Prophetic words for the end times?

READER QUESTION:

While I was reading Ex 19 I could not help but notice what appears to me to be prophetic words in regards to the End Times.

Ex 19 verses 10 to 13 "10 so Adonai said to Moshe, “Go to the people; today and tomorrow separate them for me by having them wash their clothing; 11 and prepare for the third day. For on the third day, Adonai will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people. 12 You are to set limits for the people all around; and say, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or even touch its base; whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 13 No hand is to touch him; for he must be stoned or shot by arrows; neither animal nor human will be allowed to live.’ When the shofar sounds, they may go up on the mountain.”

After reading this a couple of times, here is how my mind played it out in regards to End Times:

1. "today and tomorrow separate them for me by having them wash their clothing" - following the death, crucifixion and resurrection of our Messiah, we have been given 2 more days (2,000 years??) to turn to YHWH and cleanse our self of this world (wash our clothing).

2. "and prepare for the third day. For on the third day, Adonai will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people" - after that time, Yeshua will return and the whole world will see Him when he does (Rev 1:7)

3. "12 You are to set limits for the people all around; and say, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or even touch its base; whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 13 No hand is to touch him; for he must be stoned or shot by arrows; neither animal nor human will be allowed to live." - when that happens, Mt Tziyon will be holy as YHWH (Yeshua) will be there. (Isa 11:9; Isa 56:7; Eze 20:40; Joel 4:17; Zeph 3:11).

4. "When the shofar sounds, they may go up on the mountain." - to me this refers to 1 Thess 4:15-17.

I am keen to get your feedback on this as well. Is this interpretation possible/reasonable to make given the parallels we see with other parts of scripture?

OUR RESPONSE:

Excellent observation! Yes, you are seeing a certain prophecy or prophetic word here. In fact Christianity is "all over" this prophecy while Judaism seems quite reserved. But just what is fact and what is hopeful fiction is hard to discern. Your particular observations, #1, #2, and #3 are quite telling.

Your #1 "Separate them". This is the very meaning of "kadosh" (English "holy") is to "be separate and special" which YHWH commands numerous times in the Torah.

Your #2 "Prepare for the 3rd day" certainly strikes a nerve in me. I'm thinking of the "be prepared" part, not necessarily the "3 days" part. Three days is actually a long time. Much can be forgotten in 3 days. But Yeshua said "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). It is not a direct "3-day" reference but the part about "be prepared" seems to resonate with "prepare for the third day" found in Exodus 19:11.

Your #3 seems to resonate with the entombment of the Messiah. No one was to go near him, the tomb sealed and guarded.

There are certainly many connections to "3 days" in scripture. Many are a stretch to link to a prophecy, but there are 5 I've encountered which seem prophetic to me.

1. In Genesis 1:12, life is "brought forth". That was the 3rd day of creation.
2. In Genesis 22:4-6, Abraham took 3 days to journey to where he was to sacrifice Isaac; yet on the 3rd day Isaac lived.
3. Exodus 19:9-11, the citation you made, the people were given 3-days to cleanse themselves.
4. Jonah 1:17, Jonah in the belly of the fish for 3 days (which Yeshua references).
5. And Hosea 6:1-2, most powerful, we are to return to YHWH and on the 3rd day WE are revived and raised to live in His presence.

Are we still under a “death penalty” for breaking the Shabbat?

READER COMMENT:

Exodus 31:15 says the following,

15 ‘Six days work is done, and on the seventh is a Sabbath of rest, set-apart to יהוה. Everyone doing work on the Sabbath day shall certainly be put to death.

QUESTION- is it the “being put to death” part of these commands that we are no longer under? The same as stoning for adultery? It’s the penalty of having to die when you break a command that’s been removed under the death and resurrection of the Messiah?

Am I getting this right or way off?

OUR RESPONSE:

This is an impressive question. Thank you!  Of course, you can probably guess that none of us, no human, knows the "right" answer and so I am going to caveat my response with the disclaimer that this is a complex subject and my answer is most certainly not absolute.

What we do know is that we are under civil authority in the same manner that the Jews were under Roman authority at the time of the 2nd Temple; and the Jews were not allowed capital punishment by YHWH's rules when they were under said Roman law.

We clearly see some potential leniency in our time, as we are under the redemption of the Messiah (Romans 5:8), which is good, because we are not to tolerate such behavior in our God-fearing community. In fact we (the people if we are a community under YHWH) are to RID our communities of such evil (Deuteronomy 13:5, 17:2-12 for example.)

As you know, we are commanded to be a "set apart and special" people (the meaning of holy/Kadosh) when YHWH tells us to "be holy for He is holy" (Leviticus 19:2, 20:7, and many other citations). The rules in the Bible for capital punishment are TORAH and we (if we had the authority to live by the governance of Torah) would not have the authority to change YHWH's capital punishments.

So, the answer to the question is this: We are still "under" YHWH's rules of capital punishment, but since we currently live under civil authority, we are obligated to follow the civil authority. Even if we miraculously returned to YHWH's authority, no individual has or will have any authority to carry out any of these capital punishments on their own, as the punishment is to be levied only by the appropriate court, even when under YHWH's authority.

The resurrection of the Messiah did only ONE thing. His blood redeemed us individually for our past sins – and some of those sins may have actually included punishment worthy of death! (His redemption was, in that sense, a fantastic thing!) But once we have received that redemption, we are obligated not to willfully or intentionally sin again (Hebrews 10:26).

The whole issue boils down to that "will" or "intent". If the sin was willfully or intentionally committed, and Torah cites the sin as worthy of death, then we must accept that as our possible fate. Torah amply provides for the difference between an unintentional and an intentional sin. The Messiah's resurrection did not change that.

Could the term "holy' (Kadosh ) refer to being 'clean' and being set apart?

READER QUESTION:

Could the term "holy' (Kadosh ) refer to being 'clean' and being set apart?

OUR RESPONSE:

The basic answer to your question is "yes", but as always, good questions like this are difficult to answer due to the wide meaning of a Hebrew word like "kadosh" and the typically narrow meaning of the word used as here where kadosh is translated as "holy". But kadosh has much more meaning in Hebrew than "holy" does in English because its meaning in Hebrew is defined by the context in which it is used.

For example, in Leviticus 11:45, in English it reads: "For I am Adonai, ... you are to be holy, because I am holy" (CJB). We have only our understanding of the meaning of "holy" as we know it in our time. But from the Hebrew, it actually carries more of a meaning like this: "For I am YHWH, ... you are to exist as unique ones [or separated people], given that I am unique [or separated]."

