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Here are some fun facts about August. It also shows why you can not trust putting your faith in days and months and years. August was once the sixth month of the year. In the original ten-month Roman calendar, the month went by the name of Sextilis, meaning “the sixth month” in Latin. It wasn’t until around 700BC that August was rudely shoved back in the order of months when January and February were added to the beginning of the year by King Numa Pompilius. August has also changed its number of days multiple times. In the ten-month Roman calendar, the months all had either 30 or 31 days, totaling 304 days in the year. Not only did Pompilius add January and February to the calendar, but he also reduced the number of days in August down to 29. It wasn’t until Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar that it was left with 31 days, and it’s stayed the same ever since!  Also on the 6th of August 1762 the first-ever sandwich was created, at least with such a name. It was named after the Earl of Sandwich when he requested a dish involving meat between two pieces of bread. As the story goes, he requested it as he was in the middle of a gambling game and didn’t want to interrupt it. We are going to see why August is also important in our teaching.

Preparing for the Second Coming of Messiah

The time between the Spring Feasts of Passover (crucifixion), Unleavened Bread, First Fruits (resurrection), and Pentecost and the Fall Feasts of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles, is called the preparation time. It is a time when we prepare for Yeshua’s second coming.  Now Messiah has told us that we need to be ready at any time for we do not know the day or the hour. ( Matthew 25:13) But all the more reason to take time every year to make sure that we are ready for such a time. We want to take a closer look at what the Bride needs to do to meet her Bridegroom. We want to look at a teaching that we did several years ago on this subject. Anyone who has ever prepared for a wedding knows just how much work there is in preparing. First you have to become engaged or as they said years ago betrothed. We see in Exodus 19:4-6 that God proposes to His people : “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle’s wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The word here for “possession” in Hebrew is “Segulah,” which is a word of endearment. God is saying to Israel that they will be someone who will be cherished by God.God loves us, we are His Segulah. He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, so that we who believe may have everlasting life.  Isn’t that why you marry,  for life? There are several Scriptures that refer to Yeshua as our Bridegroom, Matthew 9:14-15, John 3:29 and of course the kingdom is compared to ten virgins in Matthew 25:11-13. Even the New Jerusalem is compared to a bride in Revelation 21:2.   Yeshua tells us in John 14:3, that He was going away to prepare a place for us, for this was the custom of the groom.  “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.”

We know that invitations are to be sent out. Revelation 19:7-9 and 22:17 tells us this, “ Let us rejoice and be glad   and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)  Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

So we see that our Bridegroom is off preparing a place for us, the Bride and the invitations have been sent out. But what about us? We need to prepare ourselves for such an occasion, life with our Bridegroom. It’s no small task when you are marrying your Messiah. So it’s time to prepare and that is what we do forty days each year before the day of Atonement, which represents having your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, or you could say, “ Is your name on the invitation list?”  This year that would be August 8th. It is here that we start what is called the “Days of Repentance.” It’s a time to wake up from your slumber. Remember the ten virgins who fell asleep waiting for the Bridegroom to come. (Matthew 25).

We must have a spiritual awakening to prepare our souls for His coming. If we do not wake up inside ourselves, we will not wake up to open our spiritual eyes to see or our spiritual ears to hear.  God says this to Isaiah and is quoted by Yeshua in Matthew 13:14-15, “ He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;  be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused;  make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

You see when you go day after day, year after year, and you are not growing in the Lord, well Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3,  “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.  You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?”

 Colossians 3:1-15 sums it up, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your[ life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Messiah is all, and is in all.  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 Let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”  If we are truly waiting for our Bridegroom and preparing ourselves every day, filling our lamps with oil, and our hearts to receive from Him, then we will be spiritually awakened and maturing, having our mind only on Him. I have to say, most people are not at this point and that is why we must every year make it a point to examine ourselves and awaken our souls and that is what the Fall Feasts do.

Recipe Corner: In honor of the Earl of Sandwich, we have some great Panini Recipes for you from the Food Network. 

How to Cook Panini: In a panini press: Preheat the press. Add your sandwich and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until golden and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. On the stove: Preheat a skillet with butter or oil to medium low. Add your sandwich, then press a heavy pan on top to weigh it down. Cook until golden and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

1. Grilled Veggie:  Brush the inside of a split ciabatta roll with pesto. Fill with slices of grilled eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and roasted red peppers. Add 2 slices of fresh mozzarella and a few basil leaves. Press and cook until golden.

2. Mortadella-Ricotta:  Mix 2 tablespoons ricotta with some salt, pepper, and chopped thyme and parsley. Brush the insides of 2 slices of crusty Italian bread with olive oil. Fill with the ricotta and sliced mortadella; press and cook until golden. Add marinated artichoke hearts  if you like.

3. Spicy Steak:  Lightly spread mayonnaise on the inside of a split onion roll. Fill with thinly sliced cooked steak and season with salt; top with shredded pepper jack cheese. Press and cook until golden.

4.  Reuben: Spread Thousand Island dressing on 2 slices rye bread. Layer sliced Swiss cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut and more cheese between the bread. Press and cook until golden.

5. Steak-Gruyère: Mix equal parts mayonnaise and horseradish. Stir in some chopped parsley. Spread on the inside of a split piece of baguette. Fill with thinly sliced cooked steak and sliced Gruyère. Press and cook until golden.

Hebrew Corner:  This month’s letter is Samech.    ס   

Samech (samehk) is the fifteenth letter in the Hebrew Alphabet and has the sound of an “S”. It has the numerical value of 60. The sages have noted that this is the same number of letters found in the “Priestly Blessing” which is found in Numbers 6:23-27. Samech looks like a picture of a shield. Samech means “to lean upon” or “to support.” According to the sages Samekh represents the circle of life in creation and the feast days.  Samekh is also the letter in Sukkot, which represents “God with us”, by showing His omnipresence as our support and shelter. 

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This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.11  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Are We Being Prepared for the Mark?”

Today we hear people saying that the times we are living in could be the time of the Antichrist. We want to take a closer look at this. First we know that the Antichrist has been coded in the Bible as having the number 666.

This has been a mystery for years, but we do have many clues. We know that every Hebrew letter has an equivalent number, also we know that in the original  text the number is written 6, 60 and 600. 

We read in Revelation 13:16-18, “And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,  and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”

We know that 6 is the number for man. It is the letter Vav in the Hebrew language. Vav is a picture of man being created on the sixth day by God. The letter Vav looks like a hook, a hook which is the connecting force that binds God and man, heaven and earth.

Yes, we see a man, a descendant of Adam, but we also see the soul of a man in the number 60,  a man who wants power and a man who wants status, a man who wants all the glory.  The number 60 is the letter Samekh, the shield. It also represents the endless glory of God. If the writer got to sixty by multiplying 6 x 10 then the letter for the number 10 is Yod. Yod is a picture of an arm or hand. It points to God’s omnipresence, His divinity.

Yes, this man wants to be God and worshiped like God. Either way the writer comes up with the same end result by using the letter for 60 or  6X10.600 speaks of the spirit of this man. By the number we know that he has been around for a long time.    

1 John 4:2-3 tells us this,  “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Messiah Yeshua has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Yeshua is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.”

Even in the time of the Apostles, the spirit of antichrist was present. The number 600 is made from various letters. If the writer went with 6×10, maybe he did the same for 600, by using 6X100. The letter for 100 is Kuf, it is the first letter in kadosh which means holy. So Kuf represents the holiness of God, but the letter Kuf looks similar to “k o f” which is the  word for monkey.  So we have a picture of  one who resembles a man, but is animalistic in nature. The word for coronation has the equivalence of 100 also. The antichrist wants to be crowned, with all the glory, and have every person bow down to him and give him homage.

We saw this in the time of Esther, when Haman wanted everyone to bow to him.

Esther 3:4-6 tells us this,  “Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.”

Yes, we know that the antichrist will go after the Jew and the Chrisitan. Revelation 12:17 tells us, “ So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of  Yeshua .”

In Yeshua’s day the people thought Nero was the antichrist, for his name added up to 666. He was responsible for putting to death Peter and Paul and many other believers in his day. Remember all the Caesars thought that they were gods.

But then a little closer to our day, many thought Hitler was the antichrist, because he also killed so many Jews and Christans alike. So we know that the antichrist will want to be God, because the antichrist is a false christ, and in many ways a mirrored image of the true Messiah. Yeshua warned those who would be His true followers in  Matthew 24:26, “ So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.”

Even today we have heard these words spoken about people, as they have been called the Messiah, the healer of the world. These are false prophets who mislead people, and when people run after them they are deceived. They did just that, in the days of the Apostles, and many followed this false messiah, and they all fell to their death as they fought the Romans.

In Matthew 7:15-20 Yeshua tells us this, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

This is true of the false Messiah also. He is called the man of lawlessness as 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 tells us, “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Messiah Yeshua and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.  No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,  who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.  Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?  And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed.  Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;  that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.  For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

Today we see the spirit of lawlessness. First we know that God’s Commandments are called His Law, for God is for law and order. This is why the antichrist will go after those who keep His Commandments. The antichrist opposes the Law of God. To summarize God’s Commandments is to say, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment and the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”’ (Matthew 22:17-18)

All we see today is lawlessness in our streets, murder, looting, harming one another and harming our neighbor’s property. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

This is the spirit of the antichrist.

Out of this chaos and destruction, this evilness and deception will come one who will claim that he will heal the nations, he will rule and bring prosperity, he will make the world better. Yeshua says, Beware! Look at the fruit, look at the tree. We are in the midst of that great apostasy.  We are on the path that is bringing great delusion and deception. Power is in the view of all to see, and law and order is in the rear view mirror.  

Globalization has come and the world is seeing it’s results. In the midst of a pandemic, the people cried for a one world government, a ruler to rise up and lead the way for the masses. Churches were closed, and people were no longer together but divided. The Word of God, and the things of God, fell by the wayside for many people. Today there are more false pastors and teachers of the Word than ever before. They are preaching under false pretense for they no longer believe in what they are preaching. 

So what about the mark? The mark will be placed on the  forehead or on the hand. It reminds us of Hitler who tattooed the Jewish people with a number on their forearm.   Each one of us will have to make the choice to receive the mark or not. Those who do Revelation 14:9-10 says this, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,  he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

But those who do not, Revelation 22:3-4 says this “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;  they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

Will you stand for truth? Will you stand for God’s Commandments? Will you stand in the time of persecution?  Will you trust God that He will never leave you?  Now is the time to prepare your hearts, because we are not long from having to determine if we will submit ourselves to the ways of the antichrist so that we can buy and sell, or will we trust God, and if that means to die for our beliefs, then it must be. So whose name will be on your forehead? If God’s, then consider today what you are running after. Is it God’s way, or is it  man’s way? You have to be alert and you have to be ready.

Rosh Ha Shanah, literally meaning “Head of the Year,” is the celebration of the new civil year. In our own secular New Year celebrations, we experience the joy of a new beginning and a chance to set new goals. While we can still do these things individually at any time, the new year is a special event dedicated to this. The same holds true for the Appointed Time of Rosh Ha Shanah. It occurs on the first day of the seventh month on the religious calendar (there are two calendars: the civil and religious). This usually takes place in September/October. It is a time of joy and celebration, yet it is simultaneously a time for somber reflection and repentance.

Feast of Trumpets

For thirty days prior to Rosh Ha Shanah, a ram’s horn is blown to call the people to consider their deeds. This horn, called a shofar, gives this day it’s alternate name: The Feast of Trumpets. The sound of the shofar blast is called the teruah; this word can also be translated as “shout.” The purpose of all this noise is to wake us up! Just as Ephesians 5:14 tells us, “For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.’” During the thirty day period mentioned earlier, we blow the shofar every day and recite a short passage which calls us to awake, look deep within ourselves, turn from futile behavior, and return to God so that He may have mercy on us.

