Violence seems to be in vogue again…

IT’S AN ELECTION YEAR, AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE PROTESTS AND PROTESTERS RESORTING TO VIOLENCE. For many years now, there has been absolutely NO respect for laws or law enforcement anymore. People are becoming ever-more violent, and everyone seems to do “what is right in their eyes.” (See Judges 21:25, Proverbs 21:2.)

Many applaud violence and stupidity, yet either become more violent, or whine like babies when the police are called to intervene (and often they and the liberal media will blame the police if anyone ends up hurt or dead)…

Proverbs 6: 16 There are six things ADONAI hates, seven which he detests: 17 a haughty look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet swift in running to do evil, 19 a false witness who lies with every breath, and him who sows strife among brothers. (CJB)

I would like to know WHY people will gather in the streets and on college campuses to protest everything EXCEPT “bad behavior!”

They NEVER march to carry signs that suggest GOOD behavior … signs that say something like: “Crime doesn't pay; it’s your own fault if you end up hurt or killed while rioting!" or "Don't become a thug; make something decent of yourself!" or "Being a good, godly, upstanding citizen is more rewarding than punching a cop who has been called in to keep YOU from committing more violence!"…

Our country's values are absolutely upside-down today, and that is just plain sad! The Bible warned us that this would happen:

2 Timothy 3: Moreover, understand this: in the acharit-hayamim (latter days, end of days) will come trying times. 2 People will be self-loving, money-loving, proud, arrogant, insulting, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, uncontrolled, brutal, hateful of good, 4 traitorous, headstrong, swollen with conceit, loving pleasure rather than God, 5 as they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power. Stay away from these people! (CJB)

Romans 1:28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. (CJB)

Most of the world is writhing in carnality. Consequently, things are only going to get worse...and then we will be "as in the days of Noah":

Matthew 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Genesis 6:9 Here is the history of Noach. In his generation, Noach was a man righteous and wholehearted; Noach walked with God. 10 Noach fathered three sons, Shem, Ham and Yefet. 11 The earth was corrupt before God, the earth was filled with violence. 12 God saw the earth, and, yes, it was corrupt; for all living beings had corrupted their ways on the earth. 13 God said to Noach, "The end of all living beings has come before me, for because of them the earth is filled with violence. I will destroy them along with the earth. (CJB)

Most are NOT traveling that narrow gate that leads to life – and their reward awaits them! 

Romans 1:28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. (CJB)

Proverbs 21:4 Haughty looks, a proud heart -what the wicked plow is sin. (CJB)

Isaiah 50: But all of you who are lighting fires and arming yourselves with firebrands:
go, walk in the flame of your own fire, among the firebrands you lit! From my hands this [fate] awaits you: you will lie down in torment. (CJB)

Romans 1:28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. (CJB)

Proverbs 21:4 Haughty looks, a proud heart -what the wicked plow is sin. (CJB)

Isaiah 50: But all of you who are lighting fires and arming yourselves with firebrands:
go, walk in the flame of your own fire, among the firebrands you lit! From my hands this [fate] awaits you: you will lie down in torment.

Let’s face it: Without the Holy Spirit within, we cannot find God or the shalom that only HE can bring. It seems most don’t want to follow rules - and they certainly not YHWH's Divine Instructions in Righteousness!  Everybody wants to do what's right in their own eyes.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE READING THIS, REMEMBER: The remnant that is truly seeking Him and being humble enough to listen to HIS Voice instead of following their own limited, human mindset, is VERY small. Which road will YOU follow?

Matthew 7:13 "Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; 14 but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 "Beware of the false prophets! They come to you wearing sheep's clothing, but underneath they are hungry wolves! 16 You will recognize them by their fruit.... (CJB)

John 4:23. But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, indeed.  For the Father, He seeks worshippers as these.  24. For Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship, they must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (AENT)

“The Jews” killed Jesus?

YOU’VE ALL HEARD IT: THE JEWS KILLED JESUS …

Reponse: Er … No!

While "the Jews" certainly initiated Yeshua's demise on that fateful day, WHO was it that tripped him, spat upon him, flogged him, ripped out his beard, put a crown of thorns upon his head and mocked him, and nailed him to the cross? Not to mention, there was a "mixed crowd" (not just Jews) cheering on his execution. (See Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:62-68; Matthew 27:30; and Luke 22:64.)

BUT LET’S JUST GET REAL AND SKIP TO THE BOTTOM LINE: We’re ALL to blame! Our SINS put Yeshua on that cross! Truth be told, if he hadn't been willing to martyr himself on our behalf, we would still be forced to kill innocent animals to atone for our sins.

Instead of sitting around, engaging in finger-pointing exercises, and espousing personal opinions, let's take a minute or two to allow the BIBLE to speak:

First, let’s take a look at a passage that helps to fan the flames of anti-Semitism (just like many of Paul’s writings, which are constantly taken out of context).

Thessalonians 2: 14 For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God’s congregations in Y’hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua — you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who 15 both killed the Lord Yeshua and the prophets, and chased us out too. They are displeasing God and opposing all mankind 16 by trying to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be delivered. Their object seems to be always to make their sins as bad as possible! But God’s fury will catch up with them in the end. (CJB)

Can you see why people would point their fingers at "the Jews?" 

The astute, however, will read "the rest of the story" in order to formulate an INFORMED opinion; and they will start by taking a look at the events that took place BEFORE Yeshua was crucified:

Matthew 26: 47 While Yeshua was still speaking, Y’hudah (one of the Twelve!) came, and with him a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the head cohanim and elders of the people.

48 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want — grab him!” 49 He went straight up to Yeshua, said, “Shalom, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Yeshua said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they moved forward, laid hold of Yeshua and arrested him.

51 At that, one of the men with Yeshua reached for his sword, drew it out and struck at the servant of the cohen hagadol, cutting off his ear. 52 Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword back where it belongs, for everyone who uses the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you know that I can ask my Father, and he will instantly provide more than a dozen armies of angels to help me? 54 But if I did that, how could the passages in the Tanakh be fulfilled that say it has to happen this way?”

55 Then Yeshua addressed the crowd: “So you came out to take me with swords and clubs, the way you would the leader of a rebellion? Every day I sat in the Temple court, teaching; and you didn’t seize me then. 56 But all this has happened so that what the prophets wrote may be fulfilled.” Then the talmidim all deserted him and ran away. (CJB)

(QUESTION: We’re not told, but one has to wonder WHO the “crowd” consisted of … surely not just the Jews, but also Netzarim (the original followers of Yeshua’s teachings) and, of course, pagans…)

It’s important to note that these things did not happen at the whim of Caiaphas, the priests, or Pilate, for it was all part of God’s plan to save the world through the death of His Son. As Yeshua had said, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18)...."

BOTTOM LINE: Three days later, Messiah Yeshua rose again from the grave, fulfilling prophecy, defeating death, and emboldening His followers to share the good news of salvation throughout the known world. Caiaphas continued to persecute the Netzarim, being present at the trial of Peter and John (Acts 4:1–22), but his opposition did absolutely nothing to stop the spread of the gospel.

In view of the above, it becomes very clear that there are many misleading memes and articles on the Internet that can lead people astray! YHWH is certainly NOT happy with those who keep focusing on, and bringing others' attention to, all the “wrong” things...

SO, TO REITERATE, YESHUA HAD TO DIE TO BECOME OUR SAVIOR – our final “Sin Sacrifice” ... He KNEW who he was and why he was sent, and he accomplished his mission. STOP BLAMING “THE JEWS” and simply REJOICE! Never, ever stop pondering, marveling and being thankful for, the wondrous gift YHWH chose to give to a sinful and lost humanity in this fallen world!

Romans 11:11-12: "But I say: Have they (the Jews) so stumbled as to fall entirely? May it never be! Rather, by their stumbling, life has come to the Gentiles for (awakening) their jealousy. And if their stumbling was riches to the world, and their condemnation riches to the Gentiles; how much more their completeness?" (CJB)

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: Don't base your theology on personal opinions or lack of Bible knowledge!

