sing to him, sing praises to him! Talk about all his wonders. 10 Glory in his holy name; let those seeking Adonai have joyful hearts. 11 Seek Adonai and his strength; always seek his presence.

12 Remember the wonders he has done, his signs and his spoken judgments. 13 You descendants of Isra’el his servant, you offspring of Ya‘akov, his chosen ones: 14 he is Adonai our God, His judgments are everywhere on earth. 15 Remember his covenant forever... (CJB)

Messiah Yeshua taught YHWH's Torah during his brief time on earth. He didn't come to bring any "religion" or to change the Divine Rules. He even said so, himself:

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." (CJB)

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. (AENT)

And Paul reiterated Yeshua's teachings:

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." (CJB)

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. (AENT)

So, while his death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! YHWH isn't just in the business of "saving" people. As Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come!

If His Messiah supposedly “abolished Torah at the cross” then why was EVERY believer completely Torah observant for one hundred years after Yeshua's death, including the Apostle Paul who was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death (Acts 21:23-24)! Was Paul a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another; or were his teachings, perhaps, misunderstood?

I pray that this worldwide pandemic has served to open the eyes of myriads because it's been a major SIGN that Scripture is unfolding before our very eyes. Things are happening at lightening speeds, as outlined in Books such as Daniel and Revelation.

Please open your eyes to YHWH's Truth! Stop dismissing the most important part of the Bible (the Tanach - "Old Testament" - and especially the Torah - the writings of Moshe (Moses) which contain ALL of God's actual divine Instructions to mankind) to concentrate only on that last FIFTH called the "New Testament" - which is mostly commentary on, and explanation of, the Torah!

Your eternal life depends on it.

An interesting mini-study of Luke 23:39-42

Luke 23: 39. Then one of those doers of evil who was hanging there with him was blaspheming against him and said, "If you are the Mashiyach, save yourself and us also."

40. And his companion rebuked him and said to him, "You are not even afraid of Elohim, because even you are in that judgment. 41. And we are deserving justly, for as we have done we have been repaid. But that which is hateful has not been done by this man.

42. And he said to Y'shua, "Remember me my Master when you come in your Kingdom." 43. Y'shua said to him, Truly I say to you today: You will be with me in paradise.[*] (AENT)

Footnote:

Note what Yeshua said in the original Aramaic translation! It is important to remember that ancient Hebrew and Aramaic writings had no punctuation, and therefore, we must take care to compare the emphasis very carefully, as many attempt to use this particular passage to show that "Jesus said they would be rising TODAY!"

Compare what most versions say: "...I say to you: Today you will be with me in Paradise" with, "I say to you TODAY: You will be with me in Paradise." The first promises the immediacy of ascension, as in "today"; and the second promises that the MAN speaking to Y'shua will be in paradise. (It doesn't say WHEN he will be paradise.)

If the first were true, then Y'shua would be making a special exception for this man that he does not make for any of his disciples! Therefore, the latter is more consistent with Y'shua's teaching that eternal life begins with resurrection on the last day; see John 6:40, 54.

Do Gentiles automatically "become Jews" once they decide to become Torah observant?

The short answer is no. But the longer answer is slightly complicated. You see, this wonderful question can only be clearly explained via a little history lesson.

As you know, "Israel" consisted of 12 tribes, including Judah, where the term "Jew" originated. These were the people to whom YHWH gave His Torah while they were wandering in the desert for 40 years.

Although Torah has always been around since beginning of the world when YHWH commanded the universe to "be", we are told that Moshe (Moses) wrote down all the Words of YHWH (which became known as the Torah - first five Books of the Bible).

YHWH also chose Moshe to present Israel (the 12 tribes) with the Ten Commandments. It is also imperative to remember that many Egyptians (Gentiles/foreigners) followed Moshe out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38) - and they were told in Numbers 15:13-16 to do exactly as YHWH's people did once they decided to accept YHWH (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)...which means, they were to obey YHWH's Torah. Those commands were never changed!

In Jeremiah 31:31-32 we see YHWH's promise to make His New Covenant NOT with the Gentiles, but with the Torah observant Houses of Israel and Judah.

The Tribe of Judah was chosen to safeguard the Torah when YHWH scattered Israel into the nations (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2) and we must never forget that YHWH caused Yeshua to be born into the Tribe of Yehudah/Judah!

We learn in Romans 11 that Gentiles are "grafted in to the Olive Tree (Israel) and thus they do come into "the commonwealth of Israel" per Ephesians 2:11-16...which means they must be Torah observant (according to Numbers 15:13-16, where YHWH reiterates four times that the "foreigner" who accepts Him MUST do exactly as His "natural children" do) .

However, per Zecheriah 8:23 they take hold of the tzit-tzit of a Jew and join to Judah because Y'shua is from Judah.

So, while Gentiles may not be "Jews" per se, they count as Judah - unless it is revealed to them that they were descended originally from another tribe and went away - in which case, they return to that tribe and will go through their respective gates when they enter eternity (see Revelation 21:12-13).

