A list of some Bible passages that describe our “end times” scenario…

As you read your way through the following passages, please keep in mind that all these things are foretold in the Bible, and they WILL and MUST happen because, ever since the downfall of Adam and Eve, we’ve been living in a fallen world where bad things happen. 

Through Grace and Mercy ADONAI ELOHIM has been working on redeeming us back to Himself -  the wonder and beauty of which we will only discover and know, once we re out of these “earth suits” and in our new bodies.  In the meantime, we must endure, and continue to keep learning and growing as we strive for that glorious day when we FINALLY get to see His Face!

The Bible tells us (among myriad other things), what to expect in these “end times scenarios” we’ve been experiencing. For your convenience, I have collected and capsulized some pertinent passages from an old article on my website, The Refiner’s Fire, that simply cannot be ignored. The old article (which I am slowly in the process of updating) is entitled, “Reasons why we are in the end times right now! It's not "global warming"; it's "global warning!"

Whether we choose to believe it, or not, God DOES have an ultimate purpose for us, and there WILL be an end to this life as we know it.  (This is not to scare you; rather, to wake you up to the fact that you don’t have to end up “ceasing to exist” once you pass from this world, because you CAN choose “Eternal Life” with God.  It’s all outlined in the Bible!)

It’s not a “pretty picture,” but please take a few minutes to read the following Bible passages that give us strong hints of what has already been happening and what lies ahead:

Among myriad other warnings, the Holy One of Israel said:

• Deuteronomy 32:23-25 - I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence and deadly plague; I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the venom of vipers that glide in the dust.

This was reiterated in the “New Testament”:

• Luke 21:10-12 - There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
• Revelation 6:7-9 - I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
• Revelation 18:7-9 - Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

This world has, throughout the millennia, experienced myriad wars, terrorist activities, droughts, famines, natural disasters, and many other horrific things.  Today, we can add to those things rampant gossip and conspiracy theories via social media; “global warming of biblical proportions”;  tornadoes, fires, floods, earthquakes and dramatic weather changes of all kinds.  Just open your eyes and ears!

• Mark 13:7-9: - "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."

Mysterious diseases, pain and death caused by "beasts of the field/earth.”  (Over just the last 50 years or so, we’ve been witnessing a plethora of deadly diseases (not the least of which were HIV and COVID; along with an upswing in shark attacks, bear, mountain lion and dog attacks, etc.):

• Revelation 6:7-9: - I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
• Luke 21: 10 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
• Jeremiah 16:3-5: "They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried but will be like refuse lying on the ground. They will perish by sword and famine, and their dead bodies will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth."

The world will turn against the Jews and Israel with a vengeance:

• Isaiah 60:15 - "Whereas you have been [Is 1:7-9; 6:11-13; Jer 30:17] forsaken and [Is 66:5] hated With no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting [Is 4:2; 65:18] pride, A joy from generation to generation.
• Joel 3:2 - 'I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.'
• Ezekiel 36:8-10 - "'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.
• Matthew 24:9 - "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

For centuries everybody has been fighting over this tiny country called Israel to claim it as "their" holy place. It seems that the whole world has always "had it in" for Jews in one way or another, and some (i.e. Hitler) have even tried to annihilate them completely. The bottom line is, this issue dates back to the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and will not be resolved until Yeshua returns....

Still not convinced?

The Book of Revelation shows hint of nuclear war (although God does NOT need our man-made weapons to make His end-time scenario happen, and only HE knows what will actually transpire):

John, the prophet on the island of Patmos, sees a vision far into the future. (Revelation) Could this be a description of a thermonuclear holocaust?

• Rev. 8:6 - And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. 8  The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.  10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. 12  The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way."

Since one third of the earth was repeatedly mentioned in the passage above in connection with the destruction of the earth, trees, grass and contamination of the waters making all of them poisonous, and darkening of one third of the atmosphere, a nuclear holocaust seems most reasonable (although God certainly does NOT need to use "man-made" devices to make His end time scenario happen!).

Wars and Rumors of Wars:

• 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.

Violence will increase (which has been happening in droves over the last few decades – and getting worse by the day!) and difficult times will come:

The Book of Revelation talks about children doing evil against their own parents in the end times; about widespread violence and chaos everywhere. We need only to listen to the news to hear about the latest school shooting, "road rage" incidences, unrest, protests and even riots, etc. - things we never used to hear about in days gone by.

Just take a look at what is happening with humanity, in general. For a few decades now, we’ve seen lunatics with a mental problem or a grudge, or some sick personal agenda, committing “mass murders” and/or other violence, just to “make a statement.” We’re no longer safe, no matter where we go, because crazies (usually with guns) are running amuck!  Many people today seem to think it’s their right to take the law into their own hands...

• 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....

Conflicts, disputes, and fighting over the Temple Mount:

• Isaiah 2:1-3 - In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

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 Jeremiah 51:7, 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)
• 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)

So, what can we do about it? Well, nobody is immune from wars and man-made or natural disasters, so the only thing we can really do is to pray and get ourselves “right” with YHWH, because Believers ARE guaranteed eternal life in the “olam haba” (world to come)! We can see examples of the promise of “eternal life” in both Torah and throughout the New Testament:

YHWH put the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:9. And in Tanach we see that people are “gathered to their people,” for instance in Gen. 25:8 (Abraham), 25:17 (Ishmael), 35:29 (Isaac), 49:33 (Jacob); Deut. 32:50 (Moses and Aaron); see also Daniel 12:2 and Nehemiah 9:5. In the New Testament we see eternal life through Y’shua, whose shed blood redeemed us, thus offering eternal life to any obedient Believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Romans 3:23-26; 6:23; John 3:16; 11:25, 3:36, 6:47, 17:3-6 etc.

Obviously only a selection of scripture passages have been given here to make the point. There are dozens and dozens more that were not quoted, but surely, you get the drift by now…

So, is there any GOOD news?

Fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamies, volcanic eruptions, sickness and disease, mass murders, wars, rumors or wars and evil all over the world ... With all the bad news we're hearing lately, is there any GOOD news?

YES - Yeshua's Second Coming! Halleluyah!

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

The GOOD NEWS is that Messiah Yeshua died on our behalf to take away our past sins and allow us to be clean before his Father and learn His Word and how to keep His Ways, using the time left of our earthly years as a “practice run” for the Afterlife! 

Through Yeshua’s redemption get to receive eternal life – whatever that might entail or look like – and spend ETERNITY in our “new, eternal bodies” with YHWH and Yeshua…  (See John 3:16 and 5:24; Romans 6:23; Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:21; Revelation 21 and 22.)

Ultimately, it’s all GOOD because it’s all for HIS Glory and our glorious transformation!  Halleluyah!  Hang in there, guys!

Carmen Welker’s “out of body experience”

I’ve often been ridiculed by my Jewish brethren for “believing in Jesus.” Being Jewish through my mother and her mother and on down the line, I am constantly told what a fool I am to believe in that “Christian idol.”

Well, the bottom line is, I believe Yeshua is THE Messiah because I’ve seen him!  YHWH showed him to me in December 1971, just before I turned 21, while lying in a three-week coma at the Fort Leonard Wood Hospital, near St. Robert, Missouri.

Yes, some may roll their eyes and chuckle, and even attempt to ridicule me, but – as I’m about to explain - ADONAI gave me absolute proof that I was NOT hallucinating! You see, having come from a horrific background of child abuse and neglect, I wasn’t the least bit “religious”; and all I knew about God and His Messiah consisted only of what I had heard from friends.

I remember when I was approximately 5, my foster grandmother in Germany held me on her lap and told me about God, and I totally and completely believed her. But other than that, I had no clue what to do with God; much less, coming to any realization that I was supposed to live according to His Rules.