Let’s end with the passage below:

Matthew 27: 26. Then he released Bar Abba to them and scourged Y’shua with whips, and delivered him to be put to death on the stake. 27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Y’shua to the Praetorium[1] and assembled against him all of the company of soldiers. 28. And they stripped him and clothed him with a robe of purple. 29. And they wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed down upon their knees before him and they were mocking at him and saying, “Peace King of the Jews.” 30. And they spat in his face and took the reed and were striking him upon his head. 31. And when they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put on his own clothes, and led him away to be put to death on the stake.

32. And while they were going out they found a man of Qureenya, whose name was Shimon. They compelled this man that he might carry his stake. 33. And they came to the place which is called Golgotha, which is interpreted, The Skull. 34. And they gave to him vinegar that was mixed with gall to drink. And he tasted it, and he did not desire to drink it. 35. And when they had nailed him to the stake, they divided his clothes by casting lots. 36. And they were sitting watching him there. 37. And they placed over his head the reason for his death in writing, THIS IS Y’SHUA, THE KING OF THE JEWS… (AENT)

FOOTNOTE:

The Praetorium was located on the North West corner of the Temple, inside the Antonia Fortress. It had a maximum capacity of 200 people. A handful of religious fanatics used crowd psychology against Y’shua to unfairly influence the outcome and the souls in attendance certainly did not represent the entire Jewish race; of the 200 attendess the greatest number were most likely soldiers who were protecting Rome’s interests in silencing Y’shua. Y’shua’s followers wanted to crown him as their king; this also brought much consternation to the elite of the Roman hierarchy.

It was not “the Jews” who put Y’shua to death, but a handful of “scribes and elders” with the consent of their officiating “chief rabbi” and “high priest” who were also political puppets of Rome and who feared for their own positions of power. History tells us that the common people favored Y’shua, and many priests also became followers of Y’shua; see Acts 6:7.

My thoughts about the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ECLIPSE: Stop worrying about it, and just enjoy this natural astronomical phenomenon and praise ADONAI!

Many "religious" people knock themselves out to spread doom and gloom every time there's a major astronomical event. Conspiracy theories fly across the Internet at lightening speed with everybody wanting to be the first to "warn" everyone about the "dangers" associated with total eclipses. It happens every time, and the conspiracy theorists are proven wrong every time...

Remember, some HR "bigwigs" did the same thing with the "Blood Moon Tetrad" back in 2014 - and ... NOTHING happened!

IN RESPONSE TO THE "BLOOD MOON" hype of 2014, my late husband, Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) William J. Welker, a physicist and amateur astronomer, wrote an article outlining certain facts - including this:

If an astronomical event is to have significance, it MUST be sanctified from Israel.

Think about it. There have been total lunar eclipses for thousands of years. All the astronomical events had to be visible from Israel, or they knew nothing about the event! (Please see our article for full details.)

No one could place significance on a total eclipse they did not see, and did not even know happened! Why would YHWH say in Genesis 1:14 that the sun, moon, stars were for "signs" if His people in the Land did not (or could not) SEE the sign?

To illustrate, Bill provided just ONE example of many, of a SIGNIFICANT astronomical event: the date of the nativity! He wrote:

"On the night of Sep 13th, 5 BCE, there was a well placed total Lunar Eclipse. By 'well placed', I mean that the moon rose that night, well before Jupiter, and was of course, nearly full. The eclipse began at about 8:30 PM, with the moon 35 degrees high – perfectly placed from Jerusalem to see the entire eclipse."

A total lunar eclipse marked the birth- fully visible to all of Israel! Now THAT's a sign!

YAHWEH is our Rock and Deliverer

He was for Samuel, and He is for us…

2 Samuel 22:1 David said the words of this song to ADONAI on the day ADONAI delivered him from the power of all his enemies and from the power of Sha’ul. 2 He said: “YAHWEH is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer, 3 the God who is my Rock, in whom I find shelter, my shield, the power that saves me, my stronghold and my refuge. My savior, you have saved me from violence. 4 I call on ADONAI, who is worthy of praise; and I am saved from my enemies.

2 Samuel 22:26 With the merciful, you are merciful; with the champion of purity, you are pure; 27 with the honest, you are honest; but with the crooked you are cunning. 28 People afflicted, you save; but when your eyes are on the haughty, you humble them.

2 Samuel 22:33 For who is ELOHIM but Adonai, and who is a Rock but our God? “YAHWEH is my strength and protection; he makes my way go straight. 34 He makes me swift and sure-footed as a deer and enables me to stand on my high places. 35 He trains my hands for war until my arms can bend a bow of bronze; 36 You give me your shield, which is salvation; your answers make me great. 37 You lengthen the steps I can take, yet my ankles do not turn.

2 Samuel 22:47 “ADONAI is alive! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted be YAHWEH, the Rock of my salvation, 48 the God who gives me vengeance and makes peoples submit to me. 49 He brings me out from my enemies. You raise me over those who rebel against me, you rescue me from violent men. 50 “So I give thanks to you, ADONAI, among the nations; I sing praises to your name. 51 He is a tower of salvation for his king; he displays grace to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” (ISR)

Why the Apostles couldn’t, and never did, suggest that “Torah” was abolished

A MINI-STUDY ABOUT WHY THE APOSTLES COULDN’T, AND NEVER DID, SUGGEST THAT “TORAH” WAS ABOLISHED:

1 John 1:8. And if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  9. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our iniquity.  10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not with us. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE:

“Elohim is light”, (1 John 1:5); therefore, it can be argued that at Creation when YHWH said, “Let there be light”, Genesis 1:3, that He in effect brought a part of Himself out to accomplish the creative act.

The “Word” does this same feat, Psalm 33:6; John 1:1; a few lines earlier we read the “Word of Life.” We have also seen before the direct linguistic relationship between the Hebrew and Aramaic roots for “Light” and “Torah” such as: “Your word (davar) is a lamp to my feet, a light (aur) to my path.” Psalm 119:105. “For the commandment is a lamp. The teaching is a light (aur), and the way to life is the rebuke that disciplines.” Proverbs 6:23

What makes this citation in Proverbs most profound is the word mitzvah (commandment), since tradition commonly calls the revelation at Sinai the Ten Commandments when in fact the Tanakh uses davarim (words)! Keep this in mind while considering 1 John 2:4. “He who says I know Him and does not keep His Commandments (poqadona) is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word (miltha) in him, verily is the love of Elohim perfected; hereby we know that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:4 (Lamsa).

Aramaic could not make a more forceful point. The fact is, poqadona and miltha are exceedingly close matches for their Hebrew counterparts mitzvah in Proverbs, and davar in Psalms. However, it is in this next passage that the full measure of John’s brilliance is shown: “My beloved, I do not write a new commandment to you, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard from the beginning.” 1 John 2:7 (Lamsa) The Commandment is the Word, which comes from the beginning.

We must now realize that to translate this as “his Commandments” is wrong, but “His Commandments” is correct. “His Commandments” is the WORD which came from the very beginning of time. Many fail to understand this truth: It is impossible for Torah to have passed away during the lifetime of the Shlichim/Apostles if John himself writes about the Word they have heard from the beginning.

What else could this WORD be, except the living Torah! John is a native Aramaic speaker and follower of Y’shua who knows that the WORD (or the Torah of YHWH) comes from the “Light”; he states that Elohim is Light and that we abide in that Light when we do His Mitzvot/Poqadona/Commandments.

Furthermore, the interchanging of “Word” and “Commandment” simply does not happen in any other language except Hebrew and Aramaic, the “word that you have heard” is the Shema!

- SOURCE: Aramaic-Endlish New Testament

BEHOLD THE AWESOME POWER OF ELOHIM!

The Hebrew letter H - ה - is pronounced “Hey, or Hay.” It is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and represents God’s Creative Power, the divine breath, revelation and light. Note that the Sacred Name of YHWH (which looks like this in Hebrew - יהוה ) includes TWO instances of the letter Hey…

Psalm 33: 6By the word of ADONAI the heavens were made, and their whole host by a breath from his mouth. 7 He collects the sea waters together in a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear ADONAI! Let all living in the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and there it was; he commanded, and there it stood. (CJB)

Ever thought about how we humans seem to do things in cycles?

EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE HUMANS SEEM TO DO THINGS IN CYCLES, every so often repeating things ad nauseam, until we’re right back to where we started from?