The Hebrew word kadosh is probably most often used to mean "separate" or "unique", but carries with it the quality of "special", "sacred", or "elevated", and that is the part that earns the translation as "holy" in English.

So Leviticus 11:45 is revealing that just as YHWH is separated from this world and unique, He is not withdrawn from the world He created, similarly, we become kadosh not by separating ourselves from the world, rather, we are to strive to be separated or be sacred from or elevated from the world through our proper living by YHWH's Word.

So you are correct that part of the meaning of kadosh is to be set apart, as being "clean" is part; but clean is more related to being set apart than it is directly to being kadosh. That's likely not a good explanation, so let's look at Leviticus 10:10.

In English, Leviticus 10:10 reads "so that you will distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean" (CJB). Notice that holy and clean are correctly listed as two distinct things, yet clean is actually part of the concept of holy. Here it is from the Hebrew with the Hebrew meanings provided:

"[so you will] make a separation between the special and the ordinary and between the dirty and the clean".

Here, kadosh means separated and special, while dirty (or unclean) comes from the Hebrew "tamei" which means defiled or fouled, and clean is from the Hebrew "tahor" which means "pure" in either a physical, ceremonial, or moral sense.

So while being "clean" is part of being kadosh because clean is separated from dirty, clearly something that is clean is not necessarily kadosh or Leviticus 10:10 would not have needed to list them separately.

We hope this has helped because it is hard to describe as most of us do not have a Biblical Hebrew upbringing to understand the scriptures from a Hebrew context.

Are only the Ten are considered still in vogue?

READER COMMENT:

I have a question: of all the laws that God gave through Moses, people today claim that only the Ten Commandments are still valid - well, actually only nine of them, because the fourth commandment is either relegated to Sunday or else consigned to 'ceremonial laws' which are, according to them, on the scrap heap. Yet these same people will also claim that marriage is honourable and that homosexuality is condemned (neither of which is actually in the Ten, though marriage can be inferred). So why is it that only the Ten are considered still in vogue?

OUR RESPONSE:

All good comments and thoughts, but there is no simple answer. Basically, only the 10 Commandments are "still in vogue" because Christianity sees them as the essence of "moral responsibility" taught by the Messiah. In the Messiah's "Sermon on the Mount" he specifically mentioned the prohibitions against murder and adultery and in Matthew 19:16-19 he specifically cites 5 of the ten and then explains a bit more in Matthew 22:34-40.

Also, Moses carried the two tablets with the 10 written on them, and when YHWH spoke to the people in Exodus 20:2-17, what He said has been equated to the "10 Commandments", mistaken as "the only commandments".

Christianity generally teaches that "only" the 10 commandments were handed down at Mt Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17) thus justifying their dismissal of all the others. But they are not the only commandments. In fact, ALL of YHWH's commands are contained within the ones that have been numbered 1-10 and named "The 10 Commandments."

In what is generally called commandment number 2, Exodus 20:3, "You are to have no other gods before me", the explanation actually goes on and in 20:6 YHWH explains "...but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot." Thus, all YHWH's commandments are summarized right there as "love me and obey my mitzvot."

In fact Judaism does not generally call them "The 10 Commandments"; they are known instead as the "10 Words" or "10 Utterances" acknowledging that ALL YHWH's commands are summarized in them. The "10 Words" in ancient times were read and recited in the synagogues of the day because they were greatly revered - the Words actually spoken to the people directly from YHWH. But many Jews, like Christians, began to think they were the "only" commandments, so the practice of reading and reciting them in synagogues was largely abandoned.

It seems your observation is really about the lip-service people give to YHWH about who He is and what He asks of us. You pointed out that Christianity relegated His command to "keep the Sabbath and honor it" by changing their observance to Sunday and creating a "scrap heap" where they put other laws they don't care for, and embracing man's acceptance of homosexuality. The list could go on and on. Few obey "do not commit adultery" and "do not steal" and "honor your father and mother", etc.

Actually, as YHWH continued to teach His people for 40 years in the exodus, He would often tell the people "you are to be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:45 for example). So there need not be "10 Commandments" for ALL of YHWH's commands are in those two words: "be holy". We are holy when we obey YHWH and live our lives by the commandments He gave. We are not holy when we "pick and choose" which commandments we want to agree with and which we want to put on the scrap heap.

Did you know that "grace" has ALWAYS been around?

A SAD TRUTH:

Christianity has indoctrinated people with the idea that all that "Old Testament" stuff was just for the Jews, and that people are now "under grace."

Nobody stops to think that "grace" has ALWAYS been around.

Grace is the reason Adam and Eve were allowed to remain alive after disobeying YHWH! (And they weren't Jews! There were no Jews until Jacob's son Yehudah/Judah started the Tribe of Judah, where the term "Jew" originated.)

Why were they kicked out? For DISOBEDIENCE to one of His commands!

What makes people today believe they have a right to perpetrate sin like Adam and Eve, and to not only get away with it, but expect to be considered holy enough to enter the Kingdom to Come?

If they ignore YHWH's Torah (Divine Instructions), they don't even know what constitutes holiness!

When you accept the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you automatically become a "Hebrew" (meaning "to cross over" like Avram/Abraham did in Genesis 12) and become a part of "Israel"....

As such, you are OBLIGATED to walk in Torah, just as Yeshua did.

1 John 2: 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. 6 He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked. "(CJB)

How did Yeshua walk? By Torah! He didn't make up new rules. He kept Torah and expected US to follow suit. You can only know the him through the law and the testimony! Revelation reveals this:

Revelation 12: 17 "The dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God's commands AND bear witness to Yeshua." (CJB)

Revelation 14: 12 "This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God's people, those who observe his commands AND exercise Yeshua's faithfulness."  (CJB)

Please note, the above scriptures don't mention the "Ten Commandments". They simply refer to "the Commands" or "the Commandments", depending on which Bible version you use....God warns us in Proverbs 4:2 - "I give you good instruction: Do not forsake my Torah."

Torah obedience is NOT a suggestion; it is commanded! (See Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, Galatians 3:28 and Romans 10:12-13.)

Unfortunately, many are blinded to that fact.

“Be thankful” in spite of everything going on right now….

As hard as it’s been to deal with this awful COVID-19 pandemic, we have to remember to be THANKFUL that it didn’t happen 40 or 50 years ago before personal computers, Internet or cellphones came onto the scene, allowing people to speak to - and even SEE - others all around the world!