The Hebrew word for "to cross over" is … "ivrit" which translated into English is "HEBREW!" Avram was eventually renamed Abraham/Avraham (which is Hebrew for "High Father, Father of a multitude, many nations") after he "crossed over" thus, becoming officially known as the first "Hebrew" (Genesis 14:13).

What we're trying to say is that Gentiles ... who were considered "pagan" before they "accepted Jesus" (Yahweh's Divine Son whose given Hebrew name is Yeshua (who was the Word, John 1:1, 14; and the "arm of Yahweh" - Isaiah 53:1) actually become "proselytes" - "righteous Gentiles."

More to the point: they become "HEBREWS" (which means that men must become circumcised (Genesis 17: 7-14, Exodus 12:48-51, 1 Corinthians 7:18-19) ... which ultimately renders them indistinguishable from the native born Jew. As we are told in Romans 12:5, we are ONE in Messiah!

A raw scenario for the Americans who wish to compare the Holocaust to abortion

YES, abortion is MURDER and GENOCIDE, and certainly a grievous, horrific sin and social ill that will be dealt with by God Himself. But, unlike humans who have been born and conscious of themselves and their surroundings, those unborn, still-forming tiny innocent babies have NO memory of the pain and anguish, and surely, they go straight to Heaven.

The woman who's aborting doesn't suffer much pain either, and mostly what she really feels is relief "to be rid of it" as she freely walks out of the abortion facility....

(That's all I can bring myself to say about this disgusting, brutal issue, so please don't even TRY to attempt to discuss it further! I don't care to hear your justification, pro or con, because this thread is designed to show the American armchair "experts" why they cannot and should not try to force the ridiculous conclusion that abortion is is comparable to the Holocaust!)

JUST FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I want you all to imagine you are a mother sitting in your living room watching TV with your husband and two young children (a boy and a girl), right after you ordered your pizza from the comfort of your own couch during this quarantine. Life has been a little disrupted, but it's still pretty good. Everybody's okay and things will get back to normal soon.

Suddenly, and without warning, a group of armed soldiers break down your front door and, before you have a chance to figure out what's happening, you're being forcefully jerked out of your happy home by armed soldiers, who load you all into the back of a deuce-and-a-half military truck with hundreds of others stacked in tightly.

They take you to the local railroad station, and shove you into a stinking cattle car full of cow manure, where you're again wedged in so tightly between other citizens, that you can hardly breathe.

Eight hours later, both of your small children (as well as many others) are screaming their heads off because they're tired, hungry and have wet their pants because they couldn't hold it anymore....And oh, by the way, YOU also wet your pants, as did most others in that cattle car.

Let's say, after a 12 hour ride, more armed soldiers FINALLY unload you - thousands of you! - which takes HOURS because as you disembark, armed soldiers take your names and personal info, and then you notice that the men are herded to one side of the camp and the women and children, to the other. (YES, you WILL be separated from your husband!)

To your horror, one of the armed guards - a big burly guy with evil eyes - stops you and asks WHICH CHILD you want to keep. "CHOOSE!"

You're too dumbfounded to speak! Choose which child you want to keep? Are you kidding me???

Of course, you can't, and you tell him so in no uncertain terms - UNTIL he takes out his pistol and threatens to shoot both of them right then and there.

So, crying hysterically, you choose the little girl - causing such guilt that it may lead you to suicide in the years to come ... that is, IF you get live ... which is something that just crossed your mind as you realize, standing there in the chilly night without a coat, that the smoke billowing from the chimney in the distance smells eerily like burning flesh ... Surely, it couldn't be human ... could it?

Suddenly, someone comes to take your little boy away and you never see him again. And you and your little girl are marched into a small, cramped barracks where you are told you must share the bottom bunk of a wooden bunk bed that has neither mattress, nor blankets....

The fear in the place is so great you can literally SMELL it - because you don't know WHY any of this is happening! All you (and the thousands of others in those barracks) know is that life as you knew it has come to a screeching halt, and you have NO CLUE what lies ahead. The one thing you DO know is that YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL.

As the months turn into a year, you little son crosses your mind again (as he frequently does, even in your dreams at night) while you quietly toil away in the camp laundry room with your little emaciated daughter (they only give you one bowl of THIN soup per day) by your side (because you're one of the lucky ones who doesn't "look Jewish" and they allowed you to work instead of leading you and the child into the crematorium, as they've done to most of your new "friends"), you look down at your child playing quietly in the corner (for she is not allowed to talk) and you wonder for the millionth time whether you made the "right" choice about "which child" to keep...

Then, early one morning at the break of dawn, the armed soldiers come for your little girl. You cling to her, screaming ... to no avail. They said they needed her for some kind of medical experiment....

"WHY" you demand! And because you couldn't be quiet or or to stop screaming and begging for mercy, one of the soldiers grabs you by the arm and drags you off behind the crematorium to rape you to "teach you a lesson!" When he's done, he jerks you up out of the weeds and forces you INTO the building, where you're forced to strip naked in front of him and dozens of others, before being shoved into a room with other naked people cowering in terror against the four walls.

The last thing you remember before the "Zyklon B" gas renders you unconscious, is that it caused you and everyone else to lose control of their bowels....