When you think about it, our world today isn't really any different from “the olden days.” Yes, we have great new inventions and gadgets and gee-gaws and stuff to make our life easier today, but have men REALLY changed?

(If you answer was “yes” to that, then please answer WHY do we still have wars and poverty, and racial tension, and division, and animosities toward certain people groups, and a whole gamut of other dilemmas that ebb and flow, yet never seem to go away? We ALWAYS end up repeating history!)

Take the Bible, for instance, the stories about the various kings. One king would do things according to Torah – and life would be great for however long he lived or was in power. And then his successor, recognizing how great life was, would slack off and forget all about ADONAI and His Divine Instructions, and suddenly, everything went downhill – a cycle that repeated for centuries…

Problem is, as educated as we are in today’s world, we humans STILL tend to go in cycles ... often "full circle" like a caged rodent in an exercise wheel, running round and round, going nowhere. We knock ourselves out to "do better" and have all these great ideas and remedies to situations - yet most of the time, we revert back to doing EXACTLY what we attempted to change, make better, or avoid. We really never seem to learn…

We get in ruts, doing what we “know” and are accustomed to – and if that doesn’t work, we’re willing to change things up just a little bit, convincing ourselves that THIS TIME it will work out if we “just continue along this path.”

Yet, more often than not, we end up back exactly where we started from because “life got in the way,” or there were too many "voices" and/or opinions from the "peanut gallery" telling us what to do, etc. We humans often make a million excuses in our attempts to justify our failures…

BOTTOM LINE: mankind simply never learns. We might try to "accomplish something better in the future," but in the end, we often revert back to "who we were" and "how we used to do things." Hardly anyone realizes that things would “go well for us” IF WE SIMPLY STARTED SEEKING ADONAI ELOHIM in prayer, and OBEYING His Torah (Divine Instructions in Righteousness)!

Revelation 22: 14. Blessed are they who do His (Master YHWH's) Mitzvot, that they may have a right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. (AENT)

(See Deuteronomy 27:26 and 28:1-15; Romans 1: 22-31; 2 Peter 2:19-22; and Matthew 24:3-14.)

PONDERING THESE THINGS TODAY reminded me of this little story we counselors used in a church "Singles Adjustment Seminar" (a weekend for newly divorced or widowed people). It went something like this:

Satan hates you and he wants to hurt/maim/kill you! He keeps us on a "merry-go-round" from which we cannot escape, because he knows our likes and dislikes and the "ruts" we are in. We are creatures of habit and will ALWAYS gravitate back to what we know.

Here is an example:

A guy comes to a "fork" in the road. He looks to the left and sees a lot of bumps and potholes. He looks to the right and the road looks a lot newer and better, so he takes that one. He walks for a long time with no problems, then all of a sudden, he falls into a huge pothole - one so big, it takes him days to climb out.

So, he goes back to the fork in the road, looks to the left and the right. The left has all those potholes and the right is still smooth, so he figures, now since he knows where that big pothole is, he will just walk around it, and so he takes that "right" road again.

When he gets to the pothole, he walks around it, but didn't realize there was another, even bigger one on the other side, and he falls into that one, which again takes him days to climb out of. Once he does, he goes back to the fork, but rather than to try to see where that other road leads, he once again decides to take the smoother-looking road, because now he knows where those two potholes are, and he'll just be extra careful this time...

Do you get it? Instead of taking that "bumpy road" at the "fork in the road," we often attempt to fix ourselves the SAME way we always did - except from several different angles, doing what is "right" according to our limited human mindsets.

We like to believe we are in control, never stopping to think that, if we were to LET GO of what we THINK we know, we could begin to find some better remedies and get to our final destination a stronger, smarter person helping humanity to live in a better, smarter, more peaceful world…

The other way – with what we THINK we know - can kill us! And that is what Satan is counting on. After all, if you're dead, you no longer have a chance to "get yourself right with God!"

THINK ABOUT THAT!

Responding to a Christian pastor who seeks to “save Messianic believers” from “the law”…

BELOW IS MY RESPONSE TO A CHRISTIAN PASTOR WHO SENDS TORAH OBSERVANT BELIEVERS IN MESSIAH "friend requests" on Facebook, in his attempts to show them that they have placed themselves "under the law" and are busy “working" to earn their salvation. He has ignored any attempts at actual dialogue, and simply keeps posting things like the ones shown below:

:

SO, HERE IS MY PUBLIC RESPONSE:

Brother, you keep preaching that the Torah (Pentateuch – which is our ONLY blueprint for moral, holy living) is evil, while concentrating only on the last fourth of the Bible, as if that is ALL believers need to know. That kind of teaching – according to Scripture - is a HUGE error, leading astray those who truly wish to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

Without the Torah we wouldn’t know what holy, or set apart means. Jews keep Torah, but God doesn't expect only the Jews to be holy, does He? Problem is, their eyes have not yet been opened to the Truth of Messiah Yeshua (His Divine Son whose given Hebrew name “Yeshua” means “YAHWEH is Salvation”).

On the other hand, we have Christians – people such as yourself - refusing Torah, yet “believing in Jesus,” who supposedly came to bring a “new religion” based on nothing but faith and “grace” (as if grace didn’t exist in the “Old Testament!”) and to abolish everything His Father ever commanded, including the keeping of His commanded Seventh Day Sabbath (which is a SIGN between Him and His people - Exodus 31:16-17;and Ezekiel 20:11-12),along with the commanded seven yearly Festivals - ALL of which foreshadow Messiah Yeshua...

WHY would He have sent Yeshua to ABOLISH those things?

BOTTOM LINE IS:  NEITHER side is humble enough to admit or recognize that it takes BOTH – Torah AND belief in Yeshua – to live according to God’s Will…

So, let’s take a look at what the “New Testament” actually says about Torah - which Christians erroneously believe means “Law”; while being adamant that those laws are “evil”…

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 he walk? By Torah! Y'shua 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! Take a look:

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." (CJB)

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

NO ONE is born into "just knowing" Torah – and they certainly don’t have it “written on their hearts” yet, because, if that were the case, ALL of us would be obeying YHWH's Divine Instructions without question, without even having to teach each other.

The truth is, you are no longer a Gentile, once you have accepted the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Messiah. You are ONE in Christ!  (See Genesis 12 where Abraham became a "Hebrew" – which, in Hebrew, means "to cross over" - when he accepted YHWH as his God, and physically crossed over into the land YHWH commanded. The same is true for you!)

The Torah tells us that myriads of pagan Egyptians followed Moshe/Moses out of Egypt when YHWH liberated His people. They ALL stood at the base of Mt Sinai and saw and heard what went on there, and God even commanded them to do EXACTLY as His people did - See Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, Galatians 3:28 and Romans 10:12-13. 

His Word stands forever, which means that NONE of that has changed!  If  neither YAHWEH nor Yeshua changed or abolished those rules, what makes YOU think you have a right to?

Most Christians have a totally skewed view of BOTH “testaments,” which is a real shame, because Yeshua came NOT to bring a new religion, but to preach the Kingdom and do everything his Father commanded. He NEVER, EVER said he came to bring another religion that allowed people to do whatever they wished...

Please try to remove your preconceived notions, to understand what was written in the following passages:

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 here's something that seems to be totally ignored by Christian pastors:

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)

Having said the above, I leave you with these questions, which every true seeker should sincerely ponder:

1. Do you love God with all your heart, mind and soul?

2. If so, what do you DO to show you love Him?

3. Are you living a holy/set apart life? How do you know?

4. Since most Christians believe that the "Old Testament" was only for the Jews, are only Jews expected to live holy lives? Show scriptural proof that Torah was "only for the Jews."

5. In your own words, explain what "the law" is and what "under the law" means.

6. Find a scripture commanding us to celebrate the Messiah's birth and that this holiday should be called "Christmas."

7. Provide scripture showing the Seventh Day Sabbath was changed to Sunday.

8. Provide scripture to show there are only two commandments.

9. Provide scripture to show why His seven Feasts/Appointed Times wouldn't apply to Christians.

10. Find scripture that says God's Divine Instructions in Righteousness (Torah) were ever negated.

11. Do you adhere to the commands of YHWH/The Father and the teachings of Jesus, or do you constantly quote from the writings of Paul to show that God's Divine Instructions in Righteousness have been abolished?