The Books Are Opened

Another name which tells us about the nature of the holiday is “Opening of the Gates.” This day is symbolically when the gates of the heavens are opened and God judges all the people of earth. The righteous have their names written in the Book of Life—blessings and health for the next year, while the wicked are portioned out judgement. Those who are neither exceptionally righteous nor wicked are continued to be tried until the end of Yom Kippur, ten days later. This idea should sound familiar and is something we should carefully consider. Rosh Ha Shanah should remind us of the Final Judgement when the books of our lives will be opened. As we see in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Yeshua Himself tells us, “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay each man according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:27). As we all know, our salvation is not earned. However, our deeds will tell us much about the condition of our relationship with God: “If any man’s work which he has built on it [the foundation, Yeshua] remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28). And how do we abide in Him? “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing…. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:5, 10).

So we see that Rosh Ha Shanah is a time for us to examine our lives and see what we can do in the next year to further the Kingdom as well as to grow closer in our personal relationship with God.

Hail the King!

Another tradition associated with Rosh Ha Shanah is the creation of Adam and Eve and, consequently, the coronation of God as King of the world. All of the other created things were not given free will. But on the sixth day of creation, God made man and gave him the ability to choose if he wanted to serve Him. When Adam chose to do so, God’s kingship over the earth was made complete. This is another reason the shofar is blown on this day: to remember the coronation of the King: “With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the LORD” (Psalm 98:6).

The King is Coming

In addition to remembering the first crowning ceremony, we also look to the future coronation of our Messiah Yeshua: “And behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

When that day comes, we will celebrate His dominion over a new earth: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). “And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

This Rosh Ha Shanah, let’s make sure our names are written in the book of life; let’s make sure we are storing up treasure in heaven rather than on earth.

Have a sweet new year!

How to Celebrate

– It is a tradition to eat apples dipped in honey on this day, the reason being that we hope that it will be a sweet new year. You are also encouraged to try a new fruit or some type of food you don’t have very often. The new year should be sweet and joyful!

– Make things right with the people around you. Mend any strained relationships and look for ways you can strengthen them in the coming year.

– On the afternoon of Rosh HaShanah, take your family down to a large area of flowing water (ocean, river, lake, etc.), each carrying stones or crumbs of bread with you. Individuals toss their sins, represented by the stones/bread, into the water. This ceremony, called Taschlich, finds its basis in Micah 7:19, where it says, “Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

– Don’t forget to hear the sound of the shofar and respond by examining yourself.

1. The High Holy Days begin with Rosh Hashanah. There are five names for this holiday:

• Usually it is called Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year.” This day marks the beginning of the new civil year. It is also the head of all years: the traditional belief is that the world was created on Rosh Hashanah.
• The Bible calls this day Yom Teruah, which could be translated as “the day of blowing,” or “the feast of trumpets” (Numbers 29:1). Another similar title is Zichron Teruah, which means “a remembrance of blowing” (Leviticus 23:24). These names indicate that this is a festival for blowing trumpets. As Psalm 89:15 says, “Blessed are the people who know the sound of the teruah, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face.” (See also Psalm 98:6)
• Another name for this day is Yom HaDin, “the day of judgment.” The traditional belief is that on this day, God opens the heavenly courts of justice to determine everyone’s fate for the coming year. This is a picture of the final judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).
• It is also called Yom HaZikaron, “the day of remembrance.” The previous name of this day leads to this one: since on this day we bring to mind God as Judge of the universe, we ought to take time to remember our deeds over the past year and repent of any sins we have committed (1 Corinthians 10:12;
  2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 John 1:9).
• One final name for this day is Yom HaKeseh, “the day of concealment” or “the hidden day.” When we repent, God forgives and in a sense conceals our sins. Additionally, this speaks of the second coming of Yeshua, which is hidden in the sense that the day and hour it will occur is unknown (Matthew 24:36).

2. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul says that the dead will be raised when the last trumpet is blown (see also Matthew 24:30-31). This is a theme associated with Rosh Hashanah.

3. Today is a day for celebrating the coronation of God as King of the universe. This is a consequence of this day’s association with creation. Before God could be King of the universe, He had to create it; once He created it, He became its Ruler. When Yeshua returns, He will then be crowned King Messiah and His Kingship will be complete (Daniel 7:13-14; Zechariah 14:9; Matthew 2:2; Revelation 19:11-16).

4. The sound of the shofar is supposed to spiritually awaken the one who hears it. The traditional prayer in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah is, “Awake, you who are sleepy, and ponder your deeds” (Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14). This awakening is associated with resurrection (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:20;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

5. Apples dipped in honey are traditionally eaten on Rosh Hashanah. The sweetness of these two foods combined is a fitting taste to celebrate the anticipated sweetness of the new year (Psalm 19:10; 34:8).

6. A ceremony that takes place on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah is called Tashlich, which means “casting off.” Families or congregations will go down to a body of flowing water, such as a river or lake, and cast small stones, representing specific sins, into the water. This is meant to invoke Micah 7:19, which says, “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Just as the water sweeps the stones away from us, so too Jesus “appeared in order to take away sins” (1 John 3:5).

7. Rosh Hashanah is part of a period of time called Teshuvah, which is the Hebrew word for “repentance.” This is a time where we prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days by praying, focusing inward on our deeds, and recognizing the things we need to leave behind in the new year (Matthew 3:8; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Philippians 1:6, 3:12-16).

8. On the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah is the next of the High Holy Days, called Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. The ten-day period between the two is called the Days of Awe, since it is believed that this time of year is when God is especially attentive toward mankind. This closeness naturally ought to invoke feelings of reverence and awe as we seek to encounter God and be changed by Him, as Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” It is traditional to make a special effort during this time to reconcile ourselves to God and to the people around us (Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).

9. Yom Kippur was the only day of the year when the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies, in order to make atonement for the people of Israel. Likewise, Yeshua entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven in order to make atonement for us once and for all (Hebrews 9:24-26).

10. Fasting from food and water is one of the commandments for Yom Kippur, based on an interpretation of Leviticus 23:29, “For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people.” The New Testament gives us some additional insight about the spiritual discipline of fasting (Matthew 6:16-18).

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.12  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “The Fall of America and the Rise of the    Antichrist”

You hear people always say, “That can’t happen in America” or “This is America” like America is infallible. America is like any other country, and like any other country it can fall. We have been blessed for 245 years with the longest lasting government in history, but that was only because we had God’s blessings. Today less than 50% of the population say that they even believe in God. Most people do not even read the Word of God, let alone live by the Word of God. We have removed God from our schools, and universities and from the public square, and  from the workplace. We have legalized abortion and we have accepted ungodly lifestyles. We have seen the results, chaos in our streets and murders and all sorts of  crime  has increased.  We have become lawless. We have walked away from holiness and godliness and as a result our nation is no longer under God’s protection.  Yes, the America that we know can fall, and it will, and this is why. Our Constitution will not allow another government or entity to govern alongside   our existing government. Our Constitution  must be eliminated to make way for the antichrist.  We know from Revelation 13, that two beasts shall rise up, one will be the One World Government and the other shall be a One World Religion. Revelation 13: 12-18 says this, “He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.  He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people.  And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.  And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,  and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”

On October 24, 1945, the United Nations  was founded. It’s purpose was to maintain peace in the world, so that the world would never again have a war like World War II. Every government has made concessions  so that the UN can accomplish what it needs to accomplish, even if that means giving up freedoms to do so. The Korean War was the first test of the UN. This war was under the command of the UN. Today every country has UN forces.

Since 2013 the Pope has been uniting all religions of all faiths to come together in the name of peace. Every leader of every faith, big and small, has signed an agreement. This means that every religion had to make concessions, yes, they all compromised on their beliefs in the name of peace. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 says this, “Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you.  For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

Today everything is global. We have a world court and a world health organization and a world stock market and the list goes on. The internet has us connected to each other. We truly are global in all things, and the UN holds all of our  governments together and the Pope holds all religions together. We have never been closer than now in the fulfilment of Revelation 13. It is so close that you can just imagine who will be the antichrist. Go through the list and which political leader stands out in your mind. Yes, that could be the one. When he comes on the scene people will call him the messiah, the healer, and even god. As we lose our freedoms, we get one step closer to this man taking power. It will be no surprise to today’s leaders, for they all know who it will be. When the Coronavirus first began they all cried out, “We must have a one world leader to handle this pandemic,” and even the Pope made his plea. Today we are being conditioned to receive the mark. Our freedoms have been taken from us, little by little, and mandates have been put in place, and as more and more people accept this the faster they will accomplish their goal. 

Yeshua tells us that we must look and see the signs in Matthew 16:2-3,  “But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times?”

Matthew 24, 4-14 says,  “And Yeshua answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will mislead many people.  And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains. “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.  And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people.  And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.  But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.  This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We have seen this Scripture fulfilled over the decades but those were only birth pangs.

How close we are to the rise of the antichrist. Many have come who claim that they were the messiah, that they were god. Many have come who have martyred the saints. Fulfilment after fulfilment of the Scriptures have taken place over the centuries and now in our lifetime, we are seeing how possible it is for one to truly rise up and lead the world. Even at the time of Hitler, who many thought was the antichrist, could not achieve what a person could achieve today, because the framework has been put in place.  We are living in the time of globalization. We see how easy it is for different people of different languages to come together and accomplish much. No other time in history could they say, as we now can say, “The world is ready to receive the antichrist.”

Matthew 24:37-39 says “ For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.  For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark.  And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.”

There is a flood coming as Revelation 12:9-17 says, “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah has come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.  For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.  But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent.  And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth.  So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.”

This flood will be a flood of wickedness and lawlessness. Paul tells Timothy this, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,  unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.”

 Yes, even so called believers will fall into this category.

Are you ready for such a time? Are you ready to contend for the faith? Are you ready to say no to the mark? Are you ready for the second coming of the One True Messiah? If not , then you can not waste any time drawing close to God. 

Let go of the world and begin to seek Him as Isaiah 51:6 tells us, “Raise your eyes to the sky, then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants will die in the same way. But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not fail.”

Today if you have an ear, listen to what the Spirit says to all those who are listening.

Yom Kippur marks the most solemn of God’s Appointed Times. It takes place on the tenth day of the seventh month, ten days after the new year (Rosh Ha Shanah), which usually falls in September/October. Rosh Ha Shanah is the day when the gates of heaven and the Book of Life are symbolically opened. The righteous are inscribed in the Book of Life for another year of life and health, while the wicked are written out a punishment. The judgement continues until Yom Kippur—the last chance to repent and change your ways. On the evening of this day, the gates of heaven and the book of life are closed. The verdict has been determined for each person for another year.

Jewish Observance

Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Atonement. When the tabernacle and the temple were still standing, this was the day on which the uncleanness of the community was atoned for through a specific process, ordained by God: “This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work… for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD” (Leviticus 16:29-30). The high priest would make sacrifices to atone for the impurity of himself, the people, and for the tabernacle.

On this day, the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of an animal sacrificed outside the camp upon the mercy seat, the place where God’s presence rested. This is the only time he was allowed in this place, thus also giving this day the name “Face to Face.”

“When he finishes atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat” (Leviticus 16:20). The high priest would then lay his hands on the goat and confess the iniquities of the people over it. The goat, carrying the sins of the people, would be sent out into the wilderness: “The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness” (Leviticus 16:22). This innocent animal took upon itself the sin of the entire nation of Israel on this day.

After the destruction of the temple, these activities had to be temporarily suspended. While personal repentance and soul-searching were certainly present and necessary actions on Yom Kippur while the sacrificial system was in action, today it is the prescribed activity for this day. The practice of humbling oneself through fasting from food and drink finds its basis in Leviticus 23:32: “It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves.”