PEOPLE, while this kind of thing will NEVER happen in America (as so many conspiracy theorists posit), I am trying to get you to put yourself into JUST ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO OUT OF THE SIX MILLION STORIES that happened in Germany during WWII - and that doesn't even include all the rest of the innocent civilians whose lives were disrupted and traumatized via starvation, carnage during bombings, and endless terror for SIX STRAIGHT YEARS!

Now - pray tell - as a human being with a conscience, can you honestly still sit in your easy chair and try to tell me that comparing the Holocaust to ANYTHING else in modern history is RIGHT OR FAIR?...

It is truly IGNORANT and even EVIL to attempt to FORCE the comparison of apples and oranges! Except for the soldiers who have experienced actual wartime scenarios, modern-day Americans don't know what a "Holocaust" is....

Let's discuss tithing….

Contrary to popular belief, the tithes aren't there for just "helping people." Tithes are for the purpose of supporting qualified people who teach Torah, and to provide for the operation of the priesthood, and to support those in need - and believe it or not - once it's left your hand, it's no longer your business as to what's done with it. Your obligation is to tithe your part...

YES, if the pastor is wasting the money and buying planes, trains, automobiles and yachts, then he's clearly got a blind flock that tithes too much, because an extravagant lifestyle earned off YHWH's FREE Word, was NEVER the intention of tithes ... and SHAM on that pastor or rabbi for using YHWH and His Word to expand their own domains!

The original instructions concerning tithes was for the Levite Priests who were set-apart as YHWH's; and had NO OTHER way of supporting themselves, because their job was ONLY to do YHWH's will/teachings, etc. Their ONLY business was conducting the duties of educating, blessing, performing sacrifices and exercising judgment of Torah. But they also needed to be housed, and fed.

What we must ask ourselves today is: WHO is actually TEACHING YHWH's Word? The answer: Not many.

And, here's an interesting tidbit: Did you know that when people who receive help from the church in some way (unless they are told otherwise) are actually REQUIRED via Scripture to PAY BACK anything they "borrow" from the tithes, including interest of one-fifth of what they borrowed?

Leviticus 27:30 “‘All the tenth given from the land, whether from planted seed or fruit from trees, belongs to Adonai; it is holy to Adonai. 31 If someone wants to redeem any of his tenth, he must add to it one-fifth. (CJB)

In other words - once your "tithe" leaves your hands, it belongs to YHWH. If the person who receives it ABUSES it, YHWH will deal with him or her at some point.

The above is simply something to keep in mind the next time you tithe...

CALLING ALL “ARMCHAIR EXPERTS" – CAN YOU HANDLE A CHALLENGE?

I’m looking specifically for those who are busy bashing and viciously gossiping about the governments of the world, the World Health Organization, hospital administrators, and the world's leaders, etc., for their presumed "incompetence" in handling this worldwide COVID-19 pandemic!

Let’s play a game. It’s called “Problem Solving.” I’ll provide a scenario; a problem, and you all can sit back and relax in your armchairs and see if you can solve it. At the end, you can assess whether or not you still feel the same way about the world’s leaders, hospital administrators and other people you don’t know, have never met and will never meet, and whose jobs you know nothing about, and whose jobs YOU aren’t qualified to do….

HERE GOES – ARE YOU READY? LET’S DO THIS!

You are a 69-year-old grandpa living in a large, six-bedroom house (your old childhood home) at the edge of a sleepy, dying little community in the middle of Texas, which – luckily – still has a small diner, an ancient gas station with one pump, a clinic run by an 80-year-old doctor and his wife (Nurse Susie) and a tiny, dilapidating 8-room flea-bag motel, hardly ever occupied. The nearest towns are 150 and 210 miles down the road – and they’re only slightly bigger. (Remember, you’re out in the middle of NOWHERE.)

Your one great accomplishment in life has been the fact that you have a dozen successful and educated children living all over the world, who have given you a total of 144 grandchildren. (They didn’t plan on having that many children, but, hey – it happened, and you’re absolutely over the moon about it.)

You and Grandma manage to visit some of them occasionally; but the kids rarely make the effort to visit you because it’s soooo much trouble to get there via planes, trains and automobiles.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention – while growing up in this little town, you also had 12 siblings - brothers and sisters who eventually left and spread out all over the world, as well. (No one besides you and your beloved wife wanted to stay in this little dump of a town – and you couldn’t really blame them, but you have always loved this place you grew up in.)

Ironically, every one of your siblings ALSO had at least a dozen or more children because they, too, loved large families … and THEIR children were just as prolific.

In other words - you have a HUGE family and huge extended family! (And that's not even counting your aunts, uncles and cousins and all THEIR children - all of whom you dearly love as well, and with whom you’ve kept in touch over the years – and even managed to visit! Let’s pretend they number around 2,000 and growing, because in your family, there are ALWAYS women in in various stages of pregnancy.)

So, okay - everybody moved away years ago for “greener pastures,” and the houses they vacated all became ruins. Again, because of the remote area in which you reside, you rarely ever saw any of them unless you and your wife made the effort to do all the traveling. Regardless, you and a few old “die-hards” chose to remain in your beloved little town to live out the rest of your days.