A few decades ago, there would have been TRUE isolation, as your ONLY options for socializing would have been to either visit or call someone on a physical land-line.  And, depending on where you lived back then, chances are good that you would have had to deal with telephone “party lines” – sharing access with countless neighbors – waiting your turn to use the phone!  (I remember those days all too well.)

Back then, we had TV, radios and record players, but we didn’t have movie recording capabilities.  And we definitely didn’t have streaming services for movies!  You either watched whatever was presented on the three broadcast channels you had to choose from, or you actually went to a movie theater (which would have been closed during a worldwide pandemic).

Oh yeah, and let’s not forget, there were no “remote controls” to change channels in those days.  You actually had to get up off your duff and walk across the room to turn a knob. 

Oh, how the world has changed over the last several decades!!!

YES, dealing with this pandemic is hard.  But at least there is opportunity for remote classroom teachings; and you CAN chat with, and even SEE distant loved ones via various devices and social media.  Today, you don’t even have to go to the library to do your research; you can simply "Google" everything.

While what we’re undergoing is tough, it’s also a great time to simply be thankful for what we DO have and what we CAN do during these dark days.  Scripture commands us to be thankful in everything and to remember, with reverence and awe, whom we are serving:

Colossians 3: 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.

14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body. And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (CJB)

Hebrews 12:25 See that you don’t reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven. 26 Even then, his voice shook the earth; but now, he has made this promise: “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but heaven too!”

27 And this phrase, “one more time,” makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. 29 For indeed, “Our God is a consuming fire!”  (CJB)

Some words of wisdom for those who are confused….

Some words of wisdom for those who are confused:

Are you confused by all the various teachings across the Internet? Well, don’t give up or become discouraged because that is exactly what the Adversary WANTS!

The simplest recipe to get you out of your slump is to stop the ‘net cruising and grazing, and simply read your Bible, because THAT’S where YHWH’s Truth can be found.

Honestly – you don’t allow tons of chefs into your kitchen to help you prepare your meals, do you? Of course not. Within minutes, your kitchen would be “ground Zero for World War III” with everybody arguing over which spices to use and how much of each spice is appropriate.

Some would have conniption fits over your “poor taste” in pots, pans and mixing bowls; while others would begin to fight and argue about the proper “plating” of the prepared meal.

Still others would freak out over your “cheap wine selection,” and whether red, white or rose’ is more appropriate for this particular meal they are preparing in your “substandard, very low-class, bourgeois kitchen"...

So, if you wouldn’t allow a bunch of chefs into your kitchen, WHY do you allow bunches of pastors and rabbis of various “flavors” and an endless string of “wannabe’s” with no credentials into your HEAD, telling you what the Bible says and how you should conduct your life according to “their” understanding of Scripture?

Yes - we DO need proper guidance from knowledgeable teachers; but how can you tell which one is actually teaching the actual Word of God instead of just mere opinion?

The key lies in whether or not YOU personally have read your Bible from cover to cover – because if you haven’t, you do NOT know what it says, and you do NOT know whom you are worshiping, or what He expects of you...

So, first and foremost, READ your Bible, every word. Don’t skip passages or jump around. (After all, you don’t read a novel that way, do you?)

Read it, and when you’re done, start all over and read it again. And then again. Every time you read your way through, you will learn and grow, and become enlightened with things you’ve "never noticed before."

It’s an AMAZING and REWARDING journey – one that will empower YOU with the personal ability to be able to discern “good” teachings from “bad” AND keep you from ever becoming “confused” again!

What to do when your friends and relatives harass you about “being under the law”….

People who discover the need for Torah inevitably end up with lots of resistance from friends and relatives.

Our natural instinct (once we understand that obedience to Torah is not "works" and that ADONAI has some actual Divine Rules for us to follow), is to become "little bulldozers" who immediately want everyone to know they've been "doing it wrong" - and thus, making instant enemies.

But is that really the best way to handle things? Please check out our website’s article  designed to show you a more gentle, kinder way approaching this issue.

Be aware that the "kinder and gentler way" won't necessarily work, either - but at least you've tried your best while standing your ground and remaining true to your convictions. You cannot FORCE anyone to understand their need for Torah. All you can do is to "be a light" and if they choose to separate themselves from you over it, it's THEIR problem.

YHWH or Moshe–which one are we obeying?

Don't listen to people to try to tell you that we who observe Torah (YHWH's Divine Instructions) are "under the law" or "adhering to The Law of Moses" (or the "Mosaic Law"). Truth is, people who make ignorant comments like that have never understood that, while Moshe WROTE the Torah, he didn't MAKE those laws! Take a look:

Exodus 18:15 Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God's laws and teachings." (CJB)

Deuteronomy 31: 9 Then Moshe wrote down this Torah and gave it to the cohanim, the descendants of Levi who carried the ark with the covenant of ADONAI, and to all the leaders of Isra'el. 10 Moshe gave them these orders: "At the end of every seven years, during the festival of Sukkot in the year of sh'mittah, 11 when all Isra'el have come to appear in the presence of ADONAI at the place he will choose, you are to read this Torah before all Isra'el, so that they can hear it.

12 Assemble the people -the men, the women, the little ones and the foreigners you have in your towns -so that they can hear, learn, fear ADONAI your God and take care to obey all the words of this Torah; 13 and so that their children, who have not known, can hear and learn to fear ADONAI your God, for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess." (CJB)

WOW! Note He is also talking to the "foreigners" (non-Hebrews) and future generations! The above means that children who were babies and toddlers seven years before were now old enough to start hearing and paying attention to the history of their God and all He ever said!

What has happened since those days? Most of today's "believers" certainly don't believe that Torah pertains to them! This misconception began when Catholicism came to pervert the Word; and later Christianity, while restoring Yeshua to His rightful place, insisted that the Torah was a curse and something that was abolished at the cross....

Humans have short memories, and they tend to forget rules and traditions if not constantly reminded. This is why every generation throughout history has waned and waxed in their relationship with YHWH. We're still doing it today; this is why we are now "as in the days of Noah" (Genesis 6:5-8). The only thing we can do now is to "get ourselves right with YHWH" by clinging to His Word and learning to obey His Torah. Those who have "put God in a box" and come up with their own rules and ideas and religions/religiosity will be considered "lukewarm" upon Y'shua's return (Revelation 3:16).