12. If the law was nailed to the tree/cross, how can it now be in your heart?

You are cordially invited to click on the link to our Christian Questionnaire and check your answers against the BIBLICAL responses on our website. 

Once you’ve done that, please ask God to help you decide what to do: to either to remain where you are in your faith, or at least become interested enough to learn about, and to “grow” in Torah, so that you can become knowledgeable enough to make up your mind as to whether accept or reject God’s “whole Bible concept” that joins BOTH the Torah AND belief in YAHWEH’s Divine Messiah who died, in part, to give you the freedom to CHOOSE…

Did you know that many of our believing brethren are duped into rejecting Messiah Yeshua?

IT’S TRUE! There are many folks on the Internet who are busy trying to get people to reject the entire “New Testament” and “convert” to Judaism…

They first start out by attacking the often-misunderstood teachings of Paul; then point out that this “mere man,” Jesus (whom they call an “idol”) has failed to fulfill ALL the prophecies outlined in Torah, which makes him a FALSE messiah. (They refuse to refer to Yeshua’s given, Hebrew name, which means “YAHWEH is Salvation, thus purposely detracting from his true character and nature!)

Ultimately, they will point out that the entire “New Testament” is an anti-Torah farce concocted by Christian churches which has helped to fan the flames of anti-Semitism…

MY RESPONSE TO THEIR ALLEGATIONS:

FIRST OF ALL, YAHWEH’s TIMING IS NOT LIKE OURS, and NOTHING says Messiah would HAVE to fulfill ALL of them in a certain time frame! However, he DID fulfill at least 300 prophecies, and there are just a few more to go (including the last three of the seven mo'edim/High Holy Days/Appointed Times), which will be fulfilled after his Second Coming, when EVERY knee will bow! (See Isaiah 45:23-24; Philippians 2:10-11; Romans 14:11 and my article on The Refiner’s Fire.)

AS FOR YESHUA, he said he came to do HIS FATHER's will; not his own!

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

YHWH said HE would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do:

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.

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)

[*] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!

AS TO YOUR FALSE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT RAV SHA’UL (PAUL) – he was simply trying to explain hard-to-grasp Hebrew concepts to pagans. Unlike Yeshua, our Messiah imbued with a Divine Nature, Paul was but a mere man … who didn’t dare, nor have the right to speak against YHWH’s Torah – and, fact is, HE NEVER DID!

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of G-d 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.

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we ESTABLISH the Law....

IN CLOSING, HERE IS AN ACTUAL EXAMPLE of one of the many ways that Messiah rejecters attempt to disprove Yeshua:

“God doesn't demand blood to atone for our sins anymore, and He especially never required human sacrifice! Furthermore, mere men can’t atone for the sins of others, anyway. Prayer and repentance are ALL that's required. Therefore, your sacrificed Jesus died for nothing. See Hosea 6:6; Jeremiah 7:22; and 1 Samuel 15:22.”

WELL, LET’S SEE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS…

Eternal life" always required that substitution or redemption of one nephesh for yours. The possibility of that substitution of an animal at the Temple is gone. You can't get that anymore. It has been replaced by your acceptance that the Messiah died for you and was redeemed for you, so you can be saved.

Leviticus 17: 11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement."

If your assumptions are correct, then we would ask you to answer this: If prayer and repentance was all that's needed, then why didn't YHWH simply have Adam and Eve pray and repent?

Truth is, blood sacrifices began to be required fairly quickly after the incident that got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden - which is why Yeshua ultimately martyred himself! … against which there is no law. (Leviticus 4:35, 5:10, 16:15 and 17:11; 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 3:19, etc.)

Furthermore, Yeshua wasn't sacrificed. He offered/martyred himself, against which there is NO law! How many mere men do you know whose death caused an earthquake and the sun the quit shining, darkness, with graves opening, after their resurrection? Even the demons knew who he was, as did the Roman soldier….

SO, ALL YOU “MESSIAH REJECTERS” since you believe “mere man” cannot atone for the sins of others, then please explain the following scriptures:

Exodus 28: 36 "You are to make an ornament of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal, 'Set apart for ADONAI.' 37 Fasten it to the turban with a blue cord, on the front of the turban, 38 over Aharon's forehead. Because Aharon bears the guilt for any errors committed by the people of Isra'el in consecrating their holy gifts, this ornament is always to be on his forehead, so that the gifts for ADONAI will be accepted by him.

Leviticus 6: 25 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is slain the sin offering shall be slain before the LORD; it is most holy. 26'The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting. 27'Anyone who touches its flesh will become consecrated; and when any of its blood splashes on a garment, in a holy place you shall wash what was splashed on.…

Leviticus 10: 16 Then Moshe carefully investigated what had happened to the goat of the sin offering and discovered that it had been burned up. He became angry with El'azar and Itamar, the remaining sons of Aharon, and asked, 17 "Why didn't you eat the sin offering in the area of the sanctuary, since it is especially holy? He gave it to you to take away the guilt of the community, to make atonement for them before ADONAI.

BOTTOM LINE: Yeshua has already fulfilled many Messianic prophecies .. AND constantly upheld Torah! He was the living manifestation of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) within Messiah!

WARNING: (“COUNTER-MISSIONARY” RHETORIC IS AKIN TO THE SERPENT SPEAKING TO EVE IN GENESIS 3: “DID GOD REALLY SAY….?” So, if you're contemplating rejecting Yeshua, please re-read the entire Bible first!)

Let’s talk about the “F-bomb” and those who defend the use of foul language…

QUESTION: Can we truly call ourselves holy whenever we allow cusswords to glide across our tongues? Is it really okay for filthy language to come out of the SAME mouth that confesses YHWH and Yeshua?

For any true Believer, the answer to both of the above questions can only be a resounding NO!

YHWH has set the standards for moral, holy living!  Torah constantly warns us to "be holy for I am holy" - Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26, etc.); 1 Peter 1:16 reiterates this: ...because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY"; and Romans 10:10 says: “For the heart that believes in him is made righteous; and the mouth that confess him is restored to life.”

Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." First Peter 3:10 declares, "For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."

James 3 brings home the fact that “our tongue can at once be a friend and enemy.”

James 3: 6. Now the tongue is a fire, and the world of sin is like a forest. And this tongue, which is one among our members, corrupts our whole body; and it inflames the series of our generations that roll on like a wheel; and it is itself on fire. 7. For all natures of beasts and birds and reptiles of the sea or land are dominated by the nature of man.

8. But the tongue has no one been able to tame: it is an evil thing, unruly and full of deadly poison. 9. For with it, we bless Master YHWH and Father; and with it we curse men who were made in the image of Elohim: 10. and from the same mouth issues forth curses and blessings. My Brothers, these things should not be.

11. Can there flow from the same fountain, sweet and bitter waters? 12. Or can the fig-tree, my Brothers, bear olives? or the vine, figs? So also salt waters cannot be made sweet. 13. Who is wise and instructed among you? Let him show his works in praiseworthy actions, with modest wisdom. (AENT)

Yeshua explained that what comes out of our mouths is that which fills our hearts. Our speech will always indicate what is in our hearts. “From a good man the treasures that are in his good heart brings forth good things, and an evil man the evil treasures that are in his heart brings forth evil things. For the abundance of the heart speak the lips.” (Luke 6:45).

Why is it a sin to cuss /swear /curse? Sin is a condition of the heart, the mind, and “the inner man” (Romans 7:22), which is manifested in our thoughts, actions and words. When we use “bad language,” we are giving evidence of the polluting sin in our hearts that must be confessed and repented of.

Thankfully, our ELOHIM is merciful and “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The truth is, we CANNOT have the Holy Spirit within while refusing the command to “BE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY!” and choosing to continue living “in the world!” Doing so is considered deliberate sinning” – for which there is no sacrifice!

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies. (CJB)

The key is to use some common sense and ask ourselves if we would use a certain word in YHWH’s or Yeshua's presence. If the answer is “Sure, we can, because there’s no Torah command against it,” then it’s high time for us to re-read the Bible as “one entity” instead of the erroneous two separate “Testaments” - because the “two” are an ECHAD that cannot be separated or cherry-picked!