But then – quite out of the blue, something really unexpected and exciting happens! The day before your 70th birthday (which you were planning to celebrate at that little hole-in-the-wall local diner with your sweet wife of 52 years), there’s a knock on the door - and to your surprise – lined up on your front lawn and up and down both sides of the street, as far as the eye can see (even past both edges of your tiny town) are ALL your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, along with all of your aging brothers and sisters, and THEIR children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren … AND all your surviving old aunts and uncles and all of their kids, grandkids and great-grands … all here for a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY! All 2,000+ of them….

The thing is, they were all just as surprised as you, because none of this was planned! They had no clue that EVERYBODY was going to show up today for your 70th! They all came due to tweaked consciences because YOU had been the only one to visit each of them for decades, and so … well … here they are – brought together by some quirk of nature that caused ALL them to decide to surprise you on such an important birthday …

By now YOU are freaking out because there is NO WAY you can possibly put them all up, much less feed them – even with the help of the local diner and that little 8-room motel down the road. Even if the few town’s people offer to open up their homes, there aren’t enough rooms in this whole town to accommodate that many people! You really freak out when you realize, you only have a few options that include the following:

1. Put as many as possible in your own home.

2. Have some stay in the tiny 8-room hotel.

3. Ask the townspeople to put up as many as they possibly can.

4. Ask as many as possible and who are willing to do it, to sleep in their rental cars tonight.

5. Ask the ones who aren’t too exhausted from their long trips, to drive the 150 - 210 miles to the nearest towns to find accommodation.

YES, YOU ARE FREAKING OUT – but just when you think you’ve got all you can possibly handle, five of the young pregnant women go into premature labor because the long plane, train and automobile trips proved to be too much for them; and you rush them all to the local doctor for delivery.

In the meantime, you receive a frantic call from your wife who’s letting you know that many people are starting to pass out from the lack of nourishment and water in the mid-day heat. “And, oops – wait!!!” she cries. “Oh, my gosh, I think some are DEAD … they have no pulse! Send the doctor, quick!”

But you can’t because the doctor and his nurse/wife are busy trying to deliver those five premature babies (and oh my gosh, they only have ONE incubator!!!) And while the nearest towns do have small clinics, they have no ambulances and they’re too far away for the help you need right NOW….

YOUR CHALLENGE: Manage this situation! What would YOU do? What will you tell the media when they ascend on your town and demand to know “who, what, when, where and why?”….

When you're done solving this problem, apply it to the total surprise of the World Health Organization and hospital/medical professionals who had NO IDEA on how to deal with an unknown virus that virtually overnight spread around the world and began to overwhelm the capabilities of nearly every hospital on earth!

Apply this scenario to all the various governments and the world leaders, who had no idea about how to manage a world-wide pandemic … trying everything they knew how, including at first, responsibly asking people to quarantine in their own homes in hopes of stopping its spread…

And then ask yourself if YOU could have done any better – and if you think you could have, please put your money where you mouth is, and tell us HOW!

Are ducks considered to be edible according to Scripture?

READER QUESTION:  Are ducks considered to be “clean”?

OUR RESPONSE:

We find 24 birds/classes of birds specifically forbidden in the Torah. These are mainly predatory and scavenger birds. Conversely, the Torah does not provide characteristics of kosher birds. So in general, if it is not and excluded bird, then it is okay. Thus, domestic species of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons/doves are considered clean/kosher.

I should add that while the Mishnah addresses "3 features of kosher birds," (a crop, extra toe, peelable gizzard), it is not at all clear how these features were derived, nor is there agreement in the Jewish community about them. For example, a goose does not have a crop, but is considered kosher.

Perhaps the "debate" about ducks includes what they eat? Ducks are "opportunists." They will eat small fish and fish eggs, snails, worms, slugs, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, and other small amphibians. But they also eat grass, leaves, weeks, algae, and aquatic plants, seeds, grain, berries, fruit, nuts, and insects. Thus they are not "scavengers" or "predatory".

Can’t make ends meet because you’re deeply in debt? Here are some wise tips….

Are you among those who can't make ends meet because you have been living paycheck to paycheck? If so, chances are it's because you're in debt.

Proverbs 22:7 tells us that "The borrower is slave to the lender"... This is so true, especially in America where there is a pandemic of over-use of credit cards!

My husband and I have been debt-free since 2012, because (1) we wanted to live according to Scripture; and (2) because we got tired of owing others and paying interest.

I'm hoping this pandemic will serve as a wake-up call for many who have been over-spending for years, thanks to their handy-dandy credit cards; and, as a result, don't have any savings whatsoever - not even enough to get them through just a couple of months of unemployment....

Financial guru Dave Ramsey offers the following to help people become debt-free:

1. Cut up your credit cards to prevent any more frivolous spending. Become "gazelle intensive" about getting out of debt.

2. Start paying OFF all your bills, starting with the smallest first. You don't need to be a slave to some financial institution for the rest of your life!

3. Tighten your belt, basically subsisting on "beans and rice, rice and beans" until you've paid off all your debts. Cut your lifestyle to the bones! Remember, it was your debt-lifestyle that got you into this mess!