Here are a couple more passages that reveal that YHWH, not Moshe, made the Rules:

Numbers 9:23 At Adonai’s order, they camped; and at Adonai’s order, they traveled — they did what Adonai had charged them to do through Moshe. (CJB)

Deuteronomy 34:10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el! (CJB)

SINCE THAT TIME, YHWH has sent one even greater than Moshe: His Divine Messiah, Yeshua, to redeem whoever would, through faith, accept YHWH as their ELOHIM and believe that Yeshua (His “arm” – Isaiah 53:1- and “The Word” – John 1:1:14, His own SON!) martyred himself on our behalf…. (SeeJohn 5:37; 6:44, 57; 8:16, 18; 12:49; 20:21; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:14.)

Watch out for self-proclaimed "prophets"

Ever noticed how many self-proclaimed "prophets" there are today? Ever kept a record of how many of their "prophecies" actually came true? Did you know that, in biblical times, if a prophet ever spoke a single word for YHWH that didn't come true - to the letter - all his writings were destroyed and the prophet was killed?

Deuteronomy 18: 20 “‘But if a prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name which I didn’t order him to say, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet must die.’ 21 You may be wondering, ‘How are we to know if a word has not been spoken by Adonai?’

22 When a prophet speaks in the name of Adonai, and the prediction does not come true — that is, the word is not fulfilled — then Adonai did not speak that word. The prophet who said it spoke presumptuously; you have nothing to fear from him. (CJB)

This is why we must be VERY discerning. This is why it is imperative to know exactly WHOM to follow or believe! The Adversary is very cunning. He's always near, stalking you more than you could ever imagine, just waiting for a chance to lead you astray ... and he uses whomever he can to help him.

Be aware. Be on guard. KNOW Scripture inside-out, as it contains everything you need to know to remain set apart....

“Woe to you Torah experts … for you have taken away the key of knowledge!”

Let's do a quick examination of this short passage:

Luke 11:52 "Woe to you Torah experts! For you have taken away the key of knowledge! Not only did you yourselves not go in, you also have stopped those who were trying to enter!” (CJB)

While it’s true that Yeshua was addressing the Pharisees of his time, it resounds into our world today – a world that, as in the days of Noah, is largely devoid of love and respect for God and His Torah; where morality is a thing of the past, and people no longer have respect for anyone or anything, including themselves … a world where pursuit of intellect, education, knowledge and success through hard work are ridiculed; and many feel “entitled” to endless handouts from the government….

(1) "Woe to you Torah experts!"

So, who are today’s "Torah experts?” During the early days of the “Messianic Movement,” those teachers consisted of pastors and rabbis – educated people with seminary or yeshiva training. (For instance, Conservative Baptist minister, Moishe Rosen, born into a Reform Jewish family, created “Jews for Jesus” in 1973, and ultimately led Hebrew Christian congregations for an organization now known as Chosen People Ministries.)

That all changed with the advent of the Internet and “social media” where people enjoyed a plethora of Bible teachers of various “flavors” - each of whom featured their own interpretations of the innumerable passages, which they all, of course, touted as “the proper interpretation of God’s Truth.”

Naturally, everyone began to share/recommend their favorite teacher(s) and exchange the information they had gleaned from each one. The problem is, when knowledge is shared by word-of-mouth, the original teachings tend to become skewed and generally “watered down.”

Regardless, instead of digging into Scripture, it was easier for those seeking knowledge about Torah, to read some articles or watch some videos on somebody’s “ministry” page, which they could then share and discuss … and also to fight and argue about - because they were ALL rapidly becoming “experts”….

After all, while doing their “research” they had picked up a few Hebrew terms here and there (with many constantly trying to impress others via their insertion of these terms into their regular conversation (i.e., “I wish you a tov week with lots of shalom, chaverim!”).

Proverbs 19:2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for want of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge,I will also reject you as cohen for me. Because you forgot the Torah of your God, I will also forget your children. (CJB)

Still others began to impress their online friends with some info from the Talmud (which they had gleaned from some of their Hebrew Roots teachers or their more “advanced” friends); and hey, that Kaballah and Gematria stuff was too cool to pass up – especially for those who liked intrigue and conspiracy theories; it was like a brand-new twist on fortune telling. Talk about being able to IMPRESS!

Anyway, it’s no wonder that MOST of today’s "Torah experts” are mainly lay-persons - "wannabe's"- with no real knowledge, education, or formal training. They have never taken one yeshiva or seminary class, and don't have any real knowledge of Scripture, nor training in how to properly deal with people. Many reluctantly admit (when confronted) that they have never even read the Bible all the way through – and, yet, some of them will actually argue that it does NOT matter!

Matthew 24:10 At that time many will be trapped into betraying and hating each other, 11 many false prophets will appear and fool many people; 12 and many people's love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah. 13 But whoever holds out till the end will be delivered. (CJB)

(2) "For you have taken away the key of knowledge!"

So, how did they take away the "key of knowledge?" Well, the "key" has always been Torah (the first five Books of the Bible containing all of ADONAI's Divine Instructions - which are non-negotiable.

Since most don’t have a clue as to HOW to teach, they never lead people in the pursuit of actual Bible STUDY. Instead, they concentrate all their efforts on telling people how badly they were “deceived in the pagan churches” (they LOVE to throw around the word “pagan”.) They relentlessly hammer the need for Torah observance – with each “teacher” teaching THEIR respective idea of Torah and “how to” keep it.

(Never mind that they are talking to myriad followers who haven’t got the slightest clue what Torah actually is, because they never even READ, let alone, STUDIED it to discover how and why it is applicable to ALL who accept YHWH as their God! These “teachers” with their verbal “sledge-hammers” never seem to realize they are trying to reach people who have been taught throughout their life that, “we Christians are under grace; the law was abolished at the cross, and besides, it only pertained to the Jews.” See Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, Galatians 3:28 and Romans 10:12-13.)

It’s truly a case of “the blind leading the blind!”

In the meantime, these illustrious “teachers” constantly sit behind their keyboards to bash Christianity (a place where most of us FOUND “Jesus” in the first place!) and endlessly fight with Christians (and even those who are already Torah observant), because – according to the self-proclaimed “experts” - nobody but they themselves are “doing it right.”

So, the “key of knowledge” was lost somewhere in the over-abundance of misinformation promulgated by the self-centered and arrogant seeking glory for themselves….

James 4:  1. From where is it, that there are among you arguments and conflicts? Is it not from the lusts which war in your members?  2. You covet but do not possess; and you kill and envy, and effect nothing: and you fight and make attacks; and you do not have, because you do not ask.  3. You ask, and do not receive because you ask wickedly, that you may feed your lusts.  4. You adulterers, don’t you know that the love of the world is hatred towards Elohim? He therefore who chooses to be a lover of this world is the enemy of Elohim.  (AENT)

(3) "Not only did you yourselves not go in, you also have stopped those who were trying to enter!”