For those who attempt to defend their actions by saying things like, “Well, we do see some cussing in the Bible – and besides, Torah does NOT say that we can’t cuss!” – I offer the following food for thought:

The Bible cannot possibly "define" foul language since words come and go. Some words become obsolete, and fade from the human vocabulary (in any language) with the passing of time, and new "words" become the norm.

However, filthy words such as the “F-bomb” are DESPICABLE and downright DISGUSTING as it degrades the sex act YHWH created for humanity to pro-create beings that reflect HIS IMAGE!  (See Genesis 1:26-30, 2:7, Psalm 139:14; and John 1:12.) That particular word, unfortunately has forced its way into becoming the norm in the English language – so much so, that even supposed “Believers” think nothing of using it. 

YHWH is surely NOT very happy with that behavior!  Why?  Read on.

Bottom line:  There are plenty of Bible passages that speak to “filthy” talk. (The term “filthy” means “behavior that flouts social and moral standards, shamefulness, obscenity” while “shameful speech” denotes “speech of a kind that is generally considered in poor taste, obscene speech, dirty talk.”)  Here is one perfect example:

Ephesians 5: 1 So imitate God, as his dear children; ² and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance. ³ Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people.

⁴ Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. ⁷ So don’t become partners with them! (CJB)

If foul language is your “idol” then you are in trouble!  When one cannot express themselves without the use of the latest common “gutter words” then they are guilty of using "foul" language, and consequently come across as rude, crude and ungodly … plain and simple!

No matter how much the “pro-cussers” will argue and defend their usage of gutter language, the bottom line is that NO ONE unclean can appear before YHWH!  Matthew 15:11, Mark 7:15 make it clear that we “own” what comes out of our mouths, and it is that which makes us unclean.

Matthew 15:18 makes the stinging addition: "But what comes out of your mouth is actually coming from your heart, and that is what makes a person unclean."  Would we really want Yeshua telling us that he knows our heart by the language we used during our life on earth?

Few today seem to realize that their language expresses the darkness of their heart…

2 Peter 2: 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.  22 What has happened to them accords with the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit.” Yes, “The pig washed itself, only to wallow in the mud!” (CJB).

Hebrews 10: 28. For if he who transgressed the Torah of Moshe, died without mercies at the mouth of two or three witnesses; 29. how much more, do you think, will he receive capital punishment who has trodden upon the Son of Elohim and has accounted the blood of his covenant by which he is sanctified, as the blood of all men and has treated the Spirit of grace in an insulting manner? 30. For we know him who has said, Retribution is mine and I will repay: and again, Master YHWH will judge his people. 31. It is very terrible to fall into the hands of the living Elohim. (AENT)

Why we named our website “The Refiner’s Fire”

THE STORY OF "REFINING SILVER" is part of the reason why I decided to call my website "The Refiner's Fire"...

I remember praying really hard back in 2001, when YHWH (Hebrew: most likely pronounced "Yah-way") caused me to quit my job and build a website (with no "donate" buttons!) designed to explain what Scripture was really all about. This website was to lead Jews to Yeshua, Christians to Torah, and introduce the truth of ADONAI ELOHIM and His Divine Messiah to atheists.

Having been "Messianic" for only about 5 years at the time, I had no clue what to call this kind of a website - much less try to figure out how to actually build one!

All I knew was that I wanted YHWH to be involved in every detail, right down to the name of the website. And so my late husband (Bill Welker) and I prayed hard about it.

During that time a Messianic song entitled, "Refiner's Fire" which we knew from the congregation we were attending, kept coming to mind - and, ironically, at the same time, a certain e-mail kept reappearing in my e-mail inbox, entitled, "Refining Silver."

Its meaning - though simple -was extremely powerful. In short, it was a quick lesson on how a silversmith refines silver - a message that can be applied to the many ways YHWH "refines" His own Creations.

HERE IS THE STORY contained in the email that ultimately became the reason for the name of my website:

REFINING SILVER: Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....

--Author Unknown

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

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

WAIT! HANG ON! There's one more thing:

Ironically, when my husband tried to buy the domain name "Refiner's Fire," we discovered, to our dismay, that it was taken, and that there were hundreds of "Refiner's Fire" websites on the internet, ALL of which were Christian (not Messianic) sites.

BUT YHWH CAME THROUGH! After a lot of diligent searching, Bill found the domain name "THE Refiner's Fire" ... and the rest is history....

After 23 years, The Refiner's Fire is still going strong - and we've never asked for, or received, one dime for it, because we've always made it all about HIM. Halleluyah! All glory goes to our amazing CREATOR!

How do we know that Saturday is the “seventh day on our Gregorian calendars?

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT SATURDAY on our Gregorian calendar is the "seventh day of the week?" The answer is just one click away - Here is the answer on our website!

Seventh Day Sabbath keeping is a great way to start your journey toward becoming Torah observant!

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO TORAH, one of the first things you can do to “become Torah observant” is to start keeping God’s Seventh Day Sabbath. Why the Seventh Day? Because ADONAI Himself commanded it! (Please check out our website’s article - and read all the pertinent Scripture references at the end of this article.)

Be aware, however, that your pastor, friends and family will do their level best to keep you from doing this, because they cannot understand that the Torah (first five Books of the Bible that contain all of God’s original commandments – His “do’s and don’t’s) is our ONLY blueprint for moral, holy, set-apart living; and that He COMMANDED us to keep His Seventh Day Sabbath Rest and the seven yearly High Holy Days (Festivals - all of which foreshadow Messiah Yeshua, whom Christians call “Jesus”)…

Learning to become Torah observant will require you to not only read, but also STUDY the Bible (in sequence, from Genesis to Revelation) so you can get a true grasp of what it actually says.

It will also require you to stay strong and try your best to NOT listen to your detractors, who will attempt to convince you that “you’re putting yourself back under the Law”; or that “It doesn’t matter what day you keep the Sabbath because Jesus was our Sabbath rest!”; or that “Jesus rose on a Sunday, and that’s why WE worship on Sunday”…

Truth is, YES, you CAN “worship on Sunday!” In all honesty, you can and SHOULD “worship” EVERY day! But YAHWEH's Sabbath - His commanded day of rest - always was and will continue to be the SEVENTH Day! That is, after all, one of the major things that sets us apart from the rest of the world…

REMEMBER: NO “religion” can claim they have the right to change ADONAI’s Sabbaths or Festivals/Feasts - His Appointed Times! After all, it's the "anti-Messiah" who does these things:

Daniel 7: 25 He will speak words against the Most High and try to exhaust the holy ones of the Most High. He will attempt to alter the seasons and the law; and [the holy ones] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. (CJB)

Who are "the holy ones"? YOU are! Those who obey His Torah are “holy” because they obey His Divine Instructions in Righteousness (1 John 3:4).

So, stay strong and simply learn to recognize that the people who try to prevent you from keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath (or any of the other Torah commands that apply to us today) don’t realize that it’s not only a blessing, but a wonderful feeling to actually DO something for our Awesome Creator!

SO, WHY SHOULD YOU KEEP THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH AND HOW CAN YOU DO IT? It’s not very hard. Please read the scripture passages below, and then check out our website’s article for some suggestions ... and then prepare to be BLESSED!

(All Bible passages were borrowed from Stern’s Complete Jewish Bible.)

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. 2 On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.

Exodus 20:8 "Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. 9 You have six days to labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work -not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. 11 For in six days, ADONAI made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.

Exodus 31:16 The people of Isra'el are to keep the Shabbat, to observe Shabbat through all their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the people of Isra'el forever; for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and rested.'"

Daniel 7: 25 He will speak words against the Most High and try to exhaust the holy ones of the Most High. (The "holy ones" are those who obey His Torah!) He will attempt to alter the seasons and the law; and [the holy ones] will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

Ezekiel 20:11 I gave them my laws and showed them my rulings; if a person obeys them, he will have life through them. 12 I gave them my shabbats as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I, ADONAI, am the one who makes them holy.