God desired that His people would use this day to cleanse themselves by humbly entering His presence. He wanted them to not only go through the motions of humility by fasting and mourning, but to prove their change of heart through repentance: “Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6).

Christian Observance

In all of God’s Appointed Times, we see shadows and reflections of the Messiah. For our own redemption, Yeshua, the sinless high priest (1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 7:25-26), entered the Holy of Holies in heaven with His own blood, bringing us atonement: “And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). Yeshua Himself was sacrificed outside of the camp (Leviticus 16:27, Hebrews 13:11-13). And like the live goat which carried the nation’s impurity, so too Yeshua bore our sins and the sins of the entire world on the cross and carried the weight of our iniquities to the grave: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It is important to note that the Day of Atonement comes at the end of the Season of Repentance. It is only after we have repented of our sinful practices that we can truly receive atonement and purification from those old ways. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). This is a time for us to pause and reflect on preparing for the Final Judgement. “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:12). While we receive our salvation through Yeshua, we see that we will be judged for the things that we do during our life: “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:13).

This Yom Kippur, let’s remember the atoning work done on our behalf by Yeshua and make sure we are preparing ourselves for His return: “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (Revelation 3:3).

Ways to Keep the Holy Day

– This is a day of solemn prayer and repentance (1 John 1:8-10), yet we hold our confidence in Yeshua’s atoning work.

– Those who are physically capable are invited to participate in the 24 hour fast from food and drink.

– The book of Jonah is traditionally read on Yom Kippur since the themes contained in this book are repentance and God’s abundant mercy.

– This is traditionally the day when God gave Moses the second copy of the Ten Commandments and forgave the people of Israel for the sin of worshipping the golden calf.

– At the end of the day, there is a “Closing of the Gates” service that coincides with the symbolic closing of the gates of Heaven. Immediately afterwards, a joyful meal is prepared to break the fast, and preparation for the next festival, Sukkot, is started.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord’” (Leviticus 23:34).

The Hebrew word sukkah is roughly translated into English as “tabernacle” or “booth.” Neither of those terms fully convey what a sukkah is. A sukkah is simply a temporary structure. It is not a permanent building, but is made only to serve a specific purpose. So what is the Feast of Sukkot? Sukkot is simply the plural form of the word sukkah. Therefore the Feast of Sukkot finds a suitable translation in the phrase Feast of Tabernacles.

The Sukkah Represents: God Dwelling With Mankind

God’s desire is, and has always been, to be close to His children. As the nation of Israel traveled through the wilderness, God was making the journey along with them (Exodus 13:21). Eventually, God instructed the people to build a tabernacle for Him, and He would let His presence rest there (Exodus 25:8-9). The sukkah reminds us of this tabernacle in the wilderness.

Likewise, when the time has come for the new heaven and the new earth, God will be our eternal home and He will build His tabernacle among His people once again (Revelation 21:3). The sukkah is a picture of God’s desire for a relationship with mankind.

The Sukkah Represents: Our Dependence Upon God

As God led Israel through the wilderness, He provided manna to eat, water to drink, and had them dwell in tabernacles for shelter. To serve as a reminder of this great provision, He instructed the people to build the sukkah in future generations (Leviticus 23:42-43). So great was His provision that even after forty years of wandering in the Wilderness, the clothes on their backs and sandals on their feet did not show signs of wear (Deuteronomy 29:5).

The sukkah is a reminder of God’s provision in our lives, not only in the physical sense, but spiritually as well (Luke 12:22-23). He has given us the true manna, which is His Son (John 6:33). Through Yeshua (Jesus) we will never be spiritually thirsty (John 4:14). And we can always count on God to be our shelter (Psalm 91:2).

The Sukkah Represents: A Wedding Canopy (Chuppah)

In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are married underneath a canopy, called a chuppah. After the wedding, the bride and groom spend a seven-day honeymoon inside the wedding chamber, which was a special room built by the groom. After this time, the bride and groom come out and celebrate with their guests with an extravagant marriage supper.

The sukkah reminds us that we are the bride of Yeshua (Jesus). He has left to prepare a wedding chamber (John 14:3). While He is away, we, as His bride, are to be preparing ourselves for His imminent return (Revelation 19:7-8). Many of Yeshua’s parables are about how we are to be preparing for His return and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The sukkah should cause us to consider whether we are ready for His second coming, for truly, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” (Revelation 19:9).

The Sukkah Represents: Our Relationship With the World

The sukkah is, by definition, a temporary structure. As the people of Israel traveled through the Wilderness, their homes needed to be able to be taken down and moved as God led them. Likewise, the sukkah is to be taken down after the Feast of Tabernacles is over each year, to be set up again next year.

Scripture tells us that our bodies and the world around us are not going to last (1 Peter 2:11). The sukkah reminds us that we should conduct ourselves in the same way as those who showed their faith in days of old (Hebrews 11:16). Although the tabernacle of our body is temporary and fading, the decisions we make in it will have consequences in eternity (2 Corinthians 5:1, 10).

The Sukkah Represents: Being Joyful

The Feast of Tabernacles holds a special place among the Appointed Times. Everyone in the community is commanded to rejoice during this time, something which is not done for any of the other feasts (Deuteronomy 16:14). The sukkah represents this joy that should fill our hearts during this time.

Scripture shows that God’s desire is for us to serve Him with a joyful heart in all circumstances (Philippians 4:4). Even though life is often difficult and painful, we are able to have joy because of the hope we have in Yeshua (1 Peter 4:13).

The Sukkah Represents: Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Body

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). In this verse, the Greek word translated as “dwelt” more literally means “tabernacled.” This interpretation brings a fuller understanding of Yeshua’s incarnation. The word “dwelt” paints a picture of simply residing or living among us. But when the word “tabernacled” is used, it serves to remind us of the tabernacle in which God’s presence dwelt. We also see Him in the symbolism of the temporary shelters the Israelites themselves dwelt in, as He did not remain permanently here on earth, but rather ascended into Heaven.

While it stood in the wilderness, the tabernacle was the physical representation of God to the people of Israel, and their entire lives revolved around the worship that it required. Likewise, when Yeshua (Jesus) was born into a human body, He was the physical representation of God to the whole world, and our lives now revolve around Him and our service to Him. God had the tabernacle set up so that He could be close to His people and live among them. In the same way, God sent His Son in the tabernacle of a human body so that He could dwell within us through the Holy Spirit and so that we can dwell with Him for all of eternity.

The Sukkah Represents: The Ingathering of the Harvest

This time of year in the land of Israel marks the end of the harvest time. Signifying this, we see another name for the Feast of Tabernacles: the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23:16). The term “ingathering” simply means that it is the time when all the produce has been harvested and “gathered in” to be processed into usable materials, such as flour from grain. Often harvesters would build temporary huts, sukkahs, out in their fields so they could make the most of their short window of time before the autumn rains began.

Because of His audience’s familiarity with the agricultural lifestyle, Yeshua taught using the harvest as a focal point of many parables (Luke 10:2). The sukkah is a reminder of our duty to be a harvester of souls while we still have the opportunity, for: “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire,” (Matthew 3:12).

The Sukkah Represents: The Millennial Kingdom

The Feast of Tabernacles is intrinsically connected to the Millennial Kingdom, also known as the Messianic Age, when Yeshua (Jesus) will reign on earth for 1,000 years. In fact, it is specifically mentioned that during this time, the nations will come up to Jerusalem and celebrate this very festival (Zechariah 14:16). Interestingly, any of the nations who decide not to celebrate it will be punished (Zechariah 14:18).

If we are going to be celebrating this festival when Yeshua comes back, why should we wait until then? We have the wonderful opportunity to recognize the blessing this Appointed Time can bring us today.

Traditions of the Festival: Living Water

In the book of John, we see Yeshua celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day of the feast, He makes an interesting proclamation: “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water,”‘” (John 7:37-38). Why did He use water as a central theme in these words?

During the time when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, there were many joyful ceremonies which took place during the Feast of Tabernacles. One such ceremony was called the Celebration of Water Drawing. A joyful crowd would accompany the priest down to the Pool of Siloam, where he would draw a pitcher of water; this “living water,” as it was called, represented the Spirit of God (Joel 2:28-29). Then they would return, as joyfully as they went out, to the Temple where the water was poured out upon the altar. This ritual draws itself from Isaiah 12:3: “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” If Yeshua didn’t speak these words during this ceremony, then He was certainly referring to it in John 7 as He beckoned the people to joyfully draw near to Him, the only source of true living water.

Traditions of the Festival: Light of the World

The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of great joy and festivities. When the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, it was the center of these activities. During the Feast, giant menorahs would be lit in the Temple courts, sending a beacon of light out for everyone to see. This was symbolic of the presence of God filling the Temple and emanating out into the world. It is interesting to note that the Jewish rabbis referred to Jerusalem as “the Light of the World” because of the Temple and the light of the menorah within it. There was a menorah lit within the Temple at all times, but the menorahs brought out during Tabernacles were in addition to this.

It was shortly after the Feast, undoubtedly with this image still fresh in people’s minds, when Yeshua said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life,” (John 8:12). According to verse 20, He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts. The light of those giant menorahs during the feast were only there bringing joy to the people for a little while. How much greater is the light of Yeshua, which is our source of joy and our guide through the darkness not only for a short time, but forever.

Traditions of the Festival: The Four Species

Leviticus 23:40 is a commandment to take four types of vegetation and celebrate before God. The rabbis identified and standardized the particular types of vegetation to use and injected some interesting symbolism.

Fruit of splendid trees, etrog: The etrog is a yellow, lemon-like fruit. This fruit has a strong taste and a strong smell, and so is said to represent someone who has wisdom (inner attribute, like taste) and also does good deeds (outer attribute, like smell). Because of its shape and size, it is also said to represent the heart, which is considered to be where our desires and motives originate.

Palm branches, lulav: The palm branch is straight and rigid. It has a taste, but no smell, and therefore represents a person who has wisdom, but doesn’t do good deeds. Because of its rigidity, it is said to represent the spine, which is considered to be where our actions originate.

Boughs of leafy trees, hadas: The leafy boughs used are those of the myrtle tree. These branches have rows of many small leaves. It has a strong smell, but can’t be eaten, and therefore represent someone who does good deeds, but doesn’t have wisdom. Because of the shape of its leaves, it is also said to represent the human eye.

Willows, aravah: Willow branches have thin, elongated leaves. It has no taste and no smell, and therefore represents someone who doesn’t have wisdom or do good deeds. Due to the shape of the leaves, it is also said to represent the human mouth, or the lips.

A tradition involving these four species of vegetation is that they are taken in the hand and lifted up together before God. As we have shown above, these types of vegetation represent people who have differing relationships with God, and binding them together and lifting them represents how one day, everyone will worship and give an account to God (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10). We also saw them representing parts of the human body which we must keep in check: our heart (Luke 6:45), our spine or actions (James 4:17), our eyes (Matthew 5:28), and our lips (Matthew 12:36). We must put to death the flesh and take on the yoke of the Kingdom.

Traditions of the Festival: The Eighth Day

There is a curious command found in regard to celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a seven-day long celebration, but there is mention of an eighth day: “For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation,” (Leviticus 23:36). It would seem this eighth day is a part of Tabernacles, and it is often celebrated as such; however, it is in fact a separate holiday called Shemini Atzeret, meaning “the assembly of the eighth day.” The rabbis came up with an explanation for why there is an extra holiday tacked on to the end of Tabernacles. They compare the festival to a party, and after the seven days are completed, the host (God) has enjoyed the time so much that he begs his guests to stay another day. As our desire is to always spend more time in God’s presence, it is His desire as well.