Yes, these mostly self-proclaimed Torah teachers will often use terms such as, “Do your oown research!” or “Check it out for yourself!” But, the reality is, MOST WON’T bother, because they aren’t really interested in reading or “studying.” (Remember, the pursuit of intellect and knowledge – although easier to obtain today than ever before! - has waned considerably over the last 50 years or so. People desire “instant gratification.”)

Peruse social media and you can see for yourself that most seem to prefer “mind-numbing” things that don’t require any deep thought at all … cool-sounding memes, short blurbs found on someone’s Facebook wall, or someone droning on in a “YouTube” video (many of which, today, are made by people who can’t even speak proper English, much less, form cohesive thoughts as they meander their way through some “great findings” they wish to share with the entire world)….

As for their “research?” Well, judging by the things some of the folks on the social media circuit espouse, their “research” consisted of “browsing the ‘net’ and landing on some ear-tickling article, video or website that happened to agree with their respective ideology or taught them something “cool” they had never heard before. They didn’t actually READ the Bible or a book by some learned scholar. But they will argue that they “DID their research”, and will readily tell YOU to do YOURS, if you don’t agree with the things they say!

Titus 1:15. For to the pure, everything is pure; but to them who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but their understanding is defiled, and their conscience.  16 And they profess that they know Elohim, but in their works they deny him; and they are odious and disobedient and to every good work reprobates. (AENT)

Matthew 15: 8. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is very far from me.” 9. And they revere me in vain, while they teach the doctrines of the commandments of the sons of men. (See Isaiah 29:13) (AENT)

Hopefully, after reading this article, you can understand how and why these “teachers” … these modern “pharisees” .... have stopped others from receiving the true Torah by taking away the “key” – and ironically, fulfilling the words of Luke 11:52…

Just a reminder … You weren’t “led astray!”

Just a reminder … You weren’t “led astray!” If you need to blame someone for not knowing what the Bible says, look in the mirror:

I truly wish the Hebrew Roots adherents and those who end up “leaving Jesus” to hang with mean-spirited, Jesus-bashing Jewish counter-missionaries, would quit insisting that they came out their churches “because they were LIED to.” Except in some cases, it is simply not true that every pastor on the planet is a lying ogre who purposely “kept you from knowing about Torah!”

If you were honest with yourself, it's more like that it was YOU who kept yourself from knowing about Torah, because you “went to church” on Sundays to warm the pews, open the Bible to whatever passage the pastor told you to, and then you went home. For many (if not most) “church” is and was just a social event. They didn’t bother to actually READ and STUDY the Bible, where they could and would have discovered the need for Torah themselves.

Every Bible contains the Torah - those first five Books of Moses that contain all the "thus saith the Lord" verses, which perfectly outline that ALL who accept the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are to do exactly as HIS people do....

So, if they had taken the time to read the Bible from the beginning, they could have started bugging their pastors about those "thus saith the Lord" verses and asking intelligent questions, such as, "since we're all one in Christ, aren't we all accountable for obeying some of those original commands that seem to pertain to everybody?" Or, "Since the Seventh Day Sabbath is a SIGN between God and his people, shouldn't we be keeping it, too? After all, we're His people, too, right?" (See Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:11-12.)

Things might have turned out differently, if they had asked those questions of their pastors ... those men and women who had learned the “New Testament-only, grace-only” stuff in their seminaries where they typically had to sign a document before graduation that commanded them to never veer from the dogma of their respective denominations…. At least THAT could have opened a dialogue that caused YOU to learn and grow, and perhaps influence others.

But no – it seems many prefer to sit on their haunches now, to lament about the past and place all the blame their former pastors … people who simply didn’t KNOW that God’s people are to be Torah observant. How can you blame someone for not teaching something they don’t know? Furthermore, if coming into Torah suddenly made you THAT smart and "all-knowing," then you surely know that it's not nice to gossip and bad-mouth those who helped you grow during your spiritual "formative" years...

While there certainly ARE some weirdos and crooked “mega-pastors” and other hooligans in Christianity (what man-made religion DOESN’T have them?) whose only goal is to use the Word of God as a way to line their pockets, most pastors are sincere in their faith – a faith that led most of us “to Christ” at some point. THAT is what we need to concentrate on. NOT on what the pastors DIDN’T do.

We need to remember that “not knowing” something doesn't make pastors "bad" people. It just makes them "lost" people..

Here is the real crux of my little rant: It is lashon hara to go around insisting you were lied to in church and that your pastor deliberately led you astray! Honestly, if you HAVE to blame someone, blame yourself, chalk it up as "lesson learned," and move on.

Satan is like a weed, cropping up when least expected!

As pretty and as useful as dandelions are, they are still weeds. They are resilient and can crop up anywhere.

Reminds me satan, in a way. No matter how many ways he’s thwarted, or rebuffed or rebuked – he ALWAYS finds a way to return to taunt you; forcing his way into those seemingly "hard-to-reach" places of your soul, and various areas of your life.

One "rightly-timed, ear-tickling word" out of him and many people will immediately succumb to his promises and blindly follow – all the while telling themselves “This is a word from God!”....

Ephesians 6:12. For our conflict is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and with those in authority, and with the possessors of this dark world, and with the evil spirits that are under heaven. (AENT)

1 Timothy 4: 1. But the Spirit says explicitly that, in the latter times, some will depart from the faith, and will go after deceptive spirits and after the doctrine of demons. 2. These will seduce by a false appearance, and will speak a lie and will be seared in their conscience; (AENT)

In Matthew 4:3-11 we see that Yeshua himself was “tempted” by the Adversary. What did he do? He simply quoted from the Torah and Psalms!

Be like Yeshua – TEST via the Torah instructions everything your mind believes to be “from God”….

Why SHOULD God bless America?

We keep hearing the mantra, “God bless America,” but no one ever asks: WHY should He?

Why should He bless a country that kicked Him out of schools and government buildings back in the early Sixties because some atheist didn’t appreciate prayers in school?

Why should He bless a country that embraced the ideals of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” and “if you’re not with the one you love, love the one you’re with” – right after the “birth control pill” hit the market and permitted promiscuity and relieved women of the fear of unwanted pregnancies?

Why should He bless a country that elected a man like Bill Clinton who literally attempted to redefine the words “sex” and “is” after he was “outed” by the intern he had been using to provide “certain favors” under his desk – thus, making a mockery of the Office of the Presidency … and later LYING about it all on national TV?