Isaiah 56: 2 Happy is the person who does this, anyone who grasps it firmly, who keeps Shabbat and does not profane it, and keeps himself from doing any evil. 3 A foreigner joining ADONAI should not say, "ADONAI will separate me from his people"; likewise the eunuch should not say, "I am only a dried-up tree." 4 For here is what ADONAI says: "As for the eunuchs who keep my Shabbats, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant: 5 in my house, within my walls, I will give them power and a name greater than sons and daughters; I will give him an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

6 "And the foreigners who join themselves to ADONAI to serve him, to love the name of ADONAI, and to be his workers, all who keep Shabbat and do not profane it, and hold fast to my covenant, 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

Isaiah 58: 13 If you hold back your foot on Shabbat from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call Shabbat a delight, ADONAI'S holy day, worth honoring; then honor it by not doing your usual things or pursuing your interests or speaking about them. 14 If you do, you will find delight in ADONAI - I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Ya'akov, for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken."

Isaiah 66: 23 And it shall be that from one New Moon to another New Moon and from one Sabbath to another Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the Lord.

Jeremiah 17: 21 Here is what ADONAI says: "If you value your lives, don't carry anything on Shabbat or bring it in through the gates of Yerushalayim; 22 don't carry anything out of your houses on Shabbat; and don't do any work. Instead, make Shabbat a holy day. I ordered your ancestors to do this, 23 but they neither listened nor paid attention; rather, they stiffened their necks, so that they wouldn't have to hear or receive instruction. 24 However, if you will pay careful heed to me," says ADONAI "and carry nothing through the gates of this city on Shabbat, but instead make Shabbat a day which is holy and not for doing work…

DON'T ALLOW YOUR "OLD NATURE" TO HAVE ITS WAY!

Galatians 5: 13 For, brothers, you were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love. 14 For the whole of the Torah is summed up in this one sentence: “Love your neighbor as yourself”;[a] 15 but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other!

16 What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants. 17 For the old nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old nature. These oppose each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism. [*]

19 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God!

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.

24 Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. 25 Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (CJB)

* NOTE: The idiomatic expression “under the Torah” refers to a false teaching that has never been true. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm that this phrase “under the Torah” refers to strict religious halacha, not obedience to Torah itself. Torah has not at any time saved anyone! YHWH saves when His people demonstrate a sincere obedience to His Righteous Instructions (Torah).

Blind ritual (or religion) alone without the love of YHWH profits nothing. YHWH is “the Spirit” of the Renewed Covenant that writes Torah upon the heart.

A LITTLE REMINDER FOR THOSE WHO HATE THE JEWS

When we were led into the gas chamber, YOU said nothing.

When we were forcibly converted, YOU said nothing.

When we were thrown out of a country just for being Jews, YOU said nothing.

When we now defend ourselves all of a sudden, YOU have something to say.

How did we take our revenge on the Germans for their Final Solution?

How did we take revenge on the Spanish for their Inquisition?

How did we take revenge on Islam for being Dhimmis?

How did we take revenge on the lies of the Protocols of Zion?

We studied our Torah.

We innovated in medicine.

We innovated in defense systems.

We innovated in technology.

We innovated in agriculture.

We made music.

We wrote poetry.

We made the desert bloom.

We won Nobel prizes.

We founded the movie industry.

We financed democracy.

We fulfilled the word of Hashem by becoming a light unto the Nations of the Earth.

So World, when you criticize us for defending our heritage and our ancestral homeland, we the Jews of the world do exactly what you did, we ignore you.

You have proven to us for the last 2,000 years that when the chips are down you don’t care.

Now leave us alone and go sort out your own backyard whilst we continue our 5784-year-old mission, enhancing the world we share.

--by Howard Klineberg, in the Jerusalem Post of February 2, 2015.

A QUICK COMMENT FROM CARMEN:

On October 7, Hamas terrorists not only perpetrated their usual harassment of Israelis; but, they actually started an outright WAR with Israel when they viciously forced their way into the Land and killed at least 1,200 innocent people, and brutally took many hostages.

And now, when Israel has FINALLY had enough and began to defend itself in earnest, much of the world has turned against her.

Those who are protesting and yelling the loudest, and even suggesting a "two-state" solution, in my humble opinion, are a bunch of brainless, clueless Troglodytes; aping the liberal powers-that-be who don't know the history of the Land given to Abraham by the Creator of the Universe Himself: YHWH, ADONAI ELOHIM!

The Land belongs to Yahweh's Chosen People. God gave the Land to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 15:18-19. Abraham bought a large burial site at Hebron (Genesis 23:1-20); David bought the Temple Mount (1 Chronicles 21:25).

And who was the Land ever sold to? NOBODY! Only in recent years has anyone even been able to TAKE it from the Jews forcefully, thanks to "the world" (including the United States which sticks its collective nose into everything) insisting on dividing Israel! But, unless the Muslims are willing to buy the Land (which, as it happens, is not for sale!) then NOBODY has a right to it except for the people group that is blanketly referred to as "the Jews!"

Genesis 15: 18 That day ADONAI made a covenant with Avram: "I have given this land to your descendants - from the Vadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River - 19 the territory of the Keni, the K'nizi, the Kadmoni, 20 the Hitti, the P'rizi, the Refa'im, 21 the Emori, the Kena'ani, the Girgashi and the Y'vusi."

Leviticus 25: 23 "The land is not to be sold in perpetuity, because the land belongs to me -you are only foreigners and temporary residents with me."

SO HERE IS A DIRE WARNING: ELOHIM is in charge - NOT you; not anyone else, except HIM! Go up against YHWH, and guess who will win...

AN IMPORTANT MINI-TEACHING ON HEBREWS 8:

In Parasha 19 we learn about the design of the tabernacle and dimensions of the ark, and the shape of the menorah – which hold absolutely NO meaning for those who don't realize their significance.

Most view these things as "Old Testament" which - according to our pastors – is full of interesting history, but they supposedly in no way pertain to New Testament teachings, because Jesus has supposedly "fulfilled" it all. The only thing that is really of any consequence for us today, the pastors insist, is our "belief in the shed blood at the cross"...

Let’s examine the actual Hebrew context of a small part of this passage:

Hebrews 8:8. For he rebukes them and says: Behold the days come, says Master YHWH, when I will complete with the family of the house of Israel and with the family of the house of Yehuda, a renewed covenant;[1] 9. not like the covenant which I gave to their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; (and) because they continued not in my covenant, I also rejected them, says Master YHWH.

10. But this is the covenant which I will give to the family of the house of Israel after those days, says Master YHWH: I will put my Torah in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts; and I will be to them a Elohim, and they will be to me a people.

11. And one will not teach his son of the city nor his brother, nor say: You shall know your Master YHWH: because they will all know me, from the youngest of them to the oldest. 12. And I will forgive them their iniquity; and their sins will I remember no more. 13. In that he said a Renewed (Covenant), he made the first old; and that which is old and decaying, is near to disappearing.[2] (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Paul makes reference to the Renewed Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) nine times in this letter.

[2] The context is Jeremiah 31:31-34, what is "near to disappearing" is the sinful nature of man that breaks Torah, not the standard of Torah. Remember that we broke Torah, not YHWH. YHWH (“the Father) did not drop the standard of Torah because Israel chose disobedience; rather, He installed a Renewed Covenant to write Torah upon the heart through the work of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit), according to Mashiyach (Messiah)!

The fact of the matter is that in Mashiyach, YHWH raised the bar; He magnified Torah (see Isaiah 42:21). Because mankind broke Covenant, YHWH required complete renovation on OUR part, not HIS part of the Covenant.

This verse in its twisted form, became one of the "crown jewels" of Christianity, which teaches that Torah is decaying and is near to disappearing. NOTHING could be farther from the truth!

So, is there any GOOD news?

WARS, TERRORISM, HATRED, UNREST AND GENERAL EVIL, ALONG WITH UNTOLD NATURAL DISASTERS. Our world reeks of these things!

So is there any GOOD news? YES!

The Bible tells us that, no matter what happens in this fallen world, believers in YHWH/Yeshua/Torah will receive eternal life with YAHWEH! Halleluyah!