4. Do not go to restaurants unless you work there!

5. Get an second job if you have to, in order to accomplish your goal of becoming debt-free! If you're unemployed, FIND a job doing something that will provide an income - even if it means delivering pizzas or scrubbing equipment at your local fast food restaurant. (Even in the current pandemic, there ARE jobs!)

In case you don't realize it, only the Government can "overspend its income!" YOU can't! But you CAN live within your means; it's just that sometimes you gotta change the "means"...

Being debt-free is actually scriptural. I promise you - it's a GREAT feeling to be financially independent.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evil; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains.

Luke 14:28 Don't build a tower unless you have the funds to finish it.

Something to ponder concerning a hard truth:

Unlike the man-made holiday of Easter, ADONAI’s commanded Passover is not “all about Jesus” or his crucifixion or resurrection. Passover encompasses the whole story!

To begin with, Passover celebrates the deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. It is a tale of redemption through the killing of the Passover Lamb whose blood was to be applied to the doorposts of their houses - an act which would spare their firstborn from the Tenth Curse against Pharaoh and the “gods” of Egypt (Exodus 12:12).

YHWH promised that the Angel of Death would "pass over" those houses with the blood on the doorposts, and spare the first born (Exodus 12:1-13). This foreshadowed Yeshua, YHWH's "Passover Lamb" who fulfilled the redemption of the Passover when he was crucified and willingly allowed His own blood to be shed on our behalf in order to become OUR redemption. In other words, the innocent died for the guilty; and sacrifice not only means death but also life (Isaiah 53.)

Now, check this out:

At the exodus - the one and only original "pass-over", the people had to do nothing; that is, as long as they were in the house with the blood on the door posts, they were “covered by the blood,” and their fist born did not die.

(Technically, a lamb had to be slain, but entire groups only needed one lamb between them. The important thing was that they be YHWH's people and they be inside the protected house).  The thing is, even Egyptians could have been spared death, had they simply taken YHWH as their God, and been in the house with blood on the door posts.

Yet Christianity has replaced the commanded remembrance of the pass-over with "Easter" and Easter is not about the simple acceptance of YHWH as their God to be redeemed, rather, it’s about "Sunrise Service", "Egg hunts", dressing in one's finest, and celebrating the "resurrection" of Jesus.  Easter is not about simply taking YHWH as one's God and obeying Him!

Also, absolutely no one at the original and only "pass-over" was exonerated from their sins! The pass-over lamb was NOT a “sin sacrifice!” The Hebrews already belonged to YHWH and lived as “set apart” people (Exodus 1:7) – even as slaves to the Egyptians (Exodus 1:11). No tabernacle nor Temple even existed at that time, so there were no “formal” sacrifices, even though they did, when given the chance to atone for their sins with sacrifice (Exodus 3:18; 5:3, for example)!

But this act we read about in Exodus 12, the lamb’s blood substituting for and redeeming a life - was a gift! They were "redeemed", yes, by the blood of the lamb, yet they still had, and always had, an obligation to obey God!

But Christianity teaches that once you are redeemed by the blood of "Jesus", you are "under grace" and therefore you simply “sin no more”. So, when you sin (which we humans tend to do), Christians are told, that each sin is "covered".  No cleansing is required, and no atonement is required.

Honestly – how can that be?

Truth is, it can't! There is NO reason to believe that the death of Jesus "replaced" the commanded perpetual remembrance of the pass-over, and there is NO reason to think that simply "believing in Jesus" covers anyone perpetually from their continuing intentional sins. 

Yeshua died ONCE and his divine blood served as a one-time atonement/redemption! (Colossians 2:8-15) This redemption did not give humanity carte-blanche to continue sinning; we are still expected to live our lives as holy/set-apart people of God. And how do we do that? By living according to YHWH’s Torah….

So, there is absolutely no reason to think that Jesus' death somehow negated simple obedience to YHWH.  In fact, Jesus actually said he did NOT come to abolish or replace obedience (Matthew 5:17)!

YHWH declared in Exodus 12 that those who accepted Him as their ELOHIM are expected to remember the pass-over and observe it every year, and that if they are to be redeemed, they must be fully His (this is the meaning of "circumcised") and they must live their lives in obedience to Him - as His laws apply to ALL who take Him as their God. (See Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, and Romans 10:12-13 which all confirm our need for Torah.)

Can we know exactly when Yeshua died and rose?

Yes!  To begin with, we know that he died on the 14th of Nisan.  Read on….

John 19: 41 In the vicinity of where he had been executed was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been buried. 42 So, because it was Preparation Day for the Judeans, and because the tomb was close by, that is where they buried Yeshua. (CJB)

The above passage shows that Yeshua was placed in the heart of the earth approximately 5:00 p.m., or before sunset on the day he died. Seventy-two hours must end at the time we start the counting - about 5:00 p.m., or before sunset, that night.

Even on the eve of his death, Messiah Yeshua kept and fulfilled the Passover: He died on Wednesday the 14th of Nisan, and he rose some time after 3:00 p.m. on the Sabbath exactly three days later, depending on when he was placed in the grave.