The eighth day is also called Simchat Torah, meaning “Rejoicing in the Torah.” Torah is the Hebrew word for “teaching,” and is most often used in reference to what we call the Old Testament. Each Sabbath of the year, a portion of Scripture from the first five books of the Bible is read aloud in the synagogue. This cycle is designed to read through the first five books in one year. On Simchat Torah, the last section of Deuteronomy is read, directly followed by the beginning of Genesis, thus never allowing the cycle to end. We also should allow the Word to move us and be our source of joy, for we have: “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,” (Hebrews 6:5).

Traditions of the Festival: Was Yeshua Born During the Feast of Tabernacles?

The actual date of Yeshua’s birth is not explicitly stated in the Bible, which has led to much speculation as to when it actually occurred, and when, or even if, it should be celebrated. Over the course of time, December 25 was established by the early Catholic church, a day that had previously been marked by pagan celebrations. However, most accept the fact that this was not the actual date of His birth. Although the writers of the Gospels didn’t record the date, there are some clues we can follow which point to His birth being during the Feast of Tabernacles.

A good place to begin is in the fact that Yeshua was conceived six months after John the Baptist (Luke 1:36). This alone is not enough to pin down a date, since John’s birth date is not given either. However, we know that John’s father Zechariah was a Levite. The Levites served in the Temple at specific times of the year, each term lasting one week. Zechariah was in the order of Abijah, so his first term of service for the year most likely took place in the 3rd month, with John’s conception taking place shortly thereafter. The 9th month of the year would then mark Yeshua’s conception. Following this logic, John could have been born around the feast of Passover (in the 1st month). This is interesting, because Jewish tradition says that Elijah will come to announce the Messiah during Passover, and John is the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 17:12). Six months later, we can expect to see the birth of Yeshua in the 7th month. The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles is the 15th day of the 7th month. Yeshua, being Jewish, would have been circumcised on the eighth day. If He was born on the first day of Tabernacles, then this would place His circumcision on the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the most joyful day.

Another piece of evidence is that Mary and Joseph traveled to partake in a Roman census. It is reasonable to assume that Herod would plan this census at a time when all the people would be making pilgrimage. Three times a year, on Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, God commanded the people to come up to Jerusalem. So, it is very possible that this census was planned around Tabernacles.

While there is a great deal of evidence for the belief that Yeshua was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, since there is no record of the date, the best we can do is speculate; but what better time offers such a rich visual picture of the birth and life of our Messiah?

After the solemnity of the Season of Repentance, we arrive at the joyful festival of Sukkot. This seven day long festival takes place five days after Yom Kippur and usually falls in September or October. Directly following these seven days, an extra sabbath is declared, called Shemini Atzeret, meaning “Eighth day of assembly.” It is considered to be a separate holiday, yet at the same time a part of Sukkot. “On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day” (Leviticus 23:39).

Feast of Tabernacles

The word sukkot means “booths” or “tabernacles,” thus giving this Appointed Time the frequently-used name Feast of Tabernacles. God commanded the people to dwell in booths to remind them of His care for their forefathers when He brought them out of Egypt: “You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23:42-43). This act of dwelling in booths is also reminiscent of the tabernacle, otherwise known as the tent of meeting, where God’s presence dwelt during Israel’s sojournings (Exodus 25:8).

In addition to remembering the provision of the past, this was a time where the people were depending on God to meet a very present need: the proper timing of rain. In the land of Israel, Sukkot is placed right in between the fall harvest and the ensuing rainy season. It is a time for rejoicing in the blessed harvest and entreating God to send the rain, not too early as to ruin the harvest, yet not too late so that the next season’s crop is stunted: “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil” (Deuteronomy 11:13-14).

Season of Our Joy

Not only is this a naturally happy time, but God Himself commands His people to rejoice: “And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns” (Deuteronomy 16:14). We have come out of the most somber feast (Yom Kippur), and now it is time for everyone in the community to celebrate God’s forgiveness and faithfulness to His people.

The joyfulness surrounding this festival led to some interesting activities. One such ceremony was called the Celebration of Water Drawing. A priest would draw water from the Pool of Siloam; this “living water,” as it was called, represented the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29) and was poured out upon the altar. This draws itself from Isaiah 12:3: “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” It was during this ceremony when Yeshua said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38).

The connection between Yeshua and Sukkot is too important to ignore. In fact, there is strong evidence that He was born during this festival. This theory takes into consideration the time of Zechariah’s (John the Baptist’s father) temple service to approximate the time of the events surrounding John’s birth, with Yeshua’s birth happening around six months afterwards (Luke 1:36). In John 1:14 it is written, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The word “dwelt” here is literally translated as “tabernacled.” He put on the temporary shelter of a human body so that He could bring “great joy which will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

Feast of the Nations

Sukkot is called the Feast of the Nations. It was specifically ordained not just for the children of Israel, but for all mankind, both now and in the future. During the dedication of the first Temple, which took place during Sukkot, the foreigner is given a special blessing (1 Kings 8:41-43). In the future, all the nations will come up to Jerusalem in pilgrimage to celebrate Sukkot, as it says in Zechariah 14:16, “Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.” Those who don’t go up to celebrate will receive no rain (verse 17). In Revelation 7:14-15 we see those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (repentance on Yom Kippur) will serve God day and night, and He will be their tabernacle.

As believers in Yeshua, we have been given an incredible opportunity to live in the Kingdom today. We don’t have to wait until Messiah returns to honor God’s Appointed Times, but we can participate in them and experience the blessing they bring right now.

This year, let’s celebrate Sukkot looking forward to that day when God Himself will make His dwelling with us and we will rejoice in the tabernacle of His presence forever (Revelation 21:3).

How to Celebrate

– Build a sukkah of your own! It should be a temporary structure with at least three walls, decorated with plant material. The roof should not be complete so that you can see the sky through it. You do not need to live in it, but eat at least one meal per day in the sukkah and recite a blessing.

– In Leviticus 23:40, God commands, “Take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees (traditionally etrog, a lemon-like fruit), palm branches, and boughs of leafy trees (traditionally myrtle branches) and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.”

– This is a time where extra hospitality and generosity are encouraged. Invite friends and family over to share in your celebration.

– The day after Shemini Atzeret is called Simchat Torah, which means “Rejoicing with the Torah.” It marks the renewal of the annual cycle of public Torah reading and is honored by great celebration and thankfulness for the word of God. While it is not an Appointed Time of God, it is a valuable celebration.

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.13  JudeoChristianClarion.Com   “Is God Angry with America?”

Zephaniah 2:1-3  tells us this, “Gather together! Gather together, O shameless nation— before the decree is brought forth, before the day passes away like chaff, before Lord’s burning anger comes upon you, before the day of Lord’s anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land who have executed His judgment. Seek righteousness; seek meekness! Perhaps you will be hidden on the day of  the Lord’s wrath.”

We do not like to think about God in this manner. We like to think that God is loving, and He is, but God does not turn a blind eye to sin, He also judges, and He disciplines, and yes, He gets angry. We see that God brought judgment in the day of Noah as Genesis 6:13 tells us, “Then God said to Noah, “ The end of all flesh is coming before Me, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Behold, I am about to bring ruin upon them along with the land.”

 We think about our enemies, and what they may do to us. We think about our jobs, and the economy, but I do not think we give much thought to what God may do about the sin in the world. The people certainly didn’t think about it in Noah’s day, even when he was telling them for decades that God was going to bring judgement.  Yeshua said this in Matthew 24: 37-39a, “For just as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark.  And they did not understand until the flood came and swept them all away…”

We saw what God did to Sodom and Gomorrah.  Genesis 18:20-23, “Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous  that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”  The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” 

We see that the story goes on with Abraham interceding for the righteous before God and Lot and his daughters and wife quickly left with the billows of smoke rising behind them.100 years before the destruction of Nineveh, God sent Jonah to tell the people to repent and they did, and God spared them. But the people became wicked once again, and Nahum 1:1-8 tells us this about Nineveh.

“ A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In the gale and the storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, the blossoms of Lebanon wither. Mountains quake because of Him, and the hills come apart; indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence, the world and all the inhabitants in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath gushes forth like fire, and the rocks are broken up by Him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of its site, and will pursue His enemies into darkness.”

The people of Nineveh thought their city was invincible, surrounded by walls 100 feet high and a moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep. But Nahum proclaimed that God would bring down judgment upon those who scorned His law and treated His people with contempt. Nineveh fell because it was godless, and idolatrous, and a city of violence, lust, and greed. So how about America? Are we like Ninivah, invincible? America was built upon godly principles, but now we are no longer a Christian nation. More and more people have fallen away from God. According to statistics less than 50% of the population consider themselves Christian, including pastors. Today we have one abortion after another, and one law after another, that promotes lawlessness and violence and corruption in our streets, and in our government. Politicians no longer respect their duty and their office. We have become “woke” and  our children have been taught lies. Many of  our citizens hate this country and there is no longer a reverence for God.  Our country is reaping what it has sown for the last 100 years. Today we see shortages and inflation is on the rise. Our enemies no longer fear us, and our friends no longer consider us trustworthy. We have lost the blessings of God. 

Deuteronomy 28 speaks of the curses that God will place upon the people if they do not keep His commandments and live godly lives. Here are only a few things: “The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. The Lord will plague you with diseases until He has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.  The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.  The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed. The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.”

Remember God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It doesn’t matter who He is speaking to, His ways never change because of time or place or people.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 tells us, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

But what about the church? Aren’t we supposed to be the beacon of light? Yeshua, in Matthew 7:18-23 tells us this, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

Would God really say such a thing? “Yes!” Yes He would, because as believers we have a purpose in life, and that purpose is to do the will of God. The will of God is God’s will not ours. Let Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. If you love Me then keep My commandments,(John 14:15). I am holy and you are to be holy also, (1Peter 1:16). God’s judgement is coming upon the earth because of sin. Today do we even think about God’s will or His wrath? Do we even think that the Lord would bring judgement upon us?  Many pastors will tell you that it is not so, but 

1 Peter 4:17-19 says this, “ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?  Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

God will prune us, (John 15:2). He will discipline His people,(Hebrews 12:6) and He will put us through the fire, He will do all of this for us so that we will remain in the faith as 1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us,  “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Messiah Yeshua is revealed.”

God tells us “If My people”…We are the Abraham’s who should be interceding.  We are the people who need to repent and pray and seek God and yes, we need to turn from our sinful ways, for we have become friends of this world , which makes us enemies to God,  (James 4:4). We must return to God and forsake the world. God will bring judgement to the house of God, just as He says He will. We already see this with pastors going about as wolves in sheep’s clothing, not believing what they even preach. We see the people of God who have become anemic and dehydrated from lack of spiritual food and drink, the preaching of the truth of God’s Word. The church has become weak. We need to rise up and fight the spiritual battle and send the devil fleeing. We have the power in Yeshua’s name, and the power in the blood, and the power in the Holy Spirit, plus when we humble ourselves before God, we have the ear of God.  

 Moses stood between God and the nation of Israel, and fasted and interceded against God’s wrath.  Deuteronomy 9:13-14, 18-19,  “And the Lord said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.”  “The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.” Then I fell down before the Lord like the first time, for forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed by doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.  For I was afraid of the anger and the rage with which the Lord was angry with you so as to destroy you; but the Lord listened to me that time as well.”

Abraham also interceded for the righteous and we too, must stand between God and His judgment on this nation. But first we must repent and confess our sins and be made right in His sight, so that we do not fall with the wicked, for sin separates us from God.(Isaiah 59:2) Is God angry with America? I wouldn’t tempt Him. Today,  you, who have ears to hear, hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church. “Repent and Return,” before it is too late!