Why should He bless a country that reelected this “impeached” liar and adulterer – whose fiscal mismanagement ultimately caused the housing collapse crisis of 2008?

Why should He bless a country that made Barack Obama - a rabid liberal, junior Senator, and racist, who constantly fanned the flames of prejudice, and was solely responsible for the legalization of “gay marriage” (something YHWH calls “an abomination”) and the “normalization” of a “woman’s right” to murder her unborn baby?

Why should God BLESS a nation that knocks itself out to elect people into office, whose first item on their agenda is to remove “gender specific language” in Congress? (Scripture is clear that YHWH made MALE and FEMALE and nothing in between!) Why should He bless a country that caters to every “fringe element” including those pushing the sick notion of “gender fluidity”; while allowing the "gender confused” to dictate that all public restrooms should be made “gender neutral”?

Why should He bless a country that has turned racism into an art form – and elected someone who made the “prudent move” of choosing a Black female running mate (not because she’s necessarily qualified, but to ensure his election to the highest office in the United States), and who just HAD to continue “fanning the flames of prejudice” by using the January 2021 “insurrection” at the Capitol Building (by raving fringe LUNATICS) as an excuse to remind the American public that White people in this country are supposedly dirt bags who do their best to suppress Blacks?

Why should God BLESS a nation that keeps turning a deaf ear and blind eye toward candidates who are totally unqualified for the office of President, who were known philanderers and adulterers, who have lived their entire life mired “in the world?”

Instead of condemning behaviors like that and INSISTING on true GODLY people leading our country, many (including Christians, Jews, Messianic and Hebrew Roots types) insisted instead, on showing “mercy to these candidates” because they were supposedly (and suddenly) “Christians” now.

(I can’t tell you how often I’ve had that shoved down my throat when Trump got elected – even after he was caught on tape poking fun at women and talking about grabbing them by the p----!   And by the way, you can continue to twist the truth however you wish, but the bottom line is: Trump INCITED the incident on Capitol Hill. What kind of a supposedly“god-fearing” leader would do such a thing?  And now he’s being so childish he’s publicly stated that he won’t be attending the inauguration of Biden.)

Why should God BLESS a country over-flowing with hypocritical Scripture twisters who are ready, willing and able to “forgive” whoremongering adulterers, liars, bullies and cheaters; while at the same time, chastising and harassing those who wish to follow YHWH’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness?

Why should He bless a country that has never followed YHWH’s Divine Instructions on holy living (Torah)? A country that has refused to even keep the commanded Seventh Day Sabbath holy - the SIGN between YHWH and His people! (Genesis 2:1; Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:11-12)  A country where most idolize “unclean meats” and condone and endlessly forgive DELIBERATE sin. A country that INSISTS everything YHWH deemed to be BAD, is now GOOD; and everything “good” is now “bad” - because we supposedly “have a right” to reject the Divine Instructions for moral, holy living….

People, I fear for America. We haven't been a "godly" nation for decades, and that is why this “great empire” has been steadily crumbling, and will CONTINUE to do so.

Why? Please re-read what I’ve written above, and ask yourself WHY SHOULD God “bless America?” Why WOULD He hear our prayers – when Scripture clearly tells us that the prayers of those who ignore Torah, are considered to be an ABOMINATION! (Proverbs 28:9)

(If you don’t know what “godly” or “holy” means, then please turn off your televisions, computers and all other distractions for a few months, and read your way systematically through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It will be the most important thing you’ve ever done in your life….)

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who change darkness into light and light into darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter! 21 Woe to those seeing themselves as wise, esteeming themselves as clever.

22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, men whose power goes to mixing strong drinks, 23 who acquit the guilty for bribes but deny justice to the righteous! 24 Therefore, as fire licks up the stubble, and the chaff is consumed in the flame; so their root will rot, and their flowers scatter like dust; because they have rejected the Torah of Adonai-Tzva’ot, they have despised the word of the Holy One of Isra’el. (CJB).

1 John 2: 15. Love not the world nor anything in it; for whoever loves the world has not the love of the Father in him. 16. For all that is in the world is the lust of the body and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the world, which are not from the Father but from the world[*] itself. 17. And the world is passing away, (both) it and the lust thereof; but he that does the pleasure of Elohim abides for ever. (AENT).

*NOTE: “The world” refers to pagan, Torahless, humanistic, evolutionary, relativistic, materialistic, sensual, unrighteous lifestyles that haSatan used to seduce mankind away from YHWH. This certainly does not refer to the earth which YHWH made according to His good pleasure.

Proverbs 28:9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination. (CJB).

So let me ask again: Why should God bless America?

Have you ever really READ 2 Thessalonians 2? It’s mind-blowing!

Check out Stern's interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2 in the Complete Jewish Bible! Not only can we see the constant reminder about the importance of obedience to Torah; but we are also assured that those who ignore Torah and urge separation FROM Torah, WILL ultimately be exposed and destroyed! Read every word, for there is MUCH to learn in this chapter:

2 Thessalonians 2: 1 But in connection with the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and our gathering together to meet him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily shaken in your thinking or anxious because of a spirit or a spoken message or a letter supposedly from us claiming that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.

For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom. 4 He will oppose himself to everything that people call a god or make an object of worship; he will put himself above them all, so that he will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God.[a]

5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, so that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For already this separating from Torah is at work secretly, but it will be secretly only until he who is restraining is out of the way. 8 Then the one who embodies separation from Torah will be revealed, the one whom the Lord Yeshua will slay with the breath of his mouth[b] and destroy by the glory of his coming.

9 When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned.

13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter. 16 And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed. (CJB)

Talking back to the "intellects" who are poking fun at those of us who "fear" exposure to COVID-19!

 WHY IT IS WRONG TO PASS AROUND MEMES LIKE THIS:

 

This meme is being passed around on Facebook as “truth” (including by some anti-mask, anti-social distancing Hebrew Roots teachers who have been pushing the falsehood that “COVID and everything about it is a hoax”; that “the government is trying to control us” by supposedly “forcing” us to wear masks; and that if you “fear the virus” then you don’t “trust God”).

What lunacy!

YES, we should “trust God” in all things; but WE also have a responsibility to “fear” (respect) something that can KILL us - doing everything in our power to keep that particular thing FROM killing us! Instead, many arrogant, self-centered people are going ballistic because they believe their precious “rights” are being violated, and poking fun at those who DO “fear” exposure to a deadly virus.

Truth is, not only are those types NOT afraid of COVID-19; but they obviously don’t “fear” YHWH enough to OBEY Him and do things HIS way, so that all will go well with them (as Torah teaches) – even DURING a pandemic!