The Sabbath is in commemoration of YHWH's rest at creation (Genesis 2:2), and Yeshua's rest after his redemption of mankind. The Sabbath is for a reminder of the sign (three days and three nights) of who Yeshua haMashiyach is: He the Master of the Sabbath.

Now, exactly how do we know that he died on the 14th of Nisan and that, that particular 14th of Nisan fell on a Wednesday? Because the 14th of Nisan is the day on which YHWH declared that the Feast of Passover should be celebrated FOREVER (Leviticus 23; Exodus 12:14)! And because of a series of events that took place just prior to the crucifixion:

ONE:  Yeshua fulfilled Zechariah 9:9 when, on 10 Nisan (a Sabbath - Saturday), he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, as the people waved palm branches:

9 Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Tziyon! Shout out loud, daughter of Yerushalayim! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and he is victorious. Yet he is humble - he's riding on a donkey, yes, on a lowly donkey's colt. (CJB)

The Bible tells us that it was a Sabbath Day's journey from Bethany. He then taught in the Temple for three days: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

TWO:  As promised in Exodus 12:25-28 there was to be an explanation of the Passover service. This Messianic fulfillment took place when Yeshua showed his disciples how to celebrate the Passover Seder the evening before his death.

During this time he explained how HE IS the fullfillment of the Passover seder (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Just as he delivered the Israelites with a mighty hand from the bondage of Egypt, so is he delivering us from the bondage of sin with His mighty right hand!

It was here that he explained the meaning of his person in the Passover elements. Afterwards, he and his disciples went to Gethsemene, where they spent part of the night.

THREE:  During the night Yeshua was arrested and we are told that his trial continued until approximately 9 a.m., when he was crucified. At 3:00 p.m. (the 9th hour) on Wednesday he died. 

Which means he ROSE late SATURDAY AFTERNOON!

Was Jesus “sacrificed”?

I see a lot of memes by Believers suggesting "Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed on our behalf." When that is said, we have to make sure we know what kind of “sacrifice” we’re referring to…

You see, Yeshua was NOT sacrificed like an animal being killed in a religious ceremony. (There was no ceremony! The Gospels reveal that he was executed as a criminal.) He martyred himself (against which there is no law) because he knew his divine blood would serve to redeem us.

When people martyr themselves, they are “sacrificing” themselves for a purpose – as in, “Our platoon sergeant threw himself onto a grenade to save the rest of us from harm.”

1 Corinthians 5:7 is often used to suggest “Jesus was sacrificed” - with many incorrectly suggesting he “was sacrificed”. Unlike the Greek versions, the Aramaic says, “For our Passover is the Mashiyach, who was SLAIN for us" (AENT).

Truth is, the original pass-over lambs were neither “sin offerings” (their blood never atoned for any sins!); nor were they officially "sacrificed" in any “sacrifice ritual.”

Yes, the lambs were forced to “sacrifice” on man’s behalf – as in “simply killed” (but not in a ritual) and their blood was used for redemption - because blood on the doorposts of people’s homes caused the Angel of Death to “pass over” those homes.

Passover – it’s not all about “Jesus”

Occasionally, someone will send me a note to let me know that "God doesn't care what days we keep, or how or what we celebrate, because He knows our hearts."

Well, Scripture disagrees! YHWH was very clear and very specific about what days and Appointed Times His people were to celebrate, and how to keep each one of them. He was also adamant about NOT picking up the customs of the nations....

Having said that, for those who insist it's okay to celebrate Easter, did you know that that word "Easter" is only found in the King James Version? Specifically, in Acts 12 - which actually renders useless that entire chapter because NOBODY went into Jerusalem to celebrate any man-made holiday.

His people (including His SON who lost his life there) came to celebrate PASSOVER, which up until the day Yeshua died, commemorated ONLY the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt. It was a tale of redemption through the killing of the Passover lambs whose blood was to be applied to the doorposts of their houses - an act which would spare their firstborn from the Tenth Curse against Pharaoh.

YHWH promised that the Angel of Death would "pass over" those houses with the blood on the doorposts, and spare the first born (Exodus 12:1-13). This foreshadowed Yeshua, who fulfilled the Spring festival of Passover when he was crucified and willingly allowed his own blood to be shed in order to become our redemption.

Unfortunately, Christianity has twisted Passover into yet another man-made holiday that pushes YHWH (the "Father) into the background, and made it all about "Jesus"

A mini-study of 2 Corinthians 5 - something to ponder during this Passover week

2 Corinthians 5:1. For we know that, if our house on earth,[1] this of the body, were dissolved, yet we have a building of Elohim, a house not made with hands,[2] eternal in heaven. 2. And on this account also, we groan, and wish to be clothed with our house from heaven: 3. If indeed, when clothed, we will not be found naked. 4. For while we are here in this house, we groan under its burden; yet you desire not to throw it off; but to be clothed over it, so that its mortality may be absorbed in life.