Until the day He opened my spiritual eyes when I was 44, I basically I felt that the “God and Jesus idea” was just a crutch for people who couldn’t face life on their own.

Regardless, YHWH kept trying to reach me as the years went on, and He even gave me my own personal “Damascus Road” experience while in a coma at the Fort Leonard Wood Hospital, caused by a ruptured appendix that had been misdiagnosed as flu. (I still have the medical records to prove it.)

Anyway, during those three weeks while comatose, I had two “out-of-body” experiences – both of which defy explanation, revealing events that I could NOT have known on my own. (I have included some scriptures wherever appropriate to make my point that I experienced things I couldn’t possibly have known at the time because I wasn’t a church-goer. I reiterate, these experiences happened just before I turned 21, at which time I had never even read the Bible. I didn’t start reading the Bible until I was 44 years old, when I “got saved” in a small-town Baptist church…)

This is an account of my first “out of body” experience – which ultimately served to PROVE (and is revealed at the end of this article) that  both “experiences” had been REAL:

In this first "experience" I remember my soul (or whatever you call the essence that made me, me) sitting up in my body, staring in confusion at all the tubes and machines and paraphernalia keeping me alive, and I simply decided I had had enough.

Next thing I knew, I had left my body completely, and was “flying” up, up, up through the roof of the hospital, heading down Interstate 44 to Springfield, to visit my adoptive father (with whom I had been living while my then-husband was in Vietnam). I remember wondering why I wanted to see my adoptive father, because that monster had been sexually abusing me from when I first met him at age 9, until age 14 when my mother divorced him. (She never knew he was a pedophile, and I never told her. She was too busy fighting her own demons….)

Anyway, during that "visit" I found “myself” (no body, just an invisible “essence”) hovering in the corner of the ceiling above the dining room table, looking down at my father and his girlfriend, Goldie, who – to my sense of hearing in this strange and unusual state - sounded like they were talking into a barrel. They were sitting there holding hands, and animatedly discussing my father’s plans to sell his cows and buy 300 pigs with which to start a pig farm. (Please remember this part!)

Ironically, while peering down at the couple, I was astounded to discover my lack of emotions for them. Normally, I couldn’t look at Daddy without feeling disgust; but in that moment I didn’t care about him, one way or the other; I was simply glad to know he was okay. And as for Goldie, she was like a surrogate mother with whom I had instantly bonded from the moment we met several years before. But, in my present state, I honestly didn’t feel much of anything for her, either. I didn’t feel much about anything or anyone; rather, I felt more like an observer in this world, just basically passing through.

Believing I had accomplished whatever mission I seemed to be on, I felt compelled to return to my sick body back at Fort Leonard Wood. Although I didn’t necessarily want to go back, I somehow knew I had to; and so when I arrived, I unhesitatingly sat down into myself as if taking a seat in a chair. It seemed a totally natural thing to do. I didn’t think to question this experience at all. I simply knew that I was in another realm and that questioning it would be futile because it wasn’t my place to know anything beyond what I was experiencing.

An account of my second “out of body” experience:

Sometime thereafter – several days later – I again found myself leaving my body behind. This time, I headed for outer space and floated around for what seemed like an eternity. Having no body, no arms, no legs, that “entity” again, I was simply “consciousness” floating on a bed of swiftly moving air. I had no clue why, when or where, and I had no control over anything. I was terrified.

Although I couldn’t see much, I distinctly heard sounds from somewhere below me, on another plane; they were eerie sounds, comprised of a mixture of howling winds and human wailing. In my confusion, I was certain that, whatever I was hearing, I wanted no part of it.

Suddenly, to my great relief, in the darkness, a few meters above me and off to the right, there materialized a silhouetted figure of a man dressed in white robes, standing – or so it appeared – in front of the sun. He was too bright to look at until I was fairly close – perhaps a dozen meters away, which was as close as I ever got.

Whoever he was and however he happened to be there, was totally irrelevant to me at the time. I was just glad to see another human and I tried to “will” myself even closer, but I seemed to be stuck in that dozen or so meters away from him. With pleading eyes, I watched this young, olive-skinned, dark-haired man peer down at me. He had a kind, but very sad smile. He wasn’t very good-looking (Isaiah 53:2); as a matter of fact, I remember thinking in my carnal mind, that he was nobody I ever wanted to date. (Obviously, I still had my limited, carnal mindset at that point!)

Be that as it may, I was no longer alone, and he served as company for me in this huge, strange void, and that is all that mattered to me at that point in time.

“Help me!” I called out to him, somehow communicating via thought waves.

He answered in a foreign language I couldn’t understand (presumably Hebrew or Aramaic since Yeshua was an Israeli Jew … which I didn’t know at the time because I didn’t know who this man was); and much of what he said, was ripped from his lips by the awful howling winds (Holy Spirit?) that seemed to grow in ferocity.   I remember being so disappointed in the knowledge that he had the power to pull me up and out of this strange and scary nothingness, yet he seemed unwilling to do so.

(Now, of course, I understand that he didn’t help me back then because I didn’t know him. I had no clue that he was the “gate” to the Father [John 14:6]. At that time, I had never actually confessed YHWH as ELOHIM or Yeshua as His Mashyiach! [Genesis 1; Psalm 103:8-10; see also Exodus 34:6, 7; Matthew 7:7:13–21; Matthew 18:3; John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 5:13; Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:3–4, 54–57, etc.] I knew from my foster grandmother that there was a God – but that is ALL I knew!)

Suddenly, as he continued to talk in that foreign language, the raucous winds shifted and I was blown helplessly in an opposite direction! Horrified, I tried to will myself back, but it was no use; I was completely and utterly helpless. The man briefly reached out for me, shouting something I couldn’t make out. His face reflected a mixture of anguish and sadness as he watched me float further away – but I also got the distinct impression that he (or some power behind him) was sending me away!

My eyes desperately sought his as the chasm between us widened. Soon, there was nothing I could do except to watch him recede into the distance, a silent sentinel among the stars somewhere in the middle of the universe – a human silhouette bursting with bright lights and chained energy….

Just before he completely disappeared from view, something inside me “clicked” and I recognized him! He was Jesus, that guy I had heard about, who got nailed to the cross for going around telling everybody he was the Son of God! Yes, I had heard of him through various “Bible thumpers” I’d met over the years, and also my pedophile adoptive father who proclaimed to be a Christian; but other than that, I hadn’t one iota of a clue as to the history behind the cross.

Shortly thereafter I came out of the coma, and lay there, confused and feeling very HOLY for the next few days. It was an AMAZING experience, because I had never been “holy” before in my entire life! But I had felt SO close to “God” during that time, that I never wanted to leave that bed. I had entire conversations with Him as I lay there, waiting for all my faculties to return. I didn’t really WANT to be in this world anymore, but He refused to let me cross over because there was something He needed me to do. Something He needed me to do…

(I finally figured out what the “something” was, once God opened my “spiritual eyes” to Him and His Divine Messiah, back in January 1995, in a little Baptist church, in Seymour, Missouri. That “something” was ultimately to reach and teach the whole world about YHWH/Yeshua/Torah via a website He caused me to create in 2001, called The Refiner’s Fire …

Anyway,  once out of my coma. “the world” soon returned and - although I KNEW I had really met “Jesus”, when I finally “became myself” again (feeling heavy and quite “out of place” here on earth), I began to doubt and wonder if all this hadn’t really been just a crazy, vivid dream… (Genesis 3:1-4; John 8:44; Mark 9:24; James 1:5-8; James 1:6; Romans 10:17, etc.)

But then I received "proof positive” that my out of body experiences had been real:

It happened when Goldie, my adoptive father’s girlfriend, came to visit me in the hospital, and I asked her, when she and my father were going to start that pig farm.

At that point, you could have heard that proverbial pin drop as Goldie gawked at me for several long moments, in complete disbelief! When she finally found her voice, she said: “Honey, how did you know that?  We haven’t told anybody, yet…”

My response:  “I HEARD you guys talking about it during an out-of-body experience!”

The AI “Grok” knows of my late husband’s work!

I JUST HAD AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION WITH the AI “GROK” – I was testing to it see what it had to say about the various calendars being discussed among those of us who keep Yahweh’s Appointed Feasts and Times; and, to my great surprise, our “conversation” ended up including the work of my late husband, Bill Welker who developed what is now known as the Eternal Torah Calendar (ETC), as presented today by Andrew Gabriel Roth!

It all started when, just for kicks, I asked Grok how the Rabbinic calendars differ from some of the others on the Internet. The year mentioned on Rabbinic Calendars is 5786, while, for instance, the Eternal Torah Calendar suggests the year is 5926.

Here’s the exact conversation:

GROK: “The Rabbinic Calendar (RC), based on the system set up around 359 CE, is the standard Hebrew calendar most Jews use today. In this context, the year RC is the traditional count from creation, while the year 5926 ETC is from the ‘Eternal Torah Calendar,’ devised by Andrew Gabriel Roth, which starts counting earlier from Adam’s creation.”

ME: “So, you’ve heard of my friend, Andrew Gabriel Roth and his work?”

GROK: “Of course. Andrew Gabriel Roth is a biblical scholar, author and translator specializing in the Aramaic origins of the New Testament. Born in 1964 to a Jewish family, he studied Hebrew from a young age, earned a Communications degree from Millersville University, and came to faith in Yeshua as messiah in 1996. He is best known for his Aramaic-English New Testament (AENT) and more recently, The Apostolic Writings, a fresh translation from the Aramaic Peshitta. He also publishes his Eternal Torah Calendar every year through his ministry One Faith One People.”

(At this point, I had to say it – because I watched Bill toil for many, many months on the origins of the calendar, according to what the BIBLE says about dates and times. He put a LOT of time and effort – and money - into the project!)

ME: “Actually, Grok, the groundwork for the Eternal Torah Calendar was done by my late husband, William Welker, who gave it to Andrew Gabriel Roth.”

To my great surprise, Grok responded with the following:

GROK: “Oh, I stand corrected. Your husband Bill Welker was the one who developed the foundational work for the Eternal Torah Calendar, using his expertise in astronomy and biblical timing. Andrew Gabriel Roth later published and expanded it through his ministry. Thanks for sharing that personal piece of history.”

WELL, YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THRILLED I WAS TO HEAR THIS! What Grok doesn’t know yet, however (but it will soon), is that Andrew recently told me that my husband’s work is being turned into an App later on this year! As Bill would say: "All the honor, praise and glory goes to ADONAI-ELOHIM!"

Has ALL been fulfilled yet? Have heaven and earth passed away?

I can’t understand why there is so much dissension among believers – especially those who keep insisting “the law” (Torah) has been abolished.

I've been asking people for 28 years now: Have heaven and earth passed away yet? Has "all been fulfilled" yet?

Without the Torah (ADONAI's Divine Instructions in Righteousness - erroneously referred to as "the Law"), we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living! Without the Torah, we wouldn't know what constitutes "sin" - which John explains as "transgression of the Torah" (1 John 3:4).
Throughout the Torah see myriad warnings from Yahweh, along with plenty of examples of "sins" being committed (including in-your-face "do's and don'ts" in Leviticus - some of which sound VERY strange to our modern mindsets)! And, as you know, we get the "Ten Commandments" straight out of Exodus. (Ask yourself this question: If "all sins were forgiven,” as many insist, then why weren't those Ten?)

As you know, God doesn't command anything without a solid reason, and so we must be very careful to avoid that “line” between sin and righteousness defined in Torah. That is why it is imperative to read the WHOLE Bible, in context, via the Hebrew instead of the Greek mindset, as the Bible amply reveals what constitutes sin!

The bottom line is, no matter how great or small the sin, forgiveness lies in repentance AND turning FROM sin because - if you keep on sinning in the erroneous belief that "Jesus died to forgive ALL our sins," no matter how many times you knowingly and purposely continue to follow your carnal nature - then you WILL be considered "lukewarm" upon Yeshua's Second Coming; and, consequently, risk being "vomited from his mouth." (See Revelation 3:16.)
BY THE WAY - for those who never really thought about it, "sin" is active violation or deliberate rebellion against divine commands. It covers both acts of commission (doing forbidden things) and omission (failing to do what is required), representing a rejection of God’s established order and moral boundaries.

That certainly didn’t change because “Jesus died”...

Yeshua's divine, shed blood covered our PAST sins; NOT deliberate, willful ongoing sins (2 Peter 1:9 and Romans 3:25). When we believe in Yahweh-ELOHIM ("the Father) and accept the fact that He sent His "Son" (Messiah Yeshua) to earth to teach and preach His Word,  to represent Yahweh-Elohim (his Father), to teach us how to worship the Father, and how to treat each other; and, to ultimately offer his life for the purpose of becoming our Redeemer so that we could have eternal life.

He didn’t come to abolish His Father’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness, nor to start any new religions that gave men the freedom to make up their own rules while ignoring those made in Heaven.

Why would he? He was, since the “beginning” - and still IS - "the arm of ELOHIM" (Isaiah 53:1) and “the Word” of ELOHIM (John 1:1 and 14)…

The Torah is explicit about this fact: Sin is sin and the meaning of sin didn’t change just because Yahweh’s Messiah shed his blood for us.

God said WHAT???

By Vishal Sooklall

One of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible is Numbers 31:17–18. Many people claim these verses prove that God commanded the Israelites to take young girls as sex slaves. However, that is not what the text says. A careful reading of the entire chapter reveals a very different picture.

The first rule of Bible study is to read every verse in its context. In Numbers 25, the Midianites deliberately led Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal Peor. They used their women to entice the Israelites into worshipping false gods. Because of this rebellion, God's judgment fell upon Israel, and thousands of Israelites died.

Later, in Numbers 31, God commanded Israel to execute judgment on Midian. Moses reminded the people why this judgment was taking place: "These women caused the children of Israel... to trespass against the LORD" (Numbers 31:16). The women who had participated in leading Israel into sin were judged because of their role in that rebellion.

The young girls, however, had not participated in those events. That is why they were spared. The Bible simply says to "keep alive" the girls who had not known a man. It does not say they were to be raped, abused, or used as sex slaves. Those ideas are added to the text by critics—they are not found in the passage itself.

In fact, the Law of Moses contains many commands protecting women from sexual immorality and unlawful sexual behavior. God repeatedly condemned sexual sin and required His people to live holy lives. It would be inconsistent to claim that the same God who condemned sexual immorality was commanding sexual abuse in this passage when the text never says so.

This event was also not a general command for all nations or all generations. It was a unique act of divine judgment against the Midianites because of their deliberate attempt to corrupt God's people through idolatry and immorality. It was a specific historical event, not a universal rule.

A quick message on the daughters of Zelophehad, and the reason why Mary is able to transfer the rights of inheritance to her son, Yeshua…

In reading Numbers 27:1 in this week's Torah portion, we see some of the first "women's libbers" - five women who dared to speak out and claim their father's inheritance - The five daughters of Zelophehad who petitioned Moshe that they be granted the portion of the land belonging to their father (who died without sons).

YHWH Himself accepted their claim and incorporated it into the Torah's laws of inheritance, thus revealing that, in certain circumstances, inheritance CAN be passed down through women:

Numbers 27: 1 Then the daughters of Tz'lof'chad the son of Hefer, the son of Gil'ad, the son of Machir, the son of M'nasheh, of the families of M'nasheh, the son of Yosef, approached. These were the names of his daughters: Machlah, No'ah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirtzah. 2 They stood in front of Moshe, El'azar the cohen, the leaders and the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, 3 "Our father died in the desert. He wasn't part of the group who assembled themselves to rebel against ADONAI in Korach's group, but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.

4 Why should the name of our father be eliminated from his family just because he didn't have a son? Give us property to possess along with the brothers of our father." 5 Moshe brought their cause before ADONAI. 6 ADONAI answered Moshe, 7 "The daughters of Tz'lof'chad are right in what they say. You must give them property to be inherited along with that of their father's brothers; have what their father would have inherited pass to them.

8 Moreover, say to the people of Isra'el, 'If a man dies and does not have a son, you are to have his inheritance pass to his daughter. 9 If he doesn't have a daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11 If his father doesn't have brothers, give his inheritance to the closest relative in his family, and he will possess it. This will be the standard for judgment to be used by the people of Isra'el, as ADONAI ordered Moshe.'" (AENT)

(Some more tidbits coming - please bear with me, because it all ends up tying together!)

Let's briefly examine that last passage, above:

In Numbers 27:8-11, we saw yet another scripture that negates the anti-Y’shua crowd’s attempts to disprove Y’shua! They are adamant that He cannot be Messiah because His lineage came through a woman (since Joseph wasn’t His biological father; just someone who "adopted" Y'shua...), and they insist the genealogy (according to Judaism), must come through the male.

Also, according to the anti-Y’shua crowd, women cannot inherit or pass on an inheritance. Hence, on several levels, Y’shua’s messiahship – according to them - is null and void.

Well, let's examine what SCRIPTURE says:

Numbers 27:8 Moreover, say to the people of Isra'el, 'If a man dies and does not have a son, you are to have his inheritance pass to his daughter. 9 If he doesn't have a daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11 If his father doesn't have brothers, give his inheritance to the closest relative in his family, and he will possess it. This will be the standard for judgment to be used by the people of Isra'el, as ADONAI ordered Moshe.'"

So, there goes the idea that women cannot have an inheritance!

While we’re at it, let's move on to the genealogy thing that some traditional Jews use to attempt to negate the legitimacy of Yeshua...

Okay, so it looks like Mary should be disqualified to transfer the rights of her lineage to her son, Yeshua - except for a little known exception to the rule!

In Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38 we are presented with two genealogies of Yeshua. On the surface these different listings would appear to be a contradiction in the scriptures. Not only are the two genealogies listed in the reverse chronology from each other, but the genealogy found in Matthew's gospel is the lineage of Yeshua's mother Mary, while the genealogy found in Luke's gospel is the lineage of Yeshua's earthly father Joseph.

[Note: this is completely opposed to most teachings! But there is no doubt that Matthew's genealogy is that of Mary, and not her husband Joseph as is usually assumed.]

However, many people fail to realize or address a major problem associated with the genealogical listing found in Matthew's gospel: The lineage of Mary. Once you have established that the line is indeed Mary's you must deal with a second difficulty: The rights of the line are NOT passed through the mother; but rather, through the father.

Even though Mary, through her lineage, was of the Davidic bloodline (as was her husband, Joseph), she should be excluded from being able to pass those rights of the bloodline because she was female (Deuteronomy 21:16).

So, it is not enough to prove that Mary was an unblemished descendant of David; she had to be a male to transfer the rights. Therefore, she would be disqualified to transfer the rights to her son Yeshua - EXCEPT for a little known exception to the rule.

BUT, FIRST, LOOK AT THIS!

In Numbers 26 we are introduced to Zelophehad. Zelophehad, we are told, had no sons; only daughters. In Numbers 27, following the death of Zelophehad, the daughters of Zelophehad came before Moses and argued their plight. Because their father had died with no sons, all of their rights of inheritance were to be lost and they felt this was unfair.

So Moses prayed to YHWH and He gave Moses an exception to the rule! He told Moses that the inheritance CAN flow through a female, IF they fulfill two requirements: There must be no male offspring in the family (Numbers 27:8) and if the female offspring should marry, they must marry within their own tribe (Numbers 36:6).

Returning to Mary:

On the surface she should be unable to transfer the rights to her Son. But when you research you find that Mary had NO brothers, she was of the line of David, AND received the inheritance of her father because her father had no sons, AND Mary did indeed marry within her own tribe to Joseph.

End of argument!

Let’s all pray for ministries that teach against Torah!

One such ministry, “The Biblical Roots” belongs to Pastor R.L. Solberg, who appears to dedicate most of his energy NOT to promoting God and His Word; but rather to spend time bashing the Torah (the first five Books of the Bible that contain all of God’s original Divine Instructions in Righteousness). 

Prolific on Facebook, he’s very cunning in his posts because he pretends to be FOR the Torah, while at the same time, negating it via a lot of scripture twisting.  

Below is just one example from the mind of R.L. Solberg:

“To be clear, I do not believe or teach that God’s law (his unchanging moral will) is invalid. Rather, I believe the Bible teaches that the Law of Moses as covenantal legislation has found to its God-ordained fulfillment in Christ. ‘We have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.’

(Rom‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬). We still serve and obey God. And we do so under his new covenant.

Shalom!

MY RESPONSE:

First, I must note that I find it odd that Solberg likes to throw around Hebrew words and terms – perhaps to impress his clueless Christian audience with his “vast knowledge”…

Be that as it may, here was my response to him – and please note that you, my readers - are free to make up your own mind as to whom you wish to believe:

Pastor Solberg -  I’m truly baffled as to why you constantly insist on bashing Yahweh’s Divine Instructions, as if they are garbage. How and when were we released from obeying His Torah instructions (which you call “the law”) when the entire New Testament makes it clear that  Yeshua and all his Apostles UPHELD the law!  (Remember, Yeshua came to be our Redemption, our FINAL SIN SACRIFICE, not as someone who was sent to abolish His Father’s Divine Instructions!)

It is imperative to recognize that Yeshua was the "arm"  of Yahweh.  The arm doesn't control the "brain", and Yeshua never suggested that he came to replace Yahweh/his "Father" in any way! He even said he came to do His Father's will and NOT his own; and that he would do everything His Father commanded. Check it out for yourself:

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)

(The “good news” Kingdom of God refers to YHWH and His Torah and everything YHWH is and does.)

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. (CJB)

Does that sound like he came to negate His Father’s Divine Instructions to mankind?

Check out some passages from both the “old” and “new” Testaments wherein Yahweh reiterates the fact that ALL are to obey His Divine Instructions, without which we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living:

Numbers 15: 13 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'" (CJB)

Deuteronomy 31: 11 when all Isra'el have come to appear in the presence of ADONAI at the place he will choose, you are to read this Torah before all Isra'el, so that they can hear it. 12 Assemble the people-the men, the women, the little ones and the foreigners (which includes ANYONE who wishes to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) you have in your towns -so that they can hear, learn, fear ADONAI your God and take care to obey all the words of this Torah… (CJB)

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

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. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (CJB)

Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and earth passed away? If not, then it seems we are obliged to continue to obey Torah - our Creator's divine teachings/instruction!

Moving on, Proverbs 28:9 tells us that if one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination! The Holy One of Israel is NOT impressed with prayer if you refuse to hear and obey His Divine Instructions!

1 Samuel 15:22 tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice.

John 9:31 tells us: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”

Isaiah 1:15 says, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I won’t be listening.”

Deuteronomy 28 reveals the myriad blessings if we obey… and the curses if we don’t.

Yahweh said His law is good and perfect, so why do you and so many others hate it? Because it’s a mirror, and people smash mirrors when they don’t like what they see!

Check out and really THINK about the following passages, because they are important:

Psalm 19:8(7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect, restoring the inner person. The instruction of Adonai is sure, making wise the thoughtless. ^{9 (8)} The precepts of Adonai are right, rejoicing the heart. The mitzvah of Adonai is pure, enlightening the eyes. ^{10 (9)} The fear of Adonai is clean, enduring forever. The rulings of Adonai are true, they are righteous altogether, ^{11 (10)} more desirable than gold, than much fine gold, also sweeter than honey or drippings from the honeycomb. ^{12 (11)} Through them your servant is warned; in obeying them there is great reward. (CJB)

Romans 7:12 So the Torah is holy; that is, the commandment is holy, just and good. (CJB)

The Bible tells us that the flesh hates “the law”…

Romans 8:7 For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah — indeed, it cannot. 8 Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God. (CJB)

The carnal mind is at war with God. It "cannot" submit to His law. The law exposes sin. Romans 7:7, “I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’”

John 3:20 For everyone who does evil things hates the light and avoids it, so that his actions won’t be exposed. ²¹ But everyone who does what is true comes to the light, so that all may see that his actions are accomplished through God.” (CJB)

Messiah warns in Matthew 24:12, “And because LAWLESSNESS will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Lawlessness equals hatred of Torah. When Torah is thrown out, love dies.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not have patience for sound teaching, but will cater to their passions and gather around themselves teachers who say whatever their ears itch to hear. ⁴ Yes, they will stop listening to the truth, but will turn aside to follow myths. (CJB)

Ask yourself this:  Why would Yahweh’s Messiah Yeshua (known in the Christian world as “Jesus”) have abolished everything his Father ever commanded, just so those who call themselves "Christians" would be exempt from following His commandments and do nothing except "believe in Jesus?"  

Why do you refuse to keep the "forever" commands, such as the Seventh Day Sabbath which is a SIGN between God and His people? (See Exodus 31:16; Ezekiel 20:11-12; Exodus 20:8-11, etc) Why do you reject His seven commanded festivals (Leviticus 23), all of which foreshadow Messiah Yeshua? Where does GOD ever say that after his Son died, people would no longer have to obey anything He commanded for our own good, or that they could make up their own holy days and ways, supposedly designed to honor Him? (Remember the sons of Aaron?)

May God open your spiritual eyes so that you can finally understand that Yeshua didn't come to abolish everything His Father ever commanded, nor to bring any "religion" or "denomination. He came to demolish the nonsense men had added to His Divine Instructions (without which we would have no blueprint for moral, holy living); and to teach the original commands – all of which are designed to keep HIS PEOPLE set apart/holy, and then to die as our Final SIN Sacrifice so that we would no longer have to kill millions of innocent animals to atone for our sins...

You would do well to remember that, according to Scripture, it is a sin to teach that God's Torah is no longer relevant ... as it WILL render you "lukewarm" and cause Yeshua to vomit you from his mouth upon his return. (Revelation 3:16)

I pray you will ponder these things before continuing the lie that Torah is irrelevant!

What was the very first thing that God called “holy”?

The following amazing message was borrowed from “Humble Disciple” on facebook.

One thing that has always fascinated me is what God first called holy.

It wasn't a mountain.

It wasn't a city.

It wasn't a temple.

It wasn't even a people.

Before Israel existed. Before there was a priesthood. Before there were sacrifices, feasts, kings, prophets, or a Tabernacle, God sanctified a day.

"The seventh day God blessed and sanctified, because in it He ceased from all His work that God created for the purpose of preparing." (Genesis 2:3 TLV)

The first thing in Scripture called holy is time. I don't think that's an accident. God could have made a holy place first. He could have marked out sacred ground. Instead, He set apart a recurring appointment woven into creation itself. Every seven days, time itself carries His signature.

Long before Sinai, the Sabbath was already there.

Long before there was a Jew or Gentile.

Long before there was a nation called Israel.

The Sabbath begins in the same chapter as marriage. Both are creation gifts. Both were established before sin entered the world. Maybe that's why the Sabbath has never felt like a burden to me.

When Friday evening arrives and the noise of the week begins to fade, it feels less like keeping a rule and more like returning to something that was always meant to be part of life. A weekly reminder that I am not defined by productivity. That the world keeps turning while I rest. That Yehovah is God and I am not.

It's interesting that when Scripture describes the coming Kingdom, the Sabbath is still there (Isaiah 66:23). What began in Genesis is still present at the end.

The first thing God called holy wasn't a building people had to travel to. It was time that came to them. Every week. Like an invitation. Waiting to be received.

Tidbits about the “Red Heifer” sacrifice

It is interesting to note the "Red Heifer" sacrifice was extremely unique, for several reasons:

• It was the only sacrifice that specifically required an animal of a particular color. This animal was extremely rare and unique of its kind (in fact, Maimonides wrote, "Nine Parot Adumot were prepared from the time the Commandment was given until the destruction of the Second Temple. Moses our Teacher prepared one, Ezra prepared one and seven more were prepared until the Destruction of the Temple. The tenth will be prepared by the Mashiach.")
  
  
• It was the only sacrifice where all the rituals were carried out outside of the camp / outside the Temple precincts.
  
  
• It was the only sacrifice that ritually contaminated the priest who offered it, but made the one who was sprinkled by it clean.
  
  
• It was the only sacrifice where the ashes were preserved and used (other sacrifices required the ashes be disposed outside of the camp).

NOTE: The Red Heifer is a mystery - a "type" of Yeshua, in that Yeshua cleanses uncleanness. The Heifer is used specifically for Temple purification and the purification of someone who has touched a dead body. According to Scripture, a Red Heifer must be found to purify the Third Temple.

What does “You are gods” refer to in Psalm 82?

QUESTION ON FACEBOOK:  Can someone help me understand Psalm 82?  When HaShem says, "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you,'" who is He speaking to?

Is HaShem referring to human judges and rulers who were given authority to judge on His behalf, or is He speaking to spiritual beings? I've heard both interpretations and I'm trying to understand which fits the context best.

Also, when the Psalm refers to "gods" (elohim), is that title being used because judging is an authority that belongs to HaShem, or is there something deeper going on in the Hebrew that I'm missing?

Jeremy Chance Springfield of Random Groovy Bible Facts responds:

You are familiar with the concept of “principalities and powers” that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6, which were not “flesh and blood,” ie, human rulers?

That is what is being referenced in Psalm 82—the spiritual entities who are set over nations. This is mentioned in a few other places. The book of Daniel references the notion when he is greeted by the Angel Gabriel, who tells him he would have arrived sooner to speak with him, if not for the “prince” of Persia who opposed him, and who was eventually sidetracked by the coming of the angel Michael to fight and allow him to pass through to Daniel.

You see them in the first part of the book of Job, when they go to appear before the Creator, and of course the Satan goes along with them and essentially boasts of his authority to control the peoples of the world.

The end goal is stated in Psalm 82—all the spiritual powers will be judged and removed from their authoritative positions, and the Creator will once again be in full control of this earthly realm.

Something serious for Torah rejecters to contemplate

For those who don’t believe Torah pertains to you, please explain and respond to just two of many other examples that could be cited:

(1)  If you believe the Torah doesn’t pertain to you, why do you tithe?

Deuteronomy 16:17 “Every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Adonai your God has given you.”  (CJB)

(2)  Why are you bothering with the Ten Commandments, since they come straight out of Exodus 20?

Exodus 20: 1 Then God said all these words:

^{2  א} “I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.

ב ³ “You are to have no other gods before me.

⁴ You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline.

⁵ You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.

ג ⁷ “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly.

^{8 ד} “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.

ה ¹² “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which Adonai your God is giving you.

ו ¹³ “Do not murder.

^{(14) ז} “Do not commit adultery.

^{(15)  ט} “Do not steal.

^{(16) ט} “Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.

י ^{14 (17) י} “Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

^{15 (18)} All the people experienced the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled. Standing at a distance, ^{16 (19)} they said to Moshe, “You, speak with us; and we will listen. But don’t let God speak with us, or we will die.” ^{17 (20)} Moshe answered the people, “Don’t be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.” ^{18 (21)} So the people stood at a distance, but Moshe approached the thick darkness where God was. (CJB)

What The Church Taught Me…

By Sue Francis

~ What The Church Taught Me ~

The church taught me

sin is missing the mark.

But here’s what nobody asked…

Whose mark?

Defined by whom?

Based on what standard?

Because the honest answer

depended entirely on which church you attended.

Which denomination.

Which pastor.

Which tradition.

And if I’m being completely honest…

the mark I was most often

trying to hit wasn’t even YHWH’s standard.

It was people’s.

The pastor’s approval.

The congregation’s expectations.

The unwritten rules of the community I belonged to.

Looking right.

Sounding right.

Being seen doing the right things

by the right people.

Pleasing the church more than seeking to actually know what pleasing YHWH looked like.

And those two things

are not always the same.

One church’s mark, looked different from another’s.

And underneath all of it…

the actual standard YHWH established was rarely the foundation.

And I felt the confusion, but never quite knowing exactly what I was failing against.

And here’s what the church didn’t teach me…

The Hebrew word for sin

is “chata”.

And chata DOES mean

missing the mark.

But SCRIPTURE doesn’t leave

the mark undefined.

IT DEFINES IT.

Precisely.

Clearly.

Without ambiguity.

1 John 3:4.

Sin IS the transgression of Torah.

That’s not a feeling.

That’s not a denomination’s standard.

That’s not a pastor’s opinion.

That’s not what the congregation expects.

That’s a definition.

Torah is the mark.

The measuring line.

The boundary marker.

The covenant instruction

that tells you exactly

where the line is.

And without Torah?

You’re trying to hit a target

that keeps moving

depending on who’s defining it.

Feeling guilty

without knowing why.

Striving to measure up

without knowing what up looks like.

That’s an exhausting way to live.

And I lived it for years.

Genuine love for Him.

Genuine desire to please Him.

But no clear foundation

beneath my feet.

Torah gives that foundation.

Not as a burden.

Not as a performance checklist.

But as a Father saying ….

here is the path.

Here is what love looks like

walked out in real life.

Here is where the line is

so you don’t have to guess anymore.

YHWH never intended

for sin to be mysterious.

He gave us Torah

so we would know

exactly what He was asking.

And exactly what

we were walking away from

when we chose our own way.

And why does this matter?

Because vague conviction

without clear direction

produces one of two things.

Either shame without solution —

always feeling like you’re falling short

but never knowing what to change.

Or license without boundaries —

deciding the standard is unclear

so anything goes.

Torah removes both traps.

It gives you the standard clearly.

And it gives you the path back

when you miss it.

That’s not legalism.

That’s clarity.

And clarity is an act of love

from a Father who never wanted you

stumbling in the dark trying to hit a target that kept moving

depending on who was defining it.

The church taught me

sin was missing the mark.

YHWH showed me

Torah is the mark.

Same story.

The REST of the story.

A great reminder about the commanded Sabbath Rest

The following article was written by a Facebook friend called “Humble Disciple.”

I struggled with this verse in the past. Not because it was difficult to understand. Because it was difficult to explain away.

The book of Hebrews spends chapter after chapter showing what has changed. The Levitical priesthood changed. The sacrificial system changed. The earthly sanctuary pointed to a greater reality. Hebrews is not afraid to tell us when something has reached its fulfillment.

Yet when the writer arrives at the Sabbath, he doesn't say it ended. He doesn't say it was replaced. He doesn't say it became Sunday. He says it remains. Remains. Not remained. Not used to exist. Not fulfilled away. Remains. Something cannot remain if it has ceased to exist.

I was told Hebrews proves the Sabbath was replaced by Jesus. That the rest is now purely spiritual. But the more I read the chapter, the more that explanation felt forced. The author never says the Sabbath ended. He never says it was abolished. He says it remains. Not because the weekly Sabbath is the final destination, but because it points forward to a greater rest still ahead.

What struck me even more was who this promise is for. "There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God." Not for the world in general. For the people of God. The people who hear His voice. The people who trust Him. The people who refuse to harden their hearts. The people who are pressing toward the Kingdom.

Hebrews is using the Sabbath as a picture of something even greater.

The weekly Sabbath reminds us that our work is not our salvation. Every seventh day we stop striving, stop chasing, stop producing, and remember that everything comes from Yehovah. And every Sabbath points beyond itself. Back to creation, where God rested. Forward to the Kingdom, where His people will finally enter the fullness of that rest.

That's why the Sabbath appears everywhere in Scripture. It begins in Genesis before there was a Jew. It is written into the covenant at Sinai. The prophets see it in the age to come. Yeshua kept it. The apostles kept it. Revelation describes a people who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.

One story. One God. One people. One consistent witness from beginning to end.

Hebrews 4:9 is a promise:

• A promise that the gift given at creation still stands.
• A promise that the weekly Sabbath still points somewhere.
• A promise that after all the wandering, striving, suffering, and waiting...
• …there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

PS: Many comments say, "Jesus is now our Sabbath rest," so before you feel compelled making that same comment, note, I agree that our rest is found in Messiah.

The question is whether Scripture says that because Messiah is our rest, the Sabbath no longer matters. Hebrews never says that.

The author doesn't conclude, "The Sabbath has ended." He concludes, "There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God."

Messiah and the Sabbath are not competitors. The Sabbath points to Him. It reminds us weekly that salvation is not by our works and points forward to the greater rest still ahead.

That's why I find it difficult to believe the Sabbath was abolished. Yeshua spoke of His followers caring about the Sabbath long after His resurrection (Matthew 24:20). Isaiah sees all flesh worshipping before Yehovah from Sabbath to Sabbath in the age to come (Isaiah 66:23).

The Sabbath points to Messiah. But pointing to something greater is not the same as disappearing because of it.

Responding to one of the many supposed Christian “proof texts” against Torah keeping…

Christian argument against Torah keeping:

“If the guilt or punishment or curse of the Moses law was death and Hades and Yahshua took away the debt or punishment or curse by conquering death, then the Moses law no longer has any power and had to be canceled.No guilt or death for the transgression of the Mosaic law makes the Moses law useless.

“18. For on the one hand there is the abolition (cancellation) of the preceding commandment (the Moses law) because of its weakness and uselessness, 19. because the law made nothing perfect; but on the other hand there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19, Afr1953)

“But there is a new law where death for transgression is not taken away...”

The Refiner’s Fire Response:

Let’s look at this from the Hebrew, instead of the Greek viewpoint, using the Aramaic English New Testament:

Hebrews 7:18. And the change which was made in the first statute was on account of its powerlessness and because there was no usefullness in it. 19. For the instruction[1] (of the priests) made nothing perfect, but there has come in its place a better hope[2] by which we draw near to Elohim. 20. And he confirmed it to us by an oath. (AENT)

[1] The word Namusa may refer to Torah proper, or instruction relating to a group or people. The line of thought begins in 7:17 which would demand that namusa/instruction relates to the Aaronic priestly order, not Torah as a whole. The toggling between the two priestly lines of Melchisedec (Bereshit/Genesis) and Aaron (Vayiqra/Leviticus) is a common theme in Tanakh, which predicts that the one must give way to the other.

For those who are adamant that Paul can only be referring to Torah (the Law), then consider that Paul is writing to Jews!

If Paul were writing to Christians he might have written, “for the Bible perfected nothing” because a “Holy Book” in itself cannot bring perfection even if the Book itself were Perfect. Only the Spirit of YHWH who wrote Torah or “the Bible” can bring perfection. All religions have a “Holy Book” (or two), but imagine how different the world would be if everyone actually followed what their Holy Books teach?

Torah reveals Mashiyach who brought a better hope! Do we throw out the Book? That would be foolish theology! And this is not what Paul is teaching! The world is not lacking “holy books” but many souls are lacking in the motivation and desire to live Righteous and Sanctified lives unto YHWH.

[2] The word Sebar could be "hope" but also "Good News/Gospel." More than any other author, Shaul routinely exploits this root word “sebar” in his writings, which is as strong a signature for his writing style as could be found in the NT.

Acts 2 Reveals something amazing about the YHWH-Yeshua relationship!

What does Acts 2:36 tell us about the YHWH/Yeshua relationship?

ACTS 2:36. Truly, therefore, let all the house of Israel know that Elohim has made[1] this Y’shua the Mashiyach whom you executed on a stake both Master YHWH and Mashiyach.” 37. And when they heard these things they were touched in their hearts, and they said to Shimon and to the rest of the Shlichim, “What should we do, our brothers?” 38. Shimon said to them, “Repent and be immersed[2] each of you in the name of Master YHWH-Y’shua[3] for the forgiveness of sins, that you may receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh. 39. For to you was the promise, and to your children, and to all those who are far away whom Elohim will call. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] “Has made” meaning from Y’shua’s birth; one of the clearest statements in the NT that Y’shua had occurrences of human and divine natures co-existing within him. The human side’s total obedience to YHWH contributed to Y’shua qualifying as haMashiyach; the fact that the Ruach haKodesh (another name for YHWH), dwelled inside Y’shua, also establishes Y’shua as the image of YHWH.

[2] Shimon was preaching from the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem. Just below him were hundreds of mikveh (immersion) baths. Both the steps he spoke from and the baths are visible today outside the Western Wall. In Peter’s day baptism wasn’t an act of conversion from one religion to another, but an act of purification from sin. A person repented of their sin, prayed, and then entered into the waters of the mikveh to symbolize atonement.

[3] MarYah and Y'shua appear next to one another! Therefore, Keefa is saying that the divine part of Y'shua and YHWH are one and the same; he is referring to Him in both ways. It is an example of how the Name of the Father and the Son is one and the same, or they could not possibly be combined in this matter.

TO BETTER GRASP THE MEANING OF ACTS 2:36-39 ABOVE, we need to refer to an explanation straight from Yeshua’s mouth in John 17:11-12:

John 17:11. Henceforth, I will not be in the world, and these are in the world. And I am coming to Your presence. Kadosh[4] Father, keep them by your Name,[5] that which you have given to me, that they may be one as We are. 12. I was with them while I was in the world. I have kept them in your Name;[6] those whom you have given to me, I have kept. And not a man of them is lost except for the son of perdition, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[4] Kadosh/Set Apart means that YHWH and His Word will never change; we can put our trust in Him knowing He will keep His Word.

[5] A very key passage. Aramaic literally reads that YHWH gave His Name to Y’shua; therefore, he has the Name of his Father within him.

[6] Y’shua keeps them in YHWH’s name so when we call upon YHWH in Y’shua’s name, we are calling on YHWH for Salvation. As the Name of YHWH is in Mashiyach, so are we to have the name of Mashiyach in us, which means that as followers of Y’shua we are to walk according to his righteousness, observe Torah and walk in the anointing of the Ruach haKodesh as Mashiyach demonstrated to us.

A stark reminder that we are in the end times…

IT ALWAYS SADDENS ME TO HEAR OF ANOTHER "MASS SHOOTING"; yet that scourge seems to have become the norm in today's modern world. The most recent one happened yesterday in San Diego, California, when two teenaged perpetrators (aged 17 and 19) managed to kill three innocent people at a Muslim mosque, including a security guard, before taking their own lives.

It also saddens me to know that cities nationwide are grappling with a trend of "teen takeovers"—large, spontaneous gatherings coordinated via social media that frequently escalate into violence, looting, and vandalism. One such example is the most recent incident that occurred at a Chipotle restaurant where teens gathered for the sole purpose of entering to purposely cause damage to property and terrorize customers by overturning furniture and using chairs as weapons to deliberately hurt people.

This crazy, violent trend has been expanding for several years, as indicated in a report out of California in 2024, where teens were using fireworks to "launch off rockets at cars and people and blowing doors off of hinges, using explosives and fireworks."

In other words, these things aren’t just “childish pranks”; they are meticulously planned gatherings by teens who are certainly old enough to know right from wrong – who seek gratification by wreaking havoc, and causing fear, pain and destruction of property, not seeming to realize or care about the fact that they are catering to Satan by satisfying their carnal natures.

Authorities have only recently begun to prosecute parents of children causing violence, in hopes that it will help to stem the craziness by causing parents to become more aware of their children's actions outside the home.

I personally don't believe it will help because, from what I have been able to ascertain over the years, many parents are just as much "in the world," as their children, and won't put the blame where it belongs (on themselves); rather, they will continue to point the finger at law enforcement, accusing policemen of being "too rough" on their children (during scuffles where the kids become violent and fight policemen in their efforts to resist arrest), and then suing whenever their kids get hurt or killed.

The bottom line is, this type of behavior has become a growing concern over recent years as it demonstrates the demonic nature of mankind in a fallen world that is headed for the abyss.

We ARE “as in the days of Noah”; nothing has really changed since the day Adam and Eve committed the first deliberate sin…

Genesis 6: 5 ADONAI saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only. 6 ADONAI regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart. 7 ADONAI said, "I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth; and not only human beings, but animals, creeping things and birds in the air; for I regret that I ever made them." 8 But Noach found grace in the sight of ADONAI. (CJB)

Genesis 6: 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)

Jude 1:14. And of them also prophesied Enoch who was the seventh from Adam when he said: Behold, Master YHWH comes with myriads of his Set Apart believers;[1] 15 to execute judgment upon all and to convict all the wicked because of all the deeds they have wickedly committed; and because of all the hard speeches which they, sinners without Elohim, have uttered. 16. These are they who argue and complain of everything while they walk according to their lusts; and their mouth speaks shocking things; and they flatter people for the sake of gain. (AENT)

It’s exactly the same today and nothing, except the return of Yeshua, can or will stop the craziness that mankind always ends up resorting to!  The Bible tells us that Yeshua will put a swift end to ALL the evil, and bind the Destroyer for a thousand years... (See Matthew 24; Revelation 20:1-5; Jude 1:11-21; 2 Peter 2:9-21.)

Matthew 24: 27. For as the sunshine comes out from the East and is seen even in the West, thus will be the coming of the Son of man. 28. Wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles gather. 29. And immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine its light. And the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 30. And then will be seen the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land mourn, when they will see the Son of man who comes upon the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. 31. And he will send his Messengers with a large trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. (AENT)

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)

Returning to the reason for this article, I have to admit that, whenever I hear of evil deeds, decadence and violence in this world, I always have to fight the urge to sink into a deep depression, because I cannot understand why anyone would feel a need to secretly plan out the killing of random innocent folks, including little children and babies. It's mind-boggling! It simply doesn't make any sense!

But, whether we like it or not, the world is getting a little crazier every day, as evidenced by not only the behavior of mankind, in general, but also in the destruction being caused by ever more powerful natural disasters around the world...

All we can really do is to keep our own houses in order and remember to keep our eyes, ears and hearts stayed on Yahweh and Yeshua who amply warned us that these things MUST happen before Yeshua's return.  These events are being used to usher in the rise of the Antichrist (Revelation 12:1-10); and ultimately, the return of Yeshua (Revelation 1:7 which tells us "every eye will see him"; Revelation 22:12, and 20 which tell us, "I come quickly", and Acts 1:11 …"he will come in the same way you saw him go". Yeshua himself spoke of his return in Matthew 24:30 ("coming on the clouds of heaven") and Matthew 24:44.

God’s people must stay strong, for - as Paul told us, those who endure to the end, will be delivered (Matthew 24:13 ).  Until then, I urge you to continue to cling to passages such as this one below:

PSALM 121: If I raise my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from Adonai, the maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip — your guardian is not asleep. 4 No, the guardian of Isra’el never slumbers or sleeps. 5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand Adonai provides you with shade — 6 the sun can’t strike you during the day or even the moon at night. 7 Adonai will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life. 8 Adonai will guard your coming and going from now on and forever. (CJB)

A word about Romans 3:31

 

 

I WAS A CHRISTIAN FOR THREE WHOLE MONTHS, when this particular passage started to stick in my craw. I was 44 years old and "blinded" by "the world" and disillusioned by Life, when YHWH opened my spiritual eyes in a little Baptist church in Missouri.

Once He did, I dove into the Bible and every Bible study I could find - and I had lots of questions. However, every time I questioned the pastor about something (including things like, "If we are all ONE in Christ, WHY are we not doing the Seventh Day Sabbath and the Feasts outlined in the Old Testament?"), he immediately sent me to the writings of Paul - many of which seemed to negate what Torah said. It was maddening and downright confusing!

And then one day, Romans 3:31 caught my eye and clarified for me the fact that "something was being misunderstood in the church." But what??? What was the church missing, and what was I missing?

It was mind-boggling to think there might be contradictions in the Bible, when my pastor was so "sold" on the supposed TRUTHS in the Bible! And I couldn't figure out why God would tell mankind one thing, and then do a complete "180" two thousand years after the death of Christ.
Frustrated, I literally threw myself onto my living room floor at home one Sunday after church, and begged Him to show me WHAT ... was ... missing...

That answer didn't come until 3 1/2 years later, while living in Colorado Springs (where YHWH had caused me to move shortly after I had begged Him to "show me what was missing in church) ... when He caused me to end up in a Messianic Torah study - which FINALLY answered ALL my questions, and launched me smack-dab into the middle of my Torah walk.

The only thing I've "been missing" since those early days back in the mid-Nineties is "more knowledge!" I can't seem to get enough... and I think He plans it that way to keep us ever-hungry for more of His Word. Halleluyah! What an AWESOME ELOHIM we have the privilege of serving!

 

What to do when verbally attacked

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE … smack-dab in the middle of a no-win argument spurred on by some mean-spirited moron who allowed him/herself to be guided by the Destroyer. (You can tell they are led by satan whenever they seem to know exactly which button to push!)

The bottom line is always about how we choose to deal with these fights, arguments or attacks, as they always end up baring and revealing our hearts and souls – not to mention that, in the end, they only serve to wear us out, and reveal "Whom are we truly serving."

Although sometimes tested to the limits - I've learned from experience that nothing is ever gained by engaging pea-brained, dim-witted and closed-minded people in verbal battles, because that is exactly what YHWH hates ... and what the Destroyer WANTS.

The best way to deal with people like that (when you realize your discussion with them has left the realm of rationality) is to hit them in their over-inflated egos where it really hurts - by turning your back and simply ignoring them. While that’s sometimes hard to do, refusing to lower yourself to their standards sends the strong message that they're worth neither your time, efforts, nor your energy.

Here’s what the Bible tells us to do:

2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before our Master (Yeshua) not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! 15 Do all you can to present yourself to Elohim as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. (CJB)

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

Romans 16:17 And I plead with you, my Brothers, that you beware of them who cause divisions and stumblings apart from the doctrine which you have learned: and that you stand distant from them. 18. For they who are such do not serve our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach, but their own belly: and by bland speeches and good wishes, they deceive the hearts of the simple. (AENT)

Proverbs 4:14-17 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. (CJB)

Matthew 7:6 You should not hang earrings on dogs and you should not place your pearls before pigs that they should not trample them by their feet and they overtake and wound you. (AENT)*

NOTE:  *Tithlon (hang) was misunderstood as talon (to give); qudesha (earrings) was misunderstood as qudsha (holy). The picture of hanging earrings on dogs dovetails with giving pearls to pigs, and the symbolism of the two animal groups could not be clearer. The dogs represent apostate Jews, the pigs apostate Gentiles who are ignorant of YHWH. Either way, the lesson here is do not give what is precious to those who will not appreciate the value.

2 Timothy 4:2 Proclaim the Word and persist (in it) with diligence, in time and out of time; admonish and rebuke with all patience and instructiveness. 3. For the time will come when they will not give ear to sound teaching; but, according to their lusts, will multiply to themselves teachers in the itching of their hearing; 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth, and incline after fables. 5. But be vigilant in all things; and endure evils and do the work of a proclaimer of the Good News, and fulfill your ministry. (AENT)

2 Timothy 3:1 But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: 2. and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, 3. unloving, addicted to irreconcilable malicious gossips, ferocious, haters of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of Elohim, 5. having a form of respect for Elohim but wide from the power of Elohim. Them who are such, repel from you. (AENT)

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

So, what can we do to thwart any impending fights and arguments?

Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (CJB)

Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (CJB)

Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Ephesians 4:29  Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you. (CJB)

1 Peter 3:9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (AENT)

Yeshua warned God’s people what the “end times” would look like … and the signs are all around us!

Matthew 24 tells us that no one knows the exact day or hour of Yeshua's return -although the prophetic biblical festivals give us clues, as Yeshua has so far fulfilled the first four'; which means the next one will take place on a future Yom Teruah/Trumpets, when God calls His people together! (Please check out my article on the Biblical Feasts.)

In the meantime, we are commanded to be aware and to prepare our hearts, minds and souls. This preparation includes keeping up with what's happening in the world, because the signs are all around us (fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, crazy and unpredictable weather patterns, wars and rumors of wars, and people generally behaving “as in the days of Noah”).

Matthew 24:3. And while Y'shua was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples drew near and were saying among themselves and to him, "Tell us when these things will be and what is the sign of your coming and the end of the world."

4. Y'shua answered and said to them, Beware, let no man deceive you. 5. For many will come in my name and will say that "I am the Mashiyach." And many they will deceive. 6. For you are bound to hear of revolutions and rumor of wars. Watch out and do not be disturbed, for it is necessary that all these things happen, but it is not yet the end.

7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in different places. 8. But all these things are only the beginning of sorrows. 9. Then they will deliver to afflictions and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.

10. Then many will stumble and will hate one another and will betray one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12. And because of the growth of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. 13. But whoever has patience until the end, he will have life. 14. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.... (AENT)

Matthew 24:36 “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. ³⁷ For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. ³⁸ Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; ³⁹ and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. (CJB)

Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of Adonai’s fury, the whole land will be destroyed in the fire of his jealousy. For he will make an end, a horrible end, of all those living in the land.” (CJB)

The passages above send a clear signal that it’s high time people “get themselves right with God,” because the signs are literally EVERYWHERE!