First, however, we must endure many issues:

2 Timothy 3: 1-2 - But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy....

The Bible also warns us of the revival of the old Babylonian spirit in the last days, described in the 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation. In the passages below, we find a perfect description of the very condition of the days in which we are now living:

Jeremiah 51:7 Babel was a golden cup in the hand of YHWH, making drunk all the earth. The nations drank her wine, that is why the nations went mad! (ISR)

Zephaniah 1:18 - Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of YHWH. And by the fire of His jealousy all the earth shall be consumed, for He makes a sudden end of all those who dwell in the earth. (ISR)

(In other words, all the "stuff" we covet means nothing. We can't take it with us; and it won't matter, because we will ALL be equal in YAHWEH's eyes, and will be concentrating ALL our efforts on Him.)

Revelation 20:4 - Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.

(NOTE, those had been BEHEADED (yikes! - who are the ONLY people on the planet who still perpetrate "beheadings?) for testifying about Yeshua , and those who had NOT worshipped the beast or its image, or received "the mark of the Beast," are the ones who come to life and rule with Yeshua during the Millennium.)

BACK TO ALL OUR TRIALS JUST PRIOR TO YESHUA'S RETURN:

Matthew 24:5-7 - You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Mark 13:7. But when you hear of wars and rumors of revolutions, do not have fear. This is bound to happen, but is yet not the end. 8. For nation will arise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places. And there will be famine and uprisings. These things are the beginning of sorrows. (AENT)

2 Timothy 3: 1-2 - But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy....

BY NOW YOU SURELY GET THE DRIFT! (Please read Ecclesiastes 9:1-17 for more.) It's clear that we 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....

WHEN THINGS GET REALLY BAD, we suddenly receive a false "savior" disguised as a very charismatic man. Loved by all, he will be attractive and charismatic and highly intelligent (Rev. 13:18; Dan. 7:8); stronger than most (Dan. 7:20); a gifted communicator (Dan. 7:8); politically savvy (Dan. 9:27 and Rev. 17:12, 13, 17); a military genius (Rev. 13:4; 17:14; 19:19).

HOWEVER, while charming, his corrupt character will be revealed after three and a half years as he works to persecute the Jews and destroy our Messianic faith. A hater of YAHWEH's Torah (2 Thess. 2:8), he will blaspheme (Rev. 13:6); be consumed by selfish ambitions (Dan. 11:36, 37; 2 Thess. 2:4); attempt to change Biblical prophecies by twisting Scripture (Dan. 7:25); AND he will ultimately pretend to be God and demand to be worshipped (Dan. 11:36; 2 Thess. 2:4).

The passage below reveals how this will come about and then abruptly end:

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."

(IN MY OPINION, 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.)

IN THE MEANTIME - while all this sounds very scary, the Bible warns us NOT TO WORRY OR FRET or even be sad - because the BEST is yet to come: Eternal Life with YAHWEH!

1 Thessalonians 4: 13. And I wish you to know, my Brothers, that you should not mourn over them who have fallen asleep, like other people who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Y’shua died and rose again, even so them who sleep, will Elohim, by Y’shua, bring with him. 15. And this we say to you by the word of our Master (Y’shua), that we who may survive and be alive at the coming of our Master (Y’shua), will not precede them who have slept.

(In other words, the dead Believers in Messiah will rise first, and then we who are alive will follow.)

16. Because our Master (Y’shua) will himself descend from heaven with the mandate and with the voice of the chief Messenger and with the Qarna (trumpet) of Elohim; and the dead who are in the Mashiyach will first arise; 17. and then we who survive and are alive will be caught up together with them to the clouds to meet our Master (Y’shua) in the air; and so will we be ever with our Master. 18. And so, comfort you one another with these words. (AENT)

Isaiah 2:2 In the acharit-hayamim (latter days/end of days) the mountain of ADONAI's house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and all the Goyim (Gentiles) will stream there. 3 Many peoples will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.

4 He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war. (CJB)

HALLELUYAH!!!!

Micah 4:1 But in the acharit-hayamim it will come about that the mountain of ADONAI's house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and peoples will stream there. 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.

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 the 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 - 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).

Micah 4:3 He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for many nations far away. Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war. 4 Instead, each person will sit under his vine and fig tree, with no one to upset him, for the mouth of ADONAI-Tzva'ot has spoken. 5 For all the peoples will walk, each in the name of its god; but we will walk in the name of ADONAI our God forever and ever. (CJB)

PASSOVER - ONE OF OUR "YEARLY DATES" WITH YHWH - IS ON THE HORIZON!

This year, Passover starts on the late afternoon of March 24; the Unleavened Bread begins right after sunset – and it is a High Shabbat which we must take off from work.

(NOTE: Calendar “aficionados” - Before you try to stone me on this matter, please understand that this is another one of those crazy years where most calendars don’t match. We The Refiner’s Fire Ministry celebrate ALL the Shabbats (both the weekly Seventh Day Sabbath, and the seven commanded Feasts) according to the sun, moon and stars, and so we will be doing Passover on late afternoon of March 24 this year. Please see our article of explanation.)

Regardless - no matter which calendar you decide to use this year, it’s getting close to the time when you need to start cleaning out all the “chametz” - leaven - from your homes, as “leaven” represents “sin.” All leaven is to be removed from your homes before Passover starts!
(Some people insist you are to clean out your “yeast” before Passover, but this is not true. There is no way to get rid of all yeast, because yeast spores are everywhere, including in every breath we take. Please see our article.)

EXPLANATION OF PASSOVER:

Passover, celebrated near evening on Nisan 14 on the Hebrew calendar, marks the beginning of a seven-day period during which the eating of leavened Bread is forbidden as leaven is a symbol of sin (I Corinthians 5:6-8; see also Exodus 23:14-16; Romans 6:4 and II Corinthians 5:21).

Exodus 23:14-16: "Three times a year, you are to observe a festival for me. Keep the festival of matzah: for seven days, as I ordered you, you are to eat matzah (unleavened bread) at the time determined in the month of Aviv; for it was in that month that you left Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. Next, the festival of harvest, the firstfruits of your efforts sowing in the field; and last, the festival of ingathering, at the end of the year, when you gather in from the fields the results of your efforts." (CJB)

Passover/Unleavened Bread/Hag HaMatzot is one of ELOHIM’s commanded seven High Holy Days. During Passover week, we celebrate the deliverance of the slaves from Egypt. It is the story of redemption by the killing of the Passover Lamb, the blood of which was applied to the doorposts while the Israelites were still in Egypt, shortly before their Exodus.

Obedience to the command to take a lamb into their homes for a few days and then kill it for the purpose of spreading its blood on the doorposts ensured that their firstborn would be spared the Tenth Curse against Pharoah who refused to let God's enslaved Chosen People leave Egypt. When the Angel of Death passed through the land and saw the blood, he "passed over" those houses and spared the first born within (Exodus 12:1-13).

(NOTE: Today, we no longer required to kill an innocent lamb, because Believers in YHWH/Yeshua are covered by the Blood of Yeshua who martyred himself, shedding his Divine Blood on our behalf! More explanation to follow.)

Passover not only serves as a reminder of the events leading up to the Exodus from Egypt; but it is also the story of redemption through Messiah Yeshua, whose shed blood on the cross freed Believers from the slavery of earthly bondage to “the world!”

Yeshua fulfilled this event when he was crucified. However, please note, he was NOT “the Passover Lamb” per se! Why? Because (1) the original Passover lamb in Egypt was not a "sin “sacrifice”; it was a “substitute”, a “redemption”; and (2) the lambs were not sacrificed on any altar, and no one “sacrificed” Yeshua! He martyred himself to shed his divine blood on our behalf.

This is the whole connection:

Yeshua was our substitute, our redemption - and by believing and always following YHWH's Torah to help us to lower our tendency to sin and do our best to NOT sin anymore, we have the chance for eternal life! Halleluyah, praise his Holy Name!

(NOTE: In case anyone is interested, we offer a free downloadable haggadah (liturgy) for Pesach/Passover on our website. Just click on our Articles and Studies page, and scroll down until you see "Free calendars, Siddurs & Pesach Seder", and choose one of the final two links...

If you’ve never celebrated Passover, try it this year. You’ll be amazed at how blessed you will feel!

LET'S DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF "HELL" FOR A MOMENT....

Every once in a while the topic of "hell" comes up in a conversation, with some insisting "there is no such place," or attempting to describe it via their own opinions. Many have even tried to tell me that "hell" is simply a Christian idea which cannot be found in the Tanach (Old Testament).