Welcome

It’s hard to believe that it is September.  The summer is coming to a close. How quickly time goes by and as time goes so does our lives. We celebrate the Fall Feasts this year all in September. The Fall Feasts represent the second coming of the Messiah.  We read last month that the time between the Spring and Fall Feasts represent the Bride preparing for her wedding. We are the Bride and while we have been preparing ourselves, Yeshua has also been preparing, for He has been preparing a place for us as John 14:3 tells us, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” This is a reference to the Feast of Tabernacles. When we build our little sukkah, it represents God’s dwelling and when we live in our sukkah for seven days, it is like God dwelling with man. It is just like the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Yeshua came and dwelt among us as John 1 :14 tells us, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  This is why we celebrate the birth of the Messiah during the Feast of Tabernacles. Yeshua was born on the first day of Tabernacles and on the eighth day He was circumcised.  The eighth day is called Shemini Atzeret, “Rejoicing in the Word.” So enjoy your September and give God the glory.

A Waiting Father

I think that most people have heard about the prodigal son and how the father waited for his son day and night, always looking down the road for him to come back. But today we are going to look at another waiting father.  I think we all know about Abraham and how long he waited for a son. He waited so long that he got impatient and tried to help God by having a child by another woman. But the waiting father that we are going to look at today is God the Father. Just think how long God waited for His only begotten Son to be born. He knew that He was going to send His Son before the foundation of the world as Revelation 13:3 tells us, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

So before God even created the heavens and the earth, God knew that He would have to send His Son into the world to die for our sins. His Son Yeshua (which means God’s salvation ) would not only enter into man’s time and space, but that    

 Philippians 2:5-7 tells us, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Messiah Yeshua, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.”

Hebrews 4:15 also says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.”

So why did our Father wait so long to send Yeshua?  Why did He keep mankind separated for so long? Romans  5:6-8 says,  “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, the Messiah  died for us.”  We know that in God’s time He makes all things beautiful as Ecclesiastes  3:11 tells us. And even though man was separated from God, He did make a way for His people to draw near. That is what the Tabernacle in the wilderness was all about. It was a foreshadowing of God dwelling with man and man could draw near to God by the shed blood of an animal. For without the shedding of blood there could be no cleansing for man. Hebrews 9:22 quotes Levitcus 17:11, “And almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

You see, this is why it is so important to understand the Hebrew Scriptures. They are not nullified as we have been taught to believe, but they are the foundation to all of God’s teachings (that is what the word torah means) and that is why there are so many references to the Torah in the New Testament. You cannot build upon anything without a foundation. It is important to learn about the Tabernacle and how it operated and the priesthood and the sacrifices, because they were all a foreshadowing of things to come, and those things all represented the heavenly Tabernacle were the Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world and where He is our High Priest today, (Hebrews 9:12, 4:14-16).  

It all points to the Messiah, salvation and the heavenly Sanctuary of God.

So why did God wait? Because Yeshua had to die upon a tree. Yes! The sin of man was that they ate from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Romans had perfected the method of crucifixion in Yeshua’s day.  Also, God waited for when the time was turning from before the Common Era to the Common Era. Yeshua gave a very crypted answer one day right after He had cleansed the Temple. They questioned Him and wanted a sign from Him as to why He does these things, like throwing out the moneychangers, (Matthew 21:12-13).  John 2:19,  gives us His answer,   Yeshua answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  What did He mean by that? We also see another time when they ask Him for a sign and He said this  in Matthew 12:39-40,  “ But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; (for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea-monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the depths of the earth.)” What does all of this mean?  First of all, we know that Yeshua died on the fourteenth day of Nissan, which was the day of preparation. This was the night of the Passover, even Paul tells us that Yeshua is our Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”

And we know that He rose on the sixteenth day of Nissan, the Feast of the First-Fruits as Paul also confirms in 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But the fact is, Messiah  has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”

So as we see that this was not three days and three nights in the grave. The way to answer this is that this was added to the Scriptures as so often there are comments added, but they are not in the original text. Again this is why it is important to know the Hebrew Scriptures. So what was Yeshua actually saying? Jonah was sent to Nineveh to tell the people to repent. Yeshua also told the people to repent, for He said, “ Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15)

   Now we are in the third millennium of the common era.  The Temple was destroyed in 70AD. We know that there are many Scriptures that tell us that the Temple will be rebuilt, in Ezekiel and Revelations for a few. Yeshua was pointing to a time when the Temple, which He knew was going to be destroyed, would be rebuilt on the third day. 

Let’s get back to our waiting Father. We have seen that God had to wait for His Son to come into the world at just the right time so that He could die for our sins at the proper time and in the proper way.  God who is so merciful that He held back judgement in the days of Noah, so that the people would repent and so too, in the days of Jonah and even in the days of the Messiah, is now waiting for us to repent. The signs that Messiah gave, all had to do with repentance and judgement. We are in the third day. We also know that Israel is back in their own land. We also know that today we have a global system in place that will bring about the antichrist. The Father is waiting now for us to repent. This is what the Fall Feasts are all about…repentance. The Feast of Trumpets represents the coming King and it also represents the coming Judgement.  The Day of Atonement which is ten days later and is the holiest time of the year, represents having the gate of heaven open for all who will repent. You could say like when the door was open to the ark until the time came for the rain to come down, so too, are the gates open. But at the end of the day, (the Day of Atonement), there is the closing of the gate ceremony,  just like in the day of Noah, God shut the door, and He will shut the gates to heaven. We see so many parables of Yeshua where He speaks of the door closing and those left out crying and gnashing their teeth, because now they must enter into judgement,(Matthew 13:41-42, Luke 13:28).  We must not take advantage of the mercy of the Lord.  2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”  Let us quickly come to God with a humble and contrite heart, for by this He will not turn us away. (Psalm 51:17).    Then and only then we will be with Him for eternity, which is represented in the Feast of Tabernacles.  So today let us not be like the people in the wilderness as Psalm 95:7-8 tells us, “ For He is our God,

and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,

As on the day of Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put Me to the test,

They tested Me, though they had seen My work.” And the writer of the Hebrews quotes in Hebrew 3:13-15,   “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have come to share in Messiah if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Today, we have a waiting Father and He is waiting for you and me to come to Him with our garments white, (Revelation 7:14) serving Him and living only for Him, (John 12:26) so that He can say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into My Kingdom.” (Matthew 25:21) Today,  let us walk in the footsteps of our Messiah, for we too, must deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him, (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23) for He is the door. (John 10:9)  He is the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)  Today, while that door is still open, let us repent and follow Yeshua as He takes us 

through the door, and we will have a life in Him. Don’t be fooled, we all sin and we all have to repent each day, to keep walking with our Messiah.

Today’s Recipe 

When September comes, the days of picnics and playing in the sun begin to wane. So too those great summer desserts also begin to leave us as the fall fruit begins to be harvested. So enjoy this last summer fling.

Strawberry Chantilly by Allrecipes

Ingredients:  1 cup all -purpose flour

¼ cup packed brown sugar

½ cup butter ½ cup chopped walnuts

2 eggs whites

1 cup white sugar

2 cups fresh strawberries

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp lemon juice

Directions: Step 1…Preheat oven to 3oo degrees F (150 degrees C)

Step 2… Mix flour, sugar and butter until crumbly. Stir in chopped walnuts.

Step 3… Press two-thirds of the mixture in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish; the remaining crumble will be used for the topping. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. Cool crust completely.

Step 4… In a large deep bowl, stir together egg whites, sugar, strawberries, and lemon juice. Whip with an electric mixer at high speed for 10 minutes. You can substitute one 10-ounce package of frozen strawberries (thawed); with frozen berries, decrease sugar to 2/3 cup.

Step 5… In another mixing bowl, whip whipping cream until stiff and fold into strawberry mixture. Spread over cooled crust. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight before serving.

Serves 12

Sandiegram/The Path of My Life Copyright 2010

Lord of My Life

Jesus, Jesus, Lord of my life, the door to my heart is opened. Walk in and close the door and never leave me.  Let my heart be a tabernacle and let Your Spirit dwell in it. Live with me and guide me. Show me Your truth. Lead me on the righteous path so that one day I can meet the Father face to face.

Hebrew Corner:

Ayin  ע

Ayin is the sixteenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and sometimes even the seventeenth letter, if you count it by the letters that make Ayin. Yod (10) and Zayin (7).  Pronounced  (Ah Yeen). Ayin, like the letter Aleph, has no sound of its own, but usually has a vowel associated with it. It has a numerical value of 70. The word Ayin means “to see” or to understand and obey. Jeremiah 5:21, Isaiah 6:10, Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,  hear with their ears,  understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

Ayin also represents the spiritual light of God as mentioned in Genesis 1:3, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

According to Jewish midrash, the divine light is far greater than the light that comes from the sun or stars. Though concealed in the Torah, the spiritual eye can behold the presence and the radiance of God by means of the Holy Spirit and don’t forget the “Eyes of the Lord,” that sees all, good and bad, Proverbs 15:3. But with an eye comes two eyes. We all have a choice in life whether we use our good eye or our evil eye to see something in the true light or in a distorted untruthful light.  

 Allegorically, it is said, because Ayin is a silent letter, and although it sees, but does not speak, therefore it represents humility (or anavah). Anavah begins with an Ayin,as does the word for service (avodah), but like the two eyes, Ayin can also represent idolatry (avodah zara) and also slavery (avedut) both of which are born out of the heart of envy. 

The letter Ayin with its equivalent value of 70 is seen many times in the Scriptures. 70 people went into Egypt from Joseph’s family. 70 elders of Israel saw God on Mt Sinai. Israel was in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. According to Jewish tradition, there were 70 members in the Sanhedrin, 70 names of God and 70 birth pangs until the coming of the Messiah.

We are always hearing about living for God, but what about living with God. The purpose that God created was so that He could dwell with man. Yet, He did not create man as a spiritual being like Himself. But He created man to have a physical body, with an eternal spirit. You have to wonder why?  The angels were created as spiritual beings, so why not man? Because man was going to be special to God, and God wanted to bless him. His eternal plan was to have man live forever, but man dashed God’s plan when man sinned in the Garden. Or did he? The sovereign God knew the beginning from the end, for no man can thwart God’s plans. God actually gave man a great blessing by creating him as a physical being. Just look around you and see the beauty of His creation, the flowers, the birds, the trees, the rivers .Just think what we would have missed if God did not create a physical world. Of course, in God’s heavenly temple there is nothing like the splendor of the Lord. His glory is all around Him. No, God created a physical world to partially separate us from Him. God wanted to see if we would be loyal to Him, faithful and obedient to Him, if we did not see Him. Yet, God has made Himself known to us, He walked with Adam and Even in the Garden. He dealt with Cain when he killed his brother. He spoke to Noah and even guided him in building the Ark. He was a friend to Abraham and  Moses who saw His glory. God spoke to the prophets, and of course, He sent His Son Yeshua. If you saw Yeshua, you saw the Father, this is what Yeshua told us, John 14:9.

But before we get to Yeshua, God spoke to Moses and told him to build a dwelling for Him. Yes, this is what the Tabernacle in the wilderness was all about. God wanted to meet with us, just like He did with Adam and Eve. He wanted to dwell among us.  God told Moses in Exodus 25:8-9, “Have them construct a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I am going to show you as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, so you shall construct it.”

God only wanted to dwell with man. He loved us so much that He tells us just how special we are to Him. He calls us His segula, in Hebrew which means His special treasure like in Exodus 19:3-6, “And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:  ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.  Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;  and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

Yes, it started with Israel, for He chose them  as Romans 9:4-5 tells us, “To who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises;  whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”

But God loved all His creation as Paul tells us in Romans 11:17, “ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree..”

So this brings us to Yeshua, Scripture tells us in Ephesians 2:11-22,

“Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—  remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Messiah Yeshua  you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace;  and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.  And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;  for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua  Himself being the cornerstone,  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

With what  started in the Garden of Eden and was then built in the wilderness, the Tabernacle, and now we ourselves are being built into the temple with Yeshua as the Cornerstone and His Word as the foundation, God has made a way for us to dwell Him. He has brought us all near by the blood of Yeshua and grafted us into Israel and now the two are one. As Psalm 23 ends it says this, “Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,

And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.”

This is what we celebrate during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), dwelling with God forever. You may want to celebrate this Appointed Time of God also.  It is a Biblical Feast for all who believe: For God so loved us, that He sent His only begotten Son, so to those who believe shall have everlasting life. John 3:16

Most people do not understand the meaning behind Yom Kippur, otherwise known as the Day of Atonement. If we understood it clearly,  I think people would see why it is so important to keep this Biblical Feast Day. So let’s take a closer look at the Day of Atonement, because like all of God’s Biblical Feasts, they are not just for the Jews, but for all of God’s people, and I must say even more so for those who know Messiah. So follow along with me and let’s take a closer look and even answer some questions, if anything, it is always good to better understand God’s word. Yeshua, our Messiah is our atonement. There is no question about that. Everything in the Temple points to the Messiah, the fixtures, such as, (the Menorah, Table of Showbread, the Altar of Incense, the Ark, the Altar of Slaughter), plus the sacrifices, the priesthood, including the garments of the High Priest and this also includes the Biblical Feast Days. Believers say that Yeshua fulfilled everything, and so now we do not need to keep any of this. But this is not a true statement. First let me say that none of this is for our salvation, but all of this is for the worship of God and for a godly life. It is all about holiness and being separate from the world. When you are separate from the world, you show the world exactly what you believe. James 4:4-5 tells us this, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us.”  God’s kingdom is a kingdom of light and that light is not to be put under a basket, but on a lampstand for all to see. Like the Messiah, we are the “Light to the World”, and this is exactly what the Menorah was called.  God is a God of order, and there is no other place to see this more than the Temple. God has an order of worship. He also has requirements for us when  entering into His presence. Yes, everyone quotes  Hebrew 4:16,  “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 

But this is taken out of context. Yes, we can have confidence before God, but we also have to enter into God’s presence in holiness. God is not the guy next door.

He is holy, and the angels cry holy, holy, holy constantly, because He is just that.  God tells us that we too, must be holy.   1Peter 1:14-16 tells us this, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Without understanding the priesthood and the operation of the Temple, it makes it hard for us to understand this concept. God has dwelt in His holy Temple since before the creation of time and nothing has changed, the heavenly Temple will always exist. It was from this Temple that God showed Moses on the mountain  how he should make the earthly Temple, Exodus 25:40, Hebrews 8:5. God also told Moses just how the priest should enter in. Now I know that you are saying, “The veil was torn when Yeshua died.”  Yes, but that does not diminish who God is or how we can approach Him. By the veil being torn, this only  gave us the access to draw near to God as His priests as Peter tells us in 1Peter 2:9. 

Before the death of Yeshua, Jewish people (because Gentiles had not yet come to the saving knowledge of  God)  had to bring a sin offering to draw near to God, Now we can draw near by the shed blood of Yeshua as we come in His name, but still we can not come to God with unconfessed sin. Paul  and Peter both tell us that we are to examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Messiah Yeshua is in you—unless indeed 

you fail the test?”

2 Peter 1:3-11  “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah.”

The priests had to wash before coming into the holy place. We too, must be washed clean and that means we must not only confess our sins, but we must repent of our sins. This is not lip service to God, but a definite action on our part to be rid ourselves of the sin that hinders us. This is what Isaiah tells us in,

Isaiah 57:15.  “For this is what the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

James 4: 6 says this:  “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 

This is what repentance is, it is a humbling of one’s self. It is allowing God to do that work in us as Titus 3:5-7 tells us, “ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,whom He richly poured out upon us through Yeshua the Messiah our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Psalm 51:17  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

Paul also tells us in Romans 12:1-2,  “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Now our lives become a  holy sacrifice as we walk in the footsteps of Messiah.

This is our worship, not to be conformed to the world. Yeshua was a spotless, blameless, perfect sacrifice and should we be anything less?  We have been taught to believe that if we accept Yeshua as our Savior then we are set for eternity. But this is not true. There is a thing called sanctification and this is the work that we allow God to do in us to change us, so that we no longer conform to this world as we saw in Titus 3:7.One more Scripture and that is in Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Now I suppose you are wondering what does all of this have to do with the Day of Atonement? Well, this is it. The time leading up to the Day of Atonement is a time to repent, to examine ourselves and to forgive one another. It is a time that represents the second coming of the Lord. It is a time when, as one would say, “The gates of heaven are open.” It is like a time before the great flood, when people had the chance to repent, because the door to the ark was open. Today, Scripture says, Today, if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts.  Today, the gates of heaven are open for all to come, but you can not come just for the sake of coming. The Bible is full of Scriptures that tell us that we must  repent of our sins and it also says that we all have sinned.  1 John 1:5-10 says this, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua  His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us”

1 John 2:1-6 goes on to say,  “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Messiah Yeshua the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:  the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.”

1 John continues in verses 15-18, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”

1 John 3:15-17, “Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.  We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.  But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him?”

1 John 3:23-24 says this, “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Yeshua the Messiah and love one another, just as He commanded us.  The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”

1 John 4:15-21  “Whoever confesses that Yeshua is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.  We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.  By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because He first loved us.  If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.”

The day of Atonement is a time to pray and reflect. It is a time  to examine oneself and repent. It is a time that also represents the day that the books are opened. Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?  At the close of the day of Atonement, it also represents the closing of the gates. It really causes you to  pause, because there are people who do not live out God’s Word and yet, think that they are saved. Maybe they have been baptized into a denomination, or they said a prayer,or because they think they are a good person, but eternal life is in the shedding of Yeshua’s blood and to accept Yeshua as Lord and Savior, one must be washed in His blood, that is how you accept Him as your sacrifice for sin. 

1 John 1:7, “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua  His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Revelation 7:14, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Yeshua is the door, the gate to heaven, the veil in the Temple, even the door on Noah’s Ark. You have to go through the door, and that is through Yeshua, who is our Atonement. He is the way and the truth and the life and no comes to the Father except through Him.

Still think you don’t need to take the time for the Day of Atonement? 

 Think Again!!

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.14  JudeoChristianClarion.Com  “Does America Need Another Great Awakening”

America has seen four Great Awakenings, starting back in the early 1700’s with people like John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards. Calvin  taught about faith and predestination, and the grace of God. Edwards taught that man was a sinner and God was an angry God. It was the “Age of Reasoning”. It was the 1st awakening. The basic doctrine was: 

Sin without salvation sends people to hell. 

People can be saved if they confess their sins to God, and seek forgiveness, and accept God’s grace.

A person can have a direct and emotional connection to God.

Religion shouldn’t be formal, and institutionalized, but casual and personal.

When the 2nd Awakening came in 1790 and lasted till 1840, religion spread  through revivals like in Kentucky and Tennessee and emotional preaching by those preachers who would cry and quiver and shake as they preached.  It also led to an emphasis on salvation by institutions which led to the start of several known colleges and seminaries and mission societies. People were encouraged to make a personal connection with God, instead of relying on a minister. Many new denominations had their beginning in the 2nd Awakening, but there was a divide between the people, for many people did not agree with all of the doctrine that was being preached. One in particular was the Baptist teaching that found its way to America  which is “Once saved, always saved.” This 

 was a Calvinistic teaching, one of many that the Baptist Church has had over the last 400 years.

Then came the 3rd Awakening in 1855 which was part of the “Romantic Religious Movement” of the second awakening that was sweeping across England, Scotland and Germany. This time also brought religious activism and it continued as the people entered into the 20th Century. The church saw strong social activism along with the belief of the Second Coming of Messiah which would occur after the entire world was reformed. This began the “Social Gospel Movement” which applied social issues to Christian faith.  Again many new denominations were born, and many moral issues were taken up by Christians. The church did not only grow in numbers, but also in wealth. An intellectual writer named Josiah Strong  advocated for what he called a “Muscular Chrisitanity” and that gave way to outreach to the unchurched not only in America but around the world. This era saw the beginning of the Salvation Army and the start of many orphanages and missions. And then came the Civil War, but after the war things picked up where they left off and the “Progressive Era” continued. Different denominations started colleges and the YMCA became popular in promoting that Muscular Chrisitanity as it reached the young men on campus.

Then in 1960 came the 4th Awakening and it lasted till the 1980’s. Many people do not think that this time was an awakening, but many changes did occur. As the mainline protestant churches weakened in membership and influence, the conservative denominations grew rapidly. There arose great internal theological battles and schisms in many churches and the church became politically powerful. Evangelical and fundamentalist denominations grew rapidly and at the same time secularism grew dramatically and more conservative churches saw themselves battling issues such as gay rights, abortion and creationism. There was a shift to having a personal relationship with the Savior. “Non-denominational” churches and “community faith centers” began. Megachurches, (why have 200 hundred members when you could have 2,000?) and non-traditional churches with conservative theologies and parachurch organizations all began at this time. In the early 1960’s came the awakening of the “Charismatic Movement”, and more so in 1967 when the Catholic Church was beginning its ecumenical beliefs, and the church was putting more emphasis on lay spirituality than on conventional institutional ways. The Charismatic Movement began in 1906 when a group of people in Los Angeles, California had been seeking God fervently  as they met in a little place on Azusa Street were overcome by the Holy Spirit, and revival broke out and that led to the “Pentecostal Movement”. This was a time of religious leaders like Billy Graham and his crusades and civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This was the time that organizations like the Moral Majority and the Chrisitan Coalition saw many Chrisitans get involved in politics.

So the question is, “Does America need another awakening?”

To that answer I say “NO,” not if  it is like  what we have seen over the decades, which has had nothing to do with God’s Word, nor with salvation. It has nothing to do with people drawing closer to God. Just the opposite. We have seen Chrisitans become more and more like the world. Today there are more people than ever, who do not belong to a church, nor do they consider themselves Christians, and even pastors, who do not even believe in the tenets of  the faith of Chrisitianity. Instead of new souls coming to the Lord increasing, believers have fallen away. We have seen the Word of God diluted and polluted. We have substituted activism, social and political, in place of prayer. We do not know how to fight the spiritual battle, which is the source where all social and political problems start, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12). We do not contend for the faith, nor do we even know what it means to fight the good fight.  We are to be strong and put on the lifestyle of the Armor of God, along with prayer, (Ephesians 6:10-18). Today believers do not even read God’s Word, let alone know it. But  if believers would read God’s Word, and let the Word of God, which is the sword of the Holy Spirit, teach us, for Scripture always explains Scripture. People who have taught us over the decades have taught us  to the point  that the people of God do not even look like God, nor live like God’s children should live, but instead we look like the world.  We have been taught to disregard the majority of God’s Word, which is the foundation to all the rest of the knowledge that’s in the Bible. Our lives are to be an example, a light to the world. We are set apart and made holy when we keep the commandments of God, and here are a few examples,  in 1 John 3:17, “But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him?” 

James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

 John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.”

Our Constitution says that we can protest peacefully, but God’s Word tells us this in Philippians 4:6-7,“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Messiah Yeshua.” 

We have had a so-called great awakening four times in this country and every time we have gone through one of these periods we have not been drawn closer to God, but we have drifted further and further from the truth. Yeshua is our example and we need to follow in His footsteps. He never got political, he never fought for social issues. He came to do the work of His Father and that was to save souls and to bring truth, and light into the world. He called out sin and He spoke of repentance and He spoke of the kingdom. And He said this in John 15:1-11, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you.  Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.  These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

What happened to the commandments? What happened to the shed blood by which we are saved? What happened to repenting from sin? What happened to hell? What happened to holiness and godliness? We now have a social gospel, and a seeker friendly church, and none of it has to do with salvation, repentance and prayer, and fighting the spiritual battle. The world is not our home, and if we love one another we will fulfill God’s commandments, but the truth must stay the truth, and the light must be the true light, and we must be the children of God, and to do so, we must not only walk like our Master Yeshua, but we must look like Him, and talk like Him, and to do that we must be one with Him.

No we do not need another man- made change to our religious beliefs, what we do need is a true revival of the Holy Spirit in our lives, for He is the Spirit of truth and He will lead us in all truth. He will make us godly and holy. Let’s begin to seek God out fervently, and ask God to bring us back to truth and light. What we need is a move of God. The Holy Spirit who will wake us up, and cause us to repent. We must ask God to send the Holy Spirit and revive us once again.

This is a

 “Clarion Call”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;

    sound the alarm on my holy mountain.”(Joel 2:1)

It’s time for all people to awaken from their slumber. 

This is a time to see clearly the signs of the times.

No.15  JudeoChristianClarion.Com  “This is the Time to Shout”

As we lose more and more of our Constitutional rights, you have to ask yourself, “How long before we will not have the right to congregate as a community of faith?” We have seen  in most countries that Christians, due to persecution, have to gather in secret. From the First Century to the time of Constantine, who allowed freedom of worship only because his mother Helen was a Chrisitian, believers were persecuted and martyred. But also during this time the number of believers grew. Yeshua tells His disciples this in Matthew 10:16-23,  “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.  But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues;  and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentile, pagans.  But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.  For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.  And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”

We see here that Yeshua warns them of coming persecution, but does not tell them to remain silent. Matthew 10: 24-31 continues to say, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.  It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!  So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are two sparrows not sold for a copper coin? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.”

So what is it that we are to shout from the rooftops? 

Isaiah 40:6-8 tells us,  “A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; the people are indeed grass! The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.”

Today people are falling away from their faith in God. They no longer believe in the Word of God, nor do they believe in the One He has sent to save us.

Matthew 10: 32-39 continues to say,  “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I came to turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  and a person’s enemies will be the members of his household.  The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.”

Yeshua demands allegiance, and He also expects us to remain faithful no matter if our own family will not follow Him and in so doing they reject us. Each person is tested in his faith, and because of the freedom God gives us to decide whether or not we will be faithful to Him is what brings the division in life. But despite the fact that you may be the only one in your family or your circle of friends, you still must speakout. Life is short and we do not know when death will come to any one person.  

2 Peter 3:9 tells us the love God has for people. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

But God will not always strive with man, for there is a point when man will die and his time to repent will come to an end.

Yeshua tells us in John 9: 4, “While it is still day, we must do the works of the one who sent me. Night is coming. Then no one can work.”

Now is the time to shout from the rooftops. Now is the time to speak out. Now is the time for all good men to come, and do the work of the Lord, to partially quote Patrick Henry. He, too, was rallying the troops, and we, too, must rally together those who will go out and contend for the faith. We must do it while it is still day, while we can still freely gather and speak. Tomorrow may be too late.  Yeshua said in Matthew 12: 30, That we are either with Him or against Him. Only the one with Him will gather with Him, the others will scatter. True signs of those who really hear His voice, is that  they will gather to Him, while those who do not will scatter.    Yeshua tells His disciples this in John 9:34-37,

“Yeshua said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.  Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest.  Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have come into their labor.”

Yeshua is coming back. He told us to look and see the signs of the time. We have     gone global, and that is what the Book of Revelation speaks of.  Israel is a nation once again. Darkness is overtaking the light. Never before has there been a time that fits the narrative. We must give a warning call to all who are listening. God has made us watchmen. Yes, we are keepers of our brothers and sisters. 

Ezekiel 33:7-11, speaks of the job of the watchmen though this speaks of Israel, this is for everyone who works God’s fields. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.  When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.  But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.  Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then, can we live?”  Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?”

Isaiah 40: 3-5 says, “The voice of one calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the uneven ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

We see in John 1:23  that John the Baptist quotes Isaiah when he says this, “I am the voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight.’’’

John the Baptist, Yeshua and His disciples all shouted out the same thing.

 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

This was their message and it should be ours. 

Today is the day to gather your church members, your believing family, your believing friends and co-workers, and go out and shout from the rooftops,  “Yeshua is coming back to receive His own, and will they be among those who welcome Him.” Today is the day to go door to door speaking the good news of salvation. Today is the day to begin harvesting your neighborhood, your village, your town, or the place you gather with family and friends. Are you with the Lord, or will you scatter?  Are you hearing His voice or have you become complacent? Are you ready to forsake this world or are you going to continue to be part of it? Are you ready to lose your life for the kingdom or are you going to try to save it by living your life your way? 

This is the time to awaken and rise up and advance the Kingdom of God. This is the time to warn the people about the darkness that is falling upon us. This is the time for people to gather and not scatter.

Welcome

Fall is a great time of year. The leaves are changing and a new beauty begins to show. It’s like old age. When you are young there is a beauty that old people wish they had. But as you get into the fall of your life, it has a beauty all of its own. You are more informed and experienced and that gives you greater wisdom. You can appreciate life more, because you know that your years are growing shorter, just like the daylight grows less and less in the fall and our walk with the Lord becomes sweeter and sweeter. 

We hope you enjoy this Sandigram/What Season is Best of All    Copyright 2010

Autumn

Autumn is a time of beauty.

It is a time when our Lord touches the earth and changes it into a wonderland.

The leaves on the trees change into elegant colors as they reach the height of their beauty.

Weeds become beautiful as the Lord’s hand gently touches them.

Many of us have lived lives like weeds—growing wild, not really caring about others. 

But once we found our Lord, we have become beautiful like the weeds in autumn.

Thy Kingdom Come

One day when Yeshua was teaching His disciples on how they should conduct themselves in matters of righteousness, giving and prayer, He began to say this as Matthew 6:7-15 tells us, “And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.  So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’  For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.”

We want to look at seeking the kingdom and entering into it today, in other words taking hold of the kingdom today. Yeshua went preaching “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” Matthew 4:17. We know that all things start with repentance and so that is where we start to enter into the kingdom. Yeshua was telling the people that they could take hold of the kingdom that very day  if they repented. He also taught them to pray in such a manner that they were requesting God to bring His kingdom now, or was He already telling them how to bring the kingdom now? You see He had just been speaking to them about how they should be living. If we look at Matthew 5-7 we see that Yeshua was teaching on all sorts of topics, but they all had to do with how one should live a godly life and actually it is here in these Scriptures that Yeshua expounds on many of the commandments. So let’s take a closer look at how one can take hold of the kingdom today. We see that we must reverence the Father. God is holy and we too must be holy, 1 Peter 1:16. He is set apart and we too, must be set apart as Messiah prayed in John 17:17-19,     “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

So I can not say, Your kingdom come. Your will be done, if you are not willing to let go of your will and take upon yourself the yoke of the kingdom.  The yoke of the kingdom is picking up your cross and following Yeshua, as He tells us in Matthew 16:24-26,    “Then Yeshua told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Paul thought that believers should all be yoked to the kingdom as 

2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” But we know that many believers have not put on the yoke of the kingdom. We must deny ourselves. We must let go of the world. We must lose our very lives for the kingdom. Yeshua said this to the Father before His crucifixion as recorded in Matthew 26:39, “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

I suppose so many people never repent because they never have any intention of surrendering their will, let alone their lives to God. But we who call ourselves followers of the Master, we are without excuse.  Yeshua goes on to say, give us our daily bread. This sounds like the people in the wilderness when they cried out to Moses as we read in Exodus 16:2-3,  “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,  and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

So what did God give them, but Manna.  John 6:31-35 tells us,  “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”  Yeshua then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

If we do not eat and drink of our Messiah daily, we too, will hunger and thirst. We must eat His flesh and drink His blood, this is what He tells us in  John 6:54-56,   I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”

Yeshua is the word made flesh. How many people do not read, study, or live by the Word of God? How many people interpret the Word of God wrong because they either do not understand it, or they are taught wrong, because of denominational teachings. I will just say this, Yeshua and all of His Apostles including Paul were all Jewish and they stayed Jewish and they lived by Judaism and once Yeshua died and ascended to heaven, His followers, including the Gentiles,  were nothing but a sect of Judaism. We find up to the 4th century evidence of many believers still keeping Judaism, but the only difference is they have the Messiah. Yeshua goes on to say  that we must forgive. If we can not repent and if we have unforgiveness, there are only two kingdoms,one is light and one is darkness, there is no  gray kingdom.  1 John 1:5-10 tells us, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua  his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 

John goes on to say in 1John 2:9-11, “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

This is a good start to taking hold of the kingdom. First, we must repent. Then we must sanctify ourselves by being set-apart and holy. Next, we must deny ourselves and let go of our will and pick up the yoke of the kingdom and follow in the footsteps of our King Messiah. Our food and our drink can only be the Word of God. Yeshua is the Word and He is the King we are following. Then we must forgive all those who, in one way or another, caused us to hold them in debt. The kingdom of light is a kingdom of love and we too, must love our King to walk in His footsteps. Yeshua’s last words were, “ Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” These last words must be our first words when taking hold of the kingdom, then add godliness to your lives and you will see that you are at the gate of the kingdom.

Dutch Apple Pie

Nothing says October like a good Dutch apple pie and we think we have a great one. 

Ingredients: Crust–            1 cup of flour

1 stick of margarine or butter 

                                                1 1/2 tsp   sugar

Filling–                                   12 apples

                                                   3/4   cup sugar

                                                   2 tbsp flour

                                                   1 tsp of cinnamon

 2 tbsp butter or margarine

Topping—                                1/2   cup brown sugar

                                                  3/4    cup flour

   1/3   cup margarine or butter

Combine crust ingredients and press into pie pan. 6-8 SERVINGS

Combine filling and place into crust.

Combine topping and sprinkle on top of filling.

You can double this recipe and  you can use a 9X13 pan=12-16 SERVINGS

Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and then reduce to 350 for 50 minute or until the apples are tender.

Hebrew Corner: 

 פ Pey

Pey is pronounced as a “P”, but when you add a dot on the middle of the letter it has the sound of Fey, “ph”. Pey is the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It has the numerical value of 80. The word peh means mouth. Since pey (mouth) follows ayin (eyes), many scholars believe that ayin (eyes) is the gateway to reality while pey (mouth) is what brings reality into being.

Pey being 80 is the age that Moses was called to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.  So Pey is associated with strength.

Here is a well known midrash about Moses. 

Pharaoh’s daughter “loved” baby Moses as if he were her own. Because he was “so handsome” everyone liked to see him and could not turn away from him. Pharaoh himself kissed and hugged Moses, and Moses would put Pharaoh’s crown on his head. Pharaoh’s magicians, worried about this behavior, thought Moses would eventually take Pharaoh’s crown, and so suggested that Moses be killed. But Jethro (Moses’s future Midianite father-in-law) argued that Moses did not yet have any understanding, and so suggested a test: place a gold piece and a hot coal before Moses. If he reaches for the gold, he has understanding and should be killed, but if he reaches for the coal, he has no understanding and there is no need to kill him. The gold and coal were placed in front of Moses, and he started to grab for the gold. However, the angel Gabriel intervened, shoved the gold to the side, and Moses not only grabbed the hot coal, but then put the coal into his mouth. As a result, he became “slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

Midrash are and can be allegorically speaking, but you have to wonder why a stuttering Moses could become a mighty force against Pharaoh. I guess it has to do with Pey..the mouth that brings reality into being with strength.

Ephesians 4:1-6 tells us,  “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Paul tells us that we must walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Do we even stop to think about our calling, let alone walking in a certain manner which is worthy of that calling?  We want to take a closer look at what manner we ought to be walking.

As disciples of Yeshua we should look like Him. If you were honest with yourself you would have to say, “ I do not look like the Master.”  Yet, that is what discipleship is all about. In the true sense of the word, a disciple takes on the characteristics of the one he is following. Rabbis would have disciples and their disciples would emulate their Rabbi in all things. How he prayed. How he taught. What he taught. How he carried himself throughout the community. The student would begin to act just like his teacher. But Luke 6:40 tells us this,  “A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

We must be fully trained. So our goal is to learn from Yeshua and put in practice everything that He did, and everything that He said, we too, must say. So let’s get started. To be like Yeshua first you must be godly. Paul tells us that we must walk with humility and gentleness with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This certainly does not look like the world I live in. In many churches today politics rules. I am not talking about Republican or Democrat, I am talking about church leadership. If our churches are not being run with humility, certainly the congregation will not learn humility from our pastors or deacons. Next to Yeshua, our pastors and deacons and those in leadership must set the example, they must be like Yeshua. As Paul said to the Corinthians,  “Be imitators of me, as I am of Messiah.”  Our pastors need to preach Yeshua’s words and they must walk as Messiah walked, so that they can lead their congregations as true shepherds leading the flock of Messiah.  

Matthew 23:10 tells us, “And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Messiah.  But the greatest of you shall be your servant.” 

1 Peter 5:1-4 says, “Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed:  shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

We need to help our pastors and the leadership of our churches by sometimes giving them a gentle reminder that they need to imitate Yeshua. We all fall short of the glory of God, and we need others to remind us when we begin to drift away. And if they do not accept your gentle reminder then I suggest you find another pastor.

Let’s continue to look at Yeshua. We know that Yeshua went about doing good. He healed the sick and mended up the broken hearted. He preached  “Repentance.”

Why? Because the kingdom was at hand. In Yeshua’s day, just like today, we can take hold of the kingdom. Yes, we can actually walk and live in the kingdom during our lifetime. How do we do it?  By living like Yeshua. You say,  “ But I can not be perfect like Him.” He knows that, and that is why we have the Holy Spirit to help us. He is there to counsel us. And we have each other, for we are all one body, and so because of that, you can say, “We are all in the same boat.” We all have faults. We all sin. We all fall short. Galatians 6:1-2 tells us, “ Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Messiah.”

We have been called and if we have answered that call then we must live like Yeshua, and do the works that He did.   John 14:12 tells us,

“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father.”

We are to be the light in this world as Yeshua was the light. Many people fall away from truth, from churches, even from associating with Chrisitans, because they think they are hypocrites. They do not see Yeshua in us, nor do they see us living out the word of God. Now I know that more times than not, they too, are not living like they should, but the point at hand is, that the church today and the people in those churches,  look more like the world than like Yeshua. The music sounds like the world. The people leading music act like they are in a rock band and holiness has gone out the window.  We dress like the world, we talk like the world , we watch programs that are not godly, movies that are not godly, we do not talk godly.  I know, you are saying, “But we live in this world.” But even though we live in the world we must stand out. We must be light. We must be different. We must go about doing good, and doing the works of Messiah. We must work in His fields. We must, we must, because we are to be like Him in this world. His hands, His feet, His mouth, speaking His words, going about doing His work. Yeshua did not get involved in political matters, only matters of the kingdom and when we do, we may encounter persecution.

Yeshua, says  in John 15:19  “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

1 Peter 3:8-17 tells us, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life    and see good days must keep their tongue from evil  and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous    and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if  you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”But in your hearts revere Messiah as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Messiah  may be ashamed of their slander.  For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

 Yeshua, spoke the words of His Father and did the Father’s work. Now we too, must do the same. But if we are to look like our teacher Yeshua, then we too, must love what He loved. And He loved the Commandments and He said that He came to fulfill the Commandment, or to say it in today’s words, He came to keep the Commandments and to teach them in the true light. 

We must be as much as possible like Yeshua, then we will be the light to the world. And every spark of light will dissipate the darkness and we will see more and more of the kingdom begin to appear. This is our calling, to advance the kingdom.

You Gave Me A Rainbow

Lord, I awoke this morning and saw the blue sky and the sun shining.

Thank You for the joy of the blue sky and the warmth of the sun.

The blue sky in my life is so peaceful.

The warmth of the sun is like the blanket of love You place around me.

Your love, Your embrace, is my security blanket.

As the sun touches me, so do You touch me and You awaken my whole being, Lord.

You made the green trees and green grass.

Thank You for the softness and the gentleness of the color green.

You are a mighty God, yet like the color green,

You are soft and gentle.

Lord, You made the mountains, rivers, and streams for me to enjoy.

 How I thank You for all the beauty of nature!

You provide for me.

You are great like the mountains, powerful like the waterfall, and sometimes rough like the rivers as You polish me like gold in a fire.

But then, You are so gentle like a stream with Your love and compassion for me.

Lord, life can never be just blue skies and sunshine.

There are times when there are gray skies, rain, and storms.

The gray skies are there to remind me that I am a sinner.

The rain that falls upon me reminds me of You, Lord, as you forgave me

and washed away my sins. There are times when there are storms in my life.

The terrible storms, how they hurt. There are times when I come before you so broken with my heart opened wide.

You’re always there to take my heart in Your loving hands and kiss it and tell me of Your great love.

You’re always there to calm the storm in my life and to give me a blue sky and sunshine again.

Lord, after the storm, You give me a rainbow— a bridge for me to walk on to be with You for all time.

Sandiegrams/Storms      Copyright 2010

Father , we pray that you will be in our good times as well as our bad times. We pray that our good times will be times of great renewal and blessings,and our bad times will be times of great discoveries of your love and comfort. Father we pray in times of joy you will be our joy and in times of trouble, you will be there to calm the storms.

 Psalm 116:1-17

I love the Lord, because He hears me;  He listens to my prayers. He listens to me every time I call to Him. The danger of death was all around me; the horrors of the grave closed in on me;  I was filled with fear and anxiety.Then I called to the Lord,  “I beg you, Lord, save me!” The Lord is merciful and good;  our God is compassionate. The Lord protects the helpless;  when I was in danger, he saved me. Be confident, my heart, because the Lord has been good to me. The Lord saved me from death; he stopped my tears  and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of the Lord  in the world of the living.I kept on believing, even when I said,   “I am completely crushed,” even when I was afraid and said,    “No one can be trusted.” What can I offer the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will bring a wine offering to the Lord,  to thank him for saving me.In the assembly of all his people I will give him what I have promised. How painful it is to the Lord when one of his people dies! I am your servant, Lord;  I serve you just as my mother did. You have saved me from death. I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving  and offer my prayer to you.

I Will Never Forget You

Beloved, know that I am with you in good times and in bad times.

I have engraved you in the palm of My hand. I will never forget you.

I have created you so that one day you will spend eternity with Me.

Rejoice in knowing that I am near.

In your time of brokenness I will lift you up and I will place a blanket of love around you.

In your time of joy, the saints will rejoice with you. Walk towards the light and my Son will greet you.

Rejoice and be glad, for I am with you always. Give praise to Me and know that I am God.

Sandiegrams/Lord, I Saw Your Face  Copyright 2010

Father, we pray for those who feel alone or abandoned that they will know that you will never forget them.

In My Dark Hour

Lord, in my dark hour, You lifted me out of my despair.

In my dark hour, You shined Your light upon me.

In my dark hour, You comforted me.

In my dark hour, You wiped away my tears.

In my dark hour, You gave me hope.

In my dark hour, You filled me with peace and joy.

Sandiegreams/Storms  Copyright 2010

Father, we pray for those who are going through a dark hour, and we ask that you bring them into the light.

Psalm 139:1-18

Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, Lord, You know it all. You have encircled me behind and in front, and placed Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot comprehend it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take up the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,” even darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made ; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully formed in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my formless substance, and in Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

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Welcome

I can’t help but think of the last stanza of “Over the River and Through the Woods.” It goes like this: “Over the river and through the woods now  grandmother’s cap I spy! Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!”

This is what Thanksgiving was meant to be. A time with family around the table sharing a meal in thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for and family is one. The shared meal goes way back. It was used to seal a covenant. The two parties would share a meal as a gesture of good faith. We are in covenant with our family, they are our flesh and blood and Scripture tells us that we must care for one another.  1 Timothy 5:8 tells us, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  This Thanksgiving let us share a meal with family and friends with love and appreciation for one another. Now that is a real Thanksgiving.

Coming to America 

During this time when we celebrate Thanksgiving we need to think about

 a few facts. I hope that you will follow me till the end of this writing.

America is a country that has a rich history in it’s short time of existence. 

I want to take a closer look at this rich history and why people came.

I want to start with a song. There was a song back in 1980 written by Neil Diamond called “Coming to America.” This song was about the history of  the American imigration. The song says many things about the hopes and dreams of those who came.  Let’s look at a few lines of this song.

 “Far, we’ve been traveling far. Without a home, but not without a star. Free, only want to be free.  We huddle close, hang on to a dream.”

We have lost so much of our history over the years, but once upon a time there were people from Italy and Spain who came with Columbus and they were Chrisitans and Jews aboard his ship. There were Dutch Hollenders and British on the Mayflower. Many were Puritan and Jews. There were freemen and servants on both ships.  They all came with a dream, a dream of a new life, a life were they could be free, free to live how they chose. At the time of Columbus, the king and Queen of Spain told the people that everyone had to become Chrisitans or else. So the or else meant they had to leave Spain and its colonies. People had been looking for freedom and freedom found itself in a new land.  People had a dream in their hearts to not only be free, but to have a life that freedom brings. 

The song says, “Home, to a new and shiny place. Make our beds and we’ll say our grace. Freedom’s light burning warm. Freedom’s light burning warm.” On that first Thanksgiving, the people got off the Mayflower and fell on their knees, and gave thanks to God Almighty for bringing them safely to America. Yes, that was the first Thanksgiving. It was all about recognizing that God, and only God, brought them through all the trials, which consisted of storms, lack of food and water, along with  crewmembers who were hostile to them because of their religious beliefs. The song goes on, “Got a dream to take ‘em there. They’re coming to America. Got a dream they’ve come to share. They are coming to America.” 

These people who came to forge a new life, came only because they knew that God would see them through. Their hopes, their faith, their courage, it should speak to us today as believers in the One True God, that no matter what happens,  God is always with us, if we believe that He is, then He will be. These people wanted freedom to worship God the way they wanted to worship Him. Now you have to ask yourselves, “Did America come about by the hand of God?” I would have to say, “Yes!” Yes, because America has been a Christian and Jewish land since the beginning. This was designed by God. A nation on a hill, to be a light to the world. Yes, this was God’s plan, and this country has been that beacon for centuries. When the time of the Revolutionary War came about, and the people wanted freedom, a new country full of hopes and dreams, who was there to give us the victory? God! Yes, God was there fighting on our behalf. God gave birth to this country. God taught us how to walk as a new country, and God protected us, and provided for us all these years. People have come to America for centuries, with hopes and dreams of a new life. Even though people came from around the world, we remained people of the Bible, people who let the Ten Commandments guide them. Thanksgiving was a time when families gathered  and bowed their heads in prayer, with thanksgiving on their lips.

Today America does not look like the America God created. No, we have lost God over the years. We have taken our freedoms for granted. We no longer bow our heads in thanksgiving, instead we have only wanted more and more of this world and less and less of God.  We say thanks, but no thanks, for I can do  for myself.

We have taken God out of our schools and our government and the workplace and the marketplace. We have removed all symbols of Christianity and Judaism. We drank from the cup of prosperity, till we became drunk on all the filth that it had brought.  We have become so casual in our congregations, looking  at our phones, drinking coffee, and talking during our services. Our worship has become nothing but a rock concert, with strobe lights and all the effects, as we sit in darkness.

The Pilgrims who left everything behind because they had a dream and a hope, based on God, as they fended for their lives on the open seas, these people, today would be turning over in their graves.  The men and women who fought and died on behalf of Americans to keep