5. And he that prepares us for this thing is Elohim: who has given us the earnestness of His Spirit. 6. Therefore, because we know and are persuaded, that while we lodge in the body we sojourn away from our Master (Y’shua); 7. For we walk[3] by faith, and not by sight; 8. Therefore we are confident, and desirous to be away from the body, and to be with our Master (Y’shua). 9. We are constantly attentive, that whether we are absent, or whether at home, we may please him. (AENT)

NOTES:

[1] In Hebrew and Aramaic thought, each major facet of the human condition dwells in a house. Here then we should contrast Rav Shaul’s imagery of our house on Earth with that of the opening chapter of Galatians, where he speaks of Y’shua being raised from the house of the dead! Such imagery is certainly implied in the next three lines of this chapter.

[2] Another parallel between Rav Shaul’s writing here and the Epistle to the Hebrews. The phrase, “not made with human hands” only appears in three places in the NT. One is given by Mar Stephen, and the fact that he dies just after making this statement, effectively eliminates him as potential writer for that Epistle.

The other two references, excepting this one, are in Hebrews 9:11 and 24. The context and subject are the same in each place. The fact that Rav Shaul was one of those present and “approving Stephen’s death” adds more weight to the conclusion that the author of Hebrews is, in fact, Rav Shaul. From an Aramaic point of view, these phrases appear as a signature aspect of the same author.

[3] The word “walk” here is the Hebrew “halacha” (religious laws that guide day-to-day life of believers).  To say then “walk of faith” is to impart a more direct imprinting of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) than, for example, rabbinic halacha, or the theological or doctrinal teaching of any other man-made religion. The difference is, of course, the source.

The Ruach (Spirit) of YHWH is certainly always superior to the rulings and traditions of men!  To walk by Faith and not by sight is to allow the Ruach haKodesh to write Torah (Divine Instructions in Righteousness) upon the heart. Man-made traditions, whether Jewish or Christian, are, more often than not, a major deterrent to the indwelling of the Ruach haKodesh and the willingness to observe the Torah of YHWH.

(Continuation)

2 Corinthians 5:10. For we are all to stand before the judgment-seat of the Mashiyach, that each may receive retribution in the body, (for) what he has done in it, whether of good, or whether of evil. 11. Therefore because we know the Fear of our Master (Y’shua)[4] we persuade men; and we are made manifest to Elohim; and I hope also, we are revealed to your minds.

12. We do not again praise ourselves to you;[5] but we give you occasion to glory in us, toward them who glory in appearance and not in heart. 13. For if we are extravagant, it is for Elohim: and if we are discreet, it is for you. 14. For the love of the Mashiyach constrains us to reason in this manner: One died for all; therefore, are all dead. 15. And he died for all, that they who live should not live to themselves but to him who died for them and rose again. 16. And therefore, we know no person after the flesh: and if we have known the Mashiyach after the flesh, yet from now on we know (him) no more.

17. Whoever therefore is in the Mashiyach, is a new creature: old things have passed away; 18. And all things are made new, by Elohim; who has reconciled us to himself by the Mashiyach, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 19. For Elohim was in the Mashiyach,[6] who has reconciled the world with his majesty and did not reckon to them their sins; and who has placed in us the Word of reconciliation.

20. We are therefore ambassadors for the Mashiyach, and it is as if Elohim was pleading you by us. In behalf of the Mashiyach, therefore, we plead to you to be reconciled to Elohim; 21. For, on your account, He has made him who knew no sin to be a sin (offering) that we might by him become the righteousness[7] of Elohim. (AENT)

NOTES:

[4] Y’shua demonstrated the Fear of YHWH to his disciples. It is Mashiyach Y’shua who judges for YHWH (Shemot/Exodus 23:20-22; John 5:22).

[5] Literally “(make) good our souls to you.” In other words, we did not each uplift the nefesh/soul of ourselves to you. The nefesh (Aram. napshah) is the life force and personality, but salvation comes from the Ruach of YHWH.

Therefore, we are not uplifted by our human life force but by the eternal spark of our Creator. The idea that Y’shua uplifted his nefesh, is a false accusation of the Pharisees. The fact is, YHWH uplifted Y’shua’s nefesh, as he will also do on the Last Day for those who believe upon Him and live according to the One True Faith.

[6] Ref Isaiah 11: 1 But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai, a shoot will grow from his roots. 2 The Spirit of Adonai will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fearing Adonai — 3 he will be inspired by fearing Adonai. (CJB)

[7] To “become the righteousness of Elohim” means to demonstrate Mashiyach to the world, which means we do not go through life breaking YHWH’s Commandments.

“Mid-trib rapture”? Nahhh….

A reader recently mentioned the idea of a “mid-trib rapture”. Honestly, according to Scripture, there is no such thing as "pre-trib” or “mid-trib rapture” – or even a "seven year tribulation." From what I can tell, that seven-year period mentioned in Daniel is the period after the peace treaty is signed with Israel.

According to the Scriptures Yeshua will return exactly seven years after the Antichrist (whoever that turns out to be) signs a seven-year treaty with Israel. In the meantime, we are and will continue to experience "tribulations" around the world. The disasters are coming faster and faster. The Bible tells us that, in the end times, there will be so many that we can't even recover from one disaster before the next one hits....