If that's true, then what do we do about passages such as these?

Ezekiel 26:19 "For here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'When I make you a ruined city, like other uninhabited cities; when I bring the deep sea over you, and its mighty waters cover you; 20 then I will bring you down with those who descend to the pit, to the people of long ago, and make you live in underworld places like those who were ruined long ago, with those who descend to the pit, so that you will be uninhabited when I give glory to the land of the living. 21 I will make you horrible; you will cease to exist. People will seek you but never more find you,' says Adonai ELOHIM." (CJB)

There is no specific mention in Torah of "Hell", but Old Testament prophets repeatedly speak of a time when YHWH would have His "day" ("The Day of ADONAI") - a day of justice in which He would express His anger toward sin and visit judgment on sinners. (See Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5).

Daniel 12:2 Many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and abhorrence. (CJB)

"Shame and abhorrence" are NOT what people in "heaven" experience!

What we can know for sure is that "Hell" seems to be "eternal separation from God, where one simply no longer exists." For instance, in Numbers 16, Korach and his entire family and all those who had sided with him against Moshe (Moses) were swallowed up into the earth alive.

Numbers 16:30 But if ADONAI does something new - if the ground opens up and swallows them with everything they own, and they go down alive to Sh'ol - then you will understand that these men have had contempt for ADONAI." 31 The moment he finished speaking, the ground under them split apart - 32 the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all the people who had sided with Korach and everything they owned. 33 So they and everything they owned went down alive into Sh'ol, the earth closed over them and their existence in the community ceased. (CJB)

The New Testament makes many references to "Hell" throughout its pages. "Hell" is:

(1) A place of physical agony, mental suffering, loneliness and emotional sorrow. Yeshua described it as a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.(Jude 6; Matt 8:12; Matt 13:42, 50; Matt 25:30;).

(2) A place of insecurity and fear. The Bible describes it as a bottomless pit, an abyss. (Revelation 20:1).

(3) A place of instability. It is described as a lake of fire. Hell is a place where every moment is lived in uncertainty (Matthew 5:21-23; Revelation 20:15).

(4) A pit of darkness; totally devoid of light. It is pitch black in hell; there's nothing to distract people from their suffering, sorrow, fears, insecurities, and instability. (2 Peter 3-5).

(5) A place of dissatisfaction. Yeshua described it as a fire; a fiery furnace. It may be a literal fire that creates a physical sensation of burning or just an overwhelming yearning for God, for love, for joy, for peace, for life that will never be. (Matthew 5:22; Matt 13:42 and 50; Matt 18:8-9; Matt 25:41; Mark 9:43, 47-48) .

(6) A place of eternal separation from YHWH. Each person who "goes to hell" will be separated forever from the source of life, the heart of love, the very One for Whom they were created.

(7) Hell is a place where your soul will be destroyed (Matthew 7:23 and 10:27-29). And since the soul/nephesh can die (Ezekiel 18:4, etc.) you will no longer exist - which seems to suggest there is eternal punishMENT, but not eternal punishING!

The bottom line is: Hell MAY OR MAY NOT BE a real "place"! We simply can't know for sure. What we DO know is that those who are rejected "in Heaven" (wherever that might be - either in another dimension or even right here on earth - Revelation 21:1-4) will end up "ceasing to exist"... which will certainly feel like "eternal punishment" to those who are rejected, in the moments before they are "separated from God!"

Regardless, here are some more examples describing "hell":

Matthew 11:23 - 23. And you Capurnakhum which has been raised to heaven will be brought down to Sheol (grave, or pit)....

Luke 16:23 - 23. And while he was tormented in Sheol, he lifted up his eyes and gazed from afar upon Awraham and upon Lazar at his bosom....

Numbers 16:31-33 - ...the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened up and swallowed the men...So they went down alive into [the grave]....

Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 13:3...unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Christians–please stop telling us we are trying to “earn our salvation” by obeying Torah!

A THOUGHT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN TORAH KEEPING because, as they insist, "Torah doesn't save."

Of course, it doesn’t; nobody ever said it did! So, please stop the accusations!  We OBEY God’s Divine Instructions because we LOVE Him; because they teach us how to be holy and set apart; and because He appreciates those who recognize the fact that His Instructions are for EVERYONE who accepts Him and His Divine Messiah - who TAUGHT those Instructions. (So did the Apostles, by the way…)

TRUTH IS: Neither YHWH nor Yeshua nor any of the Apostles or Disciples ever suggested that "Torah saves!" Only the blood of Yeshua does. However, his death never negated our need to OBEY God's Divine Instructions in Righteousness which are found in the first five Books of the Bible called "Torah" (which Christians refer to as "Pentateuch").

If you haven't done so, I would encourage you to re-read ALL of the Bible without prejudice, via the "Hebrew" instead of the "Greek" mindset, so you can better understand what is being said.

To begin with, YHWH ELOHIM commanded ALL who accept Him to be Torah observant. (See Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:13-16, Isaiah 56:6, Galatians 3:28 and Romans 10:12-13.) He never once suggested that the death of His Son/Messiah would negate His Divine Instructions.

It is imperative to understand that nobody is expected to adhere to ALL of the original 613 commands, as most of them were directed at the Levite cohens (priests); some were only for men; some only for women; and some were only for a certain time frame.)

But some were meant to last FOREVER - and those are the ones that believers must pay attention to.

Let's examine some passages that reveal the nuggets one can find in the Bible when it is read in context:

Proverbs 4:2 "I give you good instruction: Do not forsake my Torah!" (CJB)

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

YHWH said HE would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do; see Deuteronomy 18:15-18.

Yeshua said he came to do HIS FATHER's will; not his own! He never said he was coming to earth to start a new religion called Christianity!

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,[1]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)

[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!

Here's Yeshua himself telling us what his mission was:

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."

Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah – not until everything that must happen has happened. (CJB)

Has "everything happened that must happen?"

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 here is Paul AFFIRMING Torah:

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.

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law (Torah) through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we ESTABLISH the Law. (CJB)

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!

And how does one become a "good subject?" Through Torah obedience! Please ask yourself this:

If 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?

If the Torah were "abolished at the cross," and no longer to be followed, then Yeshua, Paul, Matthew, and all the other Apostles and Disciples were liars, because they ALL taught what YHWH commanded, and what Yeshua taught!

Not to mention, without the Torah, there would not be a "New Testament" - which means, we would never have known YHWH or His Divine Messiah; which means, we now COULD "murder" and commit adultery, and lie and cheat, etc., because The Ten Commandments would be rendered null and void. Please think about that...

Also, please ponder this:

Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants (ie: Torah) 22 On that Day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we expel demons in your name? Didn't we perform many miracles in your name?' 23 Then I will tell them to their faces, 'I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!' (ie: they did not keep Torah --- they were LAWLESS - WITHOUT THE LAW)

Does this sound like God's original teaching and instruction was abolished?

Yeshua's intent was never to abolish or weaken or emasculate the Laws of YHWH, revealed in the Old Testament, but to expand and magnify them to their full spiritual intent and conclusion; to show their full meaning, purpose, and relevance; to reveal their spiritual and supernatural nature and basis; to show that the commandments lead us by necessity to FAITH in him as the Messiah.

We do not earn salvation by works, but by Faith in Yeshua the Messiah, who died for our sins, and who now gives us his spirit to enable us to fulfill the righteousness of the Law (Acts 2:38; 5:32; Gal.2:20).

The Messiah did not replace the Law of YHWH with Faith alone, but rather gave us inward Faith, through his spirit, to enable us to observe the holy commandments of God! Yet, with the advent of Christianity, the "Old Testament", along with God's original teaching and instruction, basically became null and void because they mistakenly believe "Torah" equates to "law".

BIG MISTAKE!

So, Christians, I implore you to stop accusing those who of us who follow Torah, of "trying to earn our salvation!" You don't know what you are talking about....

I pray that all those reading this who insist the Torah was abolished at the cross and doesn't pertain to Christians will have their spiritual eyes opened to YHWH's Truth - which begins in Chapter 1 of Genesis, and ends in Revelation 22.

It is a grave sin to cherry-pick the Bible and teach that YHWH's Divine Instructions were abolished!