Torah tells us that people with diseases and even “discharges” had to live “outside the camp” until they were healed! (See Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2.) Menstruating women had to live “outside the camp” because they had no real way of “keeping clean” during that time and could potentially spread disease. Did they do that because they “didn’t trust God?”

And yet, these rebellious, know-it-all “intellects” (including some Messianic Rabbis) want to tell us that we, those of us who “fear” (RESPECT) this deadly disease, don’t trust God?

Isn’t it kind of pathetic that NOTHING has caused the rebellious types to turn to YHWH/Yeshua/Torah – not even the CONTINUING pandemic of AIDS/HIV (which began BECAUSE of something YHWH calls “an abomination”) which He was using as a tool to warn us about the sin of misusing our ELOHIM-created bodies, which are made in His Image! (See Genesis 1:27; Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 22:14-15; and 1 Thessalonians 4:3.)

Men seemingly never learn, and the Bible says there will come a point where humanity WILL see His wrath! I personally believe the COVID-19 pandemic is one of those dire warnings. Anyone with a God-given brain SHOULD know to have a healthy respect (fear) of someone or something that could KILL you! That does NOT mean you don’t “trust God!”

Anyway, the “hyper-religious” types who create memes like this (and those who post and forward them) apparently have not yet realized that ADONAI likely sent this plague to teach an arrogant, decadent, rebellious, irresponsible, self-centered and downright reprehensible humanity that HE is in charge and He’s tired of our silly nonsense!

(See all of Deuteronomy 28; Isaiah 26:21; Nahum 1:2-6; Romans 1:18, 1:28, 2:5 and 13:4; Ezekiel 25:17; Revelation 19:11-21; Hebrews 10:26-31; Matthew 7:13-14. See also the seal and bowl judgments of Revelation!)

So, YES, “trust YHWH” – but use some common sense! If you “test” Him by purposely ignoring a dangerous virus that He ALLOWED into this world, then it’s highly likely that, at some point, YOU WILL become “collateral damage” … as ignoring COVID and YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES concerning this deadly virus, is just as ridiculous as a life spent abusing your body via sexual promiscuity, cigarette smoking, drugs, alcohol and all the “wrong” foods; and then, when you suddenly end up with lung, stomach, liver and pancreatic cancer and 15 strains of incurable STD’s, you expect Him to “just heal” you….

Just for kicks, let’s examine the passage mentioned on the meme:

2 Timothy 1: 7. For Elohim has not given us a spirit of fear,[*] but of power and of love and of instruction. (AENT)

[*] A spirit of fear here refers to the fear of man, fearing things in every day life, or anything other than Fearing YHWH.

Let’s dig deeper for a clearer picture:

1 Timothy 6: 3. But if there be anyone, who teaches a different doctrine and does not agree to the foundational Words of our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach and to the doctrine of the Fear of Elohim,[*] 4. he is one that exalts himself while he knows nothing; and he languishes in the search and inquiry about words from which come envy and contention and railing and evil suspicions 5. and the constant arguing of men whose minds are corrupt and devoid of the truth, and who suppose that gain is without Elohim. But from these stand away. 6. But great is our gain which is the Fear of Elohim, with the use of our competence. (AENT)

[*] Isaiah 11:2-3 “And the Spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Yirah (Fear) of YHWH; And shall make him of quick understanding in the Yirah (Fear) of YHWH:” A picture of the Menorah is seen here with its seven branches. The center is the Spirit of YHWH while the six other attributes are joined into the center pillar. These seven Spirits also signify perfection or completeness.

The Fear of YHWH Elohim is a “Spirit” of YHWH; it is a vital spiritual quality for Life in Mashiyach. The Fear of YHWH is a personal guide; Hebrew yirah means fear, as in fear/awesome/terrifying contrary to Christian teaching that the Fear of YHWH is not really “fear” but love and respect. Isaiah 29:13 reveals how “the Fear of YHWH is taught by the commandment of men”; in other words, man’s religious theology and tradition has made void the Fear of YHWH.

Many Christians prefer the term “reverence” over “fear”; Christians also use a title of “Reverend” for their clergymen and ministers; therefore, the term “Fear of YHWH” was first negated and then given a theological/semantic twist to apply to their own leadership, as in the case of “reverend.”

The Fear of YHWH is noted throughout Scripture; B’resheet/Genesis 20:11; 42:18; Shemot/Exodus 9:30; 18:21; Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17; D’varim/Deuteronomy 10:12 and in more than a hundred places. Without the Spirit of the Fear of YHWH, people will fear man, materialism, relativism and all form of idols, including their religious leaders.

….And there you have it, folks! If you truly feel that you can ignore the prudent behavior to wear a mask and do some social-distancing and generally exercise YOUR personal responsibilities during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, then you not only don’t have a “fear of YHWH,” but you have no common sense, either. That’s just the bottom line.

How do we know Paul was a true Apostle?

How do we know Paul was a true Apostle?  Well, he called himself one in many verses, for example:

1 Timothy 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope" (ASV)

1 Corinthians 9:2 "If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord" (ESV)

Romans 1:1 "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother," (ASV)

There are many other passages where Paul refers to himself as an Apostle, but the main reason we can know he truly was one, is because Scripture says he was called and commissioned by יהוה (YHWH) Himself!  

Acts 9:1-22, specifically verse 15, says: "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel'." (ESV).

Let’s take a look at this entire passage in the Aramaic:

Acts 9: 1. Now Shaul was yet full of intimidation and the fury of murder towards the disciples of our Master. 2. And he asked for letters from the chief priests to give to Darmsuq to the assemblies that if he should find men or women who follow in this path he might arrest (them and) bring them to Urishlim. 3. And as he traveled and approached Darmsuq, suddenly a light from heaven shone upon him.

4. And he was thrown upon the ground, and he heard a voice that said to him, Shaul! Shaul! Why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick the stakes. 5. And he answered and said, “Who are you my Master?” And our Master said, I am Y’shua the Nasraya, He whom you persecute! 6. But rise up (and) enter into the city, and there will be spoken to you concerning what you should do.

7. Now the men who were traveling with him on the road were amazed because they heard only a sound, but a man was not visible to them. 8. Shaul got up from the ground and he was not able to see anything though his eyes were open. They brought him by his hands to Darmsuq. 9. And he was not able to see (for) three days. And he did not eat and he did not drink.