Daniel 9: 26 Then, after the sixty-two weeks, Mashiach will be cut off and have nothing. The people of a prince yet to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary, but his end will come with a flood, and desolations are decreed until the war is over. 27 He will make a strong covenant with leaders for one week [of years]. For half of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and the grain offering. On the wing of detestable things the desolator will come and continue until the already decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator." (CJB)

The day we hear of someone making a seven-year peace treaty with Israel, we'll be able to count exactly seven years until Y'shua's return!

(As a side note, although the Bible does refer to the "antichrist" as a "he" - this may or may not be a man; it may simply be the antichrist SYSTEM of the world. The exact meaning of "antichrist" will be completely revealed as time goes by.)

Never before has the world seen the accumulation of events as we have today! Although no one knows the EXACT day nor the hour that Messiah will return (although the next mo’ed/festival to be fulfilled by Y’shua IS Yom Teruah/Trumpets, when YHWH calls His people home), no generation has had as many signs of the times as OUR generation. We have more reason to believe that Yeshua could come in our lifetime than any other generation before us….

Explaining, in simple terms, the idea of Torah

Here is how to explain, in simple terms ,the idea of Torah to those who believe Gentiles don’t have to bother with “those old rules that were directed at the Jews.”

First of all, did you know that you’re no longer considered a Gentile, once you’ve accepted YHWH/Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

It’s true!

Remember in Genesis 12 where we see Yahweh choosing Abram/Avram (which means “exalted father”), our first Patriarch? Well, Avram was a PAGAN Chaldean who accepted Yahweh’s call to accept Him as his God and to leave his own country, to “cross over” (get away from all his paganistic relatives and ways) into the Land he was told to migrate to.

The Hebrew word for “to cross over” is … “ivrit” which translated into English is “HEBREW!” Avram was eventually renamed Abraham/Avraham (which is Hebrew for “High Father, Father of a multitude, many nations”) after he “crossed over” thus, becoming officially known as the first “Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13).

So, you see – Gentiles – who were considered “pagan” before they “accepted Jesus” (Yahweh’s Divine Son whose Hebrew name was Yeshua - who was the Word, John 1:1, 14; and the "arm of Yahweh" - Isaiah 53:1) actually become “proselytes” - "righteous Gentiles" … and more to the point: "HEBREWS"…

And by the way, Yeshua (whose name means “Yahweh is Salvation) was our final SIN OFFERING …. NOT a “sacrifice” because nobody “sacrificed” him, as is a common misconception! (He sacrificed himself for us, but he was not “sacrificed”.)

Secondly, it was never only all about “the Jews.”  Yes, Yahweh chose the Tribe of Judah to take Torah into the world and safeguard and preserve it (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2)!  But, the reality is, there were no "Jews" until after our third patriarch, Jacob had a son named Yehudah/Judah, who was the father of the Tribe of Judah from which the term "Jew" is derived. Today, "Jews" has become a blanket term for all Israel – of which YOU are a part BECAUSE of your faith in Yahweh/Yeshua!

What is often overlooked in the Christian realm that insists “all those Old Testament commands” don’t pertain to Christians, is that THERE WERE NO “JEWS” in the Garden of Eden; neither were Cain and Abel “Jews”; neither was Noah, nor any of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

And get this: Up until then, EVERY believer in Yahweh obeyed His Divine Instructions in Righteousness (Torah), observing the Seventh Day Sabbath and the Feasts, eating only "clean" foods, etc.

Only a very astute few recognize that those things didn’t change just because Jesus died. God never changed His mind about what He considered “clean” and “unclean” foods. That’s why Noah was ordered to take both kinds into the post-flood era (Genesis 6:19-20; Genesis 7:1-5). There is a specific reason for each type of animal, including the fact that “unclean” animals, birds and sea life” all basically serve as the world’s garbage disposals, eating anything and everything, thus cleaning the earth….

So, as you can see, God is NOT all about love, grace and mercy and “all you have to do to get to Heaven is believe in Jesus.” There is a “catch” to being a Hebrew, which is that, once you have been grafted in to Israel as a “Hebrew” you MUST live by obedience to Yahweh and that means to become Torah observant! Scripture tells us as much in several different passages that anyone who “crosses over” MUST begin to learn and obey Torah. (Genesis 17:7-14, Exodus 12:48-51, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, Romans 10:12-13, 1 Corinthians 7:18-19 all confirm our need for Torah!)

Observing Torah is the real evidence that you actually received the salvation you did not earn…

The reality is that the purpose of the death of our Messiah was NOT to bring a new religion called “Christianity” or change His Father’s Divine Instructions to mankind and eliminate obedience; Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom of Yahweh and do everything the Father told Him to do.

Take a look:

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!'

17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. (CJB)

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." (CJB)

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. (AENT)

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." (CJB)

Yeshua himself said He came to do HIS FATHER's will; not His own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside!

38. For I came down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (AENT)

The bottom line is: Once we accept Yahweh, we MUST start learning how to be good citizens in the Kingdom. And the ONLY way to do that is to learn His original Divine Instructions in Righteousness known as “Torah” (the first five Books of the Bible) and live by them for Him.