An interesting fact

Yeshua died in 30 CE. The Temple still existed till 70 CE, 40 years after his death. That’s ONE generation from Yeshua's death to the end/destruction of the Temple for YHWH’s people to come to understand what He did for humanity by sending His Divine Messiah to redeem us.

Most Jews to this day still do NOT believe that Yeshua’s death served as our redemption; all they know is that since the destruction of the Temple, they have no way of properly sacrificing animals, and have arbitrarily decided that a blood sin sacrifice is now unnecessary as God only requires prayer and supplication (which is NOT what the Torah says!)….

Anyway, the number forty appears many times in the Bible, usually designating a time of radical transition or transformation. (For instance, the Israelites had to wander in the desert for 40 years, when the first generation of the promise finally got to enter the Promised land.)

What could be more "transforming" than the substitution of the nephesh/soul of Yeshua, so that within one generation, all who accepted this gift could be eternally saved and retained in YHWH's favor by continued obedience?

"You say that I am" in Luke 22:70

The verse, Luke 22:70 reads: "So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, ‘You say that I am’." (ESV).

“You say that I am”, in English, is ambiguous but in German the phrase is: "Du hast es gesagt" means "you said it" which carries an entirely different meaning from the English phrase "You say that I am". In German, the idiom means "Yes, you are right, for you have recognized it", while in English it means "Hey, *YOU* are saying that, but *I'm not* saying that!"

In the German, for example, the Luther Bible 1912 version (https://www.biblestudytools.com/lut/lukas/22.html) reads this way:

Lucas22:70 Da sprachen sie alle: Bist du denn Gottes Sohn? Er aber sprach zu ihnen: Ihr sagt es, denn ich bin's.

Translation: “They all spoke. Are you then God’s Son? He then said to them: You have said it, for I am he.”

So which is it? In Luke 22:70, did Yeshua agree that he, indeed, is the Messiah, or did he dodge the question and not answer as the English implies?

In Luke 22:70 we find the word "said/say") three times. The Aramaic root word in all three instances is: "אמר", (amar), which means "to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate."

The first time it is written in the verse, (rendered in English as "they all said"), the Aramaic is written as "אמרין", (amar'yn), meaning exactly what we expect. They simply spoke! In context, the speakers, who are identified as the Jewish elders and scribes (Luke 22:66), have uttered a statement, indeed a question. That is, they spoke (as it is understood in English): "and they said 'Does this mean, then, that you are the Son of God?' " and the question was directed at Yeshua!

The second time the word is used is when the verse reads "And he [Yeshua] answered them...".

The word “said” (“answered” in some versions) in Aramaic is "אמרי", (amar'i), which is exactly the same meaning as when the word was first used. That is, it is simply stating that Yeshua spoke back to them but this time it is only "him" speaking and not "them" (that is, a singular, not a plural response). Thus, he responded to them with a reply.

But that reply includes the 3rd time the same Aramaic word is used in the verse and it is again "אמרין", (amar'yn) but this time it is Yeshua speaking as to THEIR declarative so the meaning of the Aramaic word is not the same as it has been previously used. Here, 'You say that I am', means "affirm" or as in this: "(you) have seen that it is true." This understanding is simply NOT carried by the English word “say/said” used 3 times in the English verse”!

In other words the first time "said" is written in the verse, the scripture is simply documenting what the Jewish elders and scribes actually spoke. They uttered a question "Does this mean, then, that you are the Son of God?" The second time the word is used is when Yeshua replied (said/answered), the meaning is exactly the same, i.e., he responded to them by speaking.

But the third time the word is used, the meaning in the Aramaic is entirely different than conveyed in the English! There, it carries the meaning of the German phrase "Du hast es gesagt" which means "you said it" or “it is so”. Yeshua is acknowledging that they are correct! Therefore he literally acknowledges that he is the Messiah!

Unfortunately, in English, the reader only sees "you say that I am", which, in its ambiguity, the reader interprets it to mean "YOU say that I am, but I am neither confirming nor denying it." But, as we have now seen, in the Aramaic, Yeshua is actually saying "Correct, you have affirmed it."

Have you ever noticed….

Have you ever noticed that many names of people or places God considers to be “holy” begin with a “Yud” (the Hebrew letter “Y”)?

For instance:

· YHWH or Yahweh (Hebrew – Yud Hey Vav Hey: יהוה). Meaning: "I am that which I am."

· Yeshua (also written as Y’shua; Hebrew - ישוע ) Meaning: “YHWH is Salvation”

· Yisrael – Israel, which means “God Contended” or, “Wrestles with God”; or “Triumphant with God”

· Yerushalayim – Jerusalem, which means “Heritage or City of Peace.”

· Yitzhak - Isaac

· Yakob, Yacob - Jacob.

· Yehezkel - Ezekiel.

· Yoav - Joab.

· Yoel - Joel.

· Yosef - Joseph.

But, naturally, not everything of importance to God starts with a “Y”. For instance, Bethlehem – or “Beit Lechem” in Hebrew, which means "House Of Bread". And as we all know, Y'shua is the Bread of Life" (see John 6:43-51).

The “fear” of YHWH….

Matthew 10:28. And do not have fear of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, have fear* more so of Him who is able to destroy the soul and the body in Gehenna. (AENT)

What does that “fear” refer to:

Well, simply put, the Fear of YHWH is one of the Seven Spirits of YHWH, Isaiah 11:2, 3.

Yeshua juxtaposes the fear of man (religion) with the Fear of Elohim(truth). When the “fear” of YHWH became theologically changed into “reverence”, the authority of men in ministry (i.e., “Reverends”) began to command fear unto themselves - something that was solely intended for the Most High.

The Fear of YHWH empowers Yeshua’s followers to uphold the Word of YHWH, regardless of consequences. (See Romans 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Ephesians 5:21; Revelation 15:4.)

The seven spirits of haShem

Ever wonder about those “Seven Spirits” of YHWH mentioned in Scripture? Here they are:

Isaiah 11:2-3: "The Spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Chochmah (Wisdom) and Binah (Understanding), the Spirit of Atzah (Counsel) and Gevurah (Might), the Spirit of Da'at (Knowledge) and of the Yirah (Fear) of YHWH."

Now, take a look at this!

1 Timothy 6:1. Let them who are under the yoke of servitude hold their masters in all honor, or else the Name of Elohim and His doctrine be reproached. 2. And let them who have believing masters not treat them with disrespect, because they are their Brothers; but let them be more obedient because they are believers and beloved, in whose service they enjoy quietness. These things teach you and request of them.

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

FOOTNOTE:

[1] A picture of the Menorah is seen here with its seven branches. The center is the Spirit of YHWH while the six other attributes are joined into the center pillar. These seven Spirits also signify perfection or completeness. The Fear of YHWH Elohim is a “Spirit” of YHWH; it is a vital spiritual quality for Life in Mashiyach.

The Fear of YHWH is a personal guide; Hebrew yirah means fear, as in fear/awesome/terrifying contrary to Christian teaching that the Fear of YHWH is not really “fear” but love and respect.

Isaiah 29:13 reveals how “the Fear of YHWH is taught by the commandment of men”; in other words, man’s religious theology and tradition has made void the Fear of YHWH. Many Christians prefer the term “reverence” over “fear”; Christians also use a title of “Reverend” for their clergymen and ministers; therefore, the term “Fear of YHWH” was first negated and then given a theological/semantic twist to apply to their own leadership, as in the case of “reverend.”

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

1) Spirit of Wisdom
2) Spirit of Understanding
3) Spirit of Counsel
4) Spirit of Strength
5) Spirit of Knowledge
6) Spirit of Fear of YHWH
7) The Spirit of YHWH.

Yom Teruah (Trumpets)/Rosh Hashana coming up!

Yom Teruah (Trumpets)/Rosh Hashana this year (2020) begins at sunset on September 17 on our Gregorian calendar. All of the 18th is a High Holy Day.

This Appointed Time denotes the Jewish Civil New Year; the creation of the world, according to tradition; the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and their first actions toward the realization of man's role in the world; of the first sin that was committed and resulting repentance; a day when YHWH takes stock of all of His Creation, which includes all of humanity.

It is also a rehearsal for the day when the bridegroom will come to claim us, his bride, who are betrothed to Him.

Leviticus 23:23-25 says: ADONAI said to Moshe, "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar. Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI.'" (CJB)

According to tradition, during this time YHWH's people are to concentrate all their efforts into making amends with their brethren and apologizing for past offenses – in preparation for the next Feast, which is Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement.

Judging by the fact that Yeshua has so far fulfilled the first four feasts in sequence, Yom Teruah/Trumpets will be the next one to be fulfilled, because when the trumpets sound, those who have accepted YHWH as their God and His Divine Messiah, will be gathered/resurrected (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:50-54).

Halleluyah!

A word about those two “same-sex” penguins….

Let’s be realistic here:  These two female penguins didn't "become first-time moms!" They were CAUSED to BE "first time moms" because the caretakers stole an egg from a male-female penguin couple....

"The carnal world" of the media loves to make a big deal out of "same sex couples" when it comes to the animal kingdom, making sure we all KNOW that it's perfectly natural.

I have a some comments to make about that, for anyone who's interested in what the BIBLE says:

While it might be "common" in the animal kingdom (as the attached article about two "gay" penguins suggests), it's still NOT a "natural" thing to do - and by doing so, they are actually breaking one of the first commandments He ever gave to living beings. (But, who knows why these two ended up together; it certainly wasn't because they "knew they were gay" and purposely sought out a same-sex partner....)

The difference between humans and animals is that animals don't have "free will to choose or reject YHWH. They are simply living souls that exist and are exactly what He created them to be ... and their sole job under the heavens is to "be fruitful and multiply."

Genesis 1: 20 God said, “Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open dome of the sky.” 21 God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that creeps, so that the water swarmed with all kinds of them, and there was every kind of winged bird; and God saw that it was good. 22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply and fill the water of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So there was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day. (CJB)

Animals and birds that mate for life, don't "choose to be gay" (as the media likes to suggest); they simply form bonds ... and some - for whatever reason (including rejection by the opposite sex, etc) - end up in same-sex unions. It's no big deal.

But, it IS a "big deal" when it comes to humanity, because, while YHWH also told humans to "be fruitful and multiply" ... He went even further by giving them free will and an intellect with which to reason - and with that, they were supposed to obey HIS Divine Instructions in Righteousness while "ruling over" every living creature...

Genesis 1:27 So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them: God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth.”  (CJB))

Well, as you know, mankind quickly went astray by choosing to SIN, causing YHWH to kill off the entire earth except for Noah and his family. In the meantime, He already been busy laying down some rules, which He kept adding to, as men began to figure out new ways to go astray. (We are privy to this throughout the Torah).

Those rules included strict stipulations for MANKIND to refrain from the sin of homosexuality, which YHWH even called "an abomination." (See Genesis 13:13, Genesis 18:20-22, Genesis 19:1-17, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Romans 1: 22-32, Revelation 22:14-15.)

HaShem did NOT give the animal kingdom His TORAH to follow - because, as mentioned above, wildlife does exactly what it was created to do. Animals don't "sin". PEOPLE do....