10. Now there was a certain disciple in Darmsuq whose name was Khanan-Yah. And Master YHWH said to him in a vision, Khanan-Yah! And he said, “Behold, (it is) I [1] my Master.” 11. And our Master (Y’shua) said to him, Arise. Go to the street that is called Straight and inquire at the house of Yehuda for Shaul who is from the city of Tarsus. For behold while he was praying 12. he saw a man in a vision whose name (was) Khanan-Yah [2] who entered and placed a hand upon him so that his eyes might be opened.

13. And Khanan-Yah said, “My Master (Y’shua), I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has inflicted on your Set Apart ones in Urishlim. 14. And behold even here he has authority from the high priests to arrest all those who call (upon) your Name!” 15. Then Master YHWH [3] said to him, Arise! Go because he (is) a vessel to me, chosen to carry my Name among the Gentiles and among kings and among the sons of Israel. 16. For I will reveal to him how much he will suffer because of my Name. [4] (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Notice how Khanan-Yah is reproved not by Y’shua, but by YHWH Himself, as indicated by the Aramaic word MarYah. This represents a profound dichotomy because Khanan-Yah himself may not even be aware that the Father is responding to him. Khanan-Yah’s point is that those who proclaim YHWH’s Mashiyach are being persecuted because they “call upon your Name.” But YHWH points out that it is His Name, in Mashiyach that is being rejected, so when all is said and done, Shaul is preaching YHWH’s Torah (instructions) to the Gentiles.

[2] Aramaic here presents a critical distinction lacking in Greek, once again due to the bifurcation of MarYah (YHWH) and Maran/Mari (Y’shua). In verse 5 of Acts 9, Y’shua gives a command that is questioned. This act then prompts the speaker to switch from Y’shua to YHWH; therefore, it is YHWH’s name that Paul will suffer for!

It is also important to note that while Y’shua was on earth, any teaching about Y’shua being YHWH refers to the divine nature within Him. Y’shua was both conceived through the Ruach haKodesh and He breathed the Set-Apart Ruach into His disciples. Here, the resurrected Y’shua speaks to Paul in the vision. Y’shua’s human nefesh reanimated with his Ruach in a spiritual resurrection body, as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.

[3] Ha ana is the Aramaic equivalent of hineni, the famous Hebrew phrase uttered by Awraham when called by YHWH, “behold it is I” or “here am I”. Awraham responds to YHWH during a time of testing, similarly Khanan-Yah is being tested when asked to give aid to someone who could imprison him or even kill him for his faith. Being asked to go to the street called “Straight” is a major Hebraic idiom, as we are to walk the straight street when we live according to YHWH’s Torah.

[4] The name “Khanan-Yah” means “Yah is merciful.” The play on his name demonstrates the mercy about to be shown to Shaul through the restoration of his eyesight. This is only apparent in Aramaic.

Folks, “the law” is NOT a “curse”….

How sad it is to see people making comments about how the "law is a curse."   My goodness, the "law" (which actually refers to TORAH) CANNOT be a  curse!  YHWH's Commands have never been a curse!  It's blasphemy to even  suggest that! The bottom line is, those who are able to make ignorant  comments like that that are completely Bible illiterate....

So, let's see why they are in error:

As  you all know, even Peter said that Paul would be hard to understand (2  Peter 3:15-16). However, the answer to this "under a curse" situation is  really very simple.

First,  look who Paul is writing to. The  congregations in Galatia, Galatians  1:2. Why is he writing to them?  Because they have already fallen away  from faith in the Messiah and had  been confused and challenged by men  who do not believe in the Messiah  (1:6-7). What does Paul say about  these teachers?

He says they "are men who agitated you and desired  to pervert the Good News of Mashiyach" (1:7),  and that these men  "preach outside from what was preached to you, let  them be cursed. ...  Whichever man preaches to you outside of what you  have received, let him  be accursed" (1:8-9).

Now, read Galatians 3 with this in mind, but first, understand that Torah says: "A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice"  (Deuteronomy 27:26).

In  Galatians 3, Paul is teaching (again) that righteousness does not come  through "works", rather, that righteousness is through faith, and  faith  is demonstrated by works (Galatians 3:2-6). Then, referring to  Deuteronomy 27:26, Paul says in 3:10 "For  those  who are servants of Torah are still under a curse, for it is  written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not act on all that is written in  this book  of Torah.’”

Paul goes on through the rest of  Galatians 3 to  explain that he's talking about those very men whom he  mentioned back  in Galatians 1:7; that those men are cursed because they  teach Torah,  but they do not live by Torah!

Read the way Paul puts it in Romans 2: "13.   For not the hearers of Torah are righteous before Elohim; but the  doers  of Torah are being made righteous. 14. For if Gentiles who have  not  Torah will, by their nature, do the things of Torah; they, while  without  Torah, become a Torah to themselves.

15. Additionally,  they show the  work of Torah as it is inscribed on their hearts; and  their conscience  bears testimony to them, their own reflections  rebuking or vindicating  one another." (Romans 2:13-15)

But about the Torah-teachers he says:

"17.   But if you who are called a Jew, and rely yourself on Torah and glory   in Elohim, 18. (And further that you think) that you know His good   pleasure and discern obligations because you are instructed in Torah;   19. And (that Elohim) has confidence in yourself, that you are a guide   to the blind, and a light to them who are in darkness,

20. And  an  instructor of those lacking knowledge, and a preceptor to the young;  and  you have the appearance of knowledge and of verity in Torah (then  what  do you all say to the following):

21.  You therefore, who  teach others, teach you not yourself? And you who  teach that men must  not steal, do you steal? 22. And you who say, “Men  must not commit  adultery,” do you commit adultery? And you who condemn  idols, do you  plunder the sanctuary? 23. And you who glory in Torah,  don’t you, by  acting contrary to Torah, insult Elohim himself? (Romans 2:17-23)

So, there you have it. When  Paul says in Galatians 3:10 that those who are servants of Torah  are  still under a curse  [that is, they demand serving Torah, but they  are  not living by Torah], it is because they, themselves, don't live by  Torah as true servants for YHWH.

(Refer back to Deuteronomy 27:26, which says:  26  "'A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by   putting them into practice.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!')

In other words, we come under the curse when we sin and refuse to turn to YHWH!

There is SO much more that could be added to this, but the  bottom line is:  Torah is NOT a "curse." 

Torah shows us what sin is  and sets a standard for Perfection. Torah points us to Redemption,  Salvation and Deliverance and a time of reckoning when those who are  dead will awake to everlasting life or everlasting contempt (Daniel  12:1-10).

As Paul wrote:

Romans 3: 31 "Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? Not at all! Rather, we ESTABLISH the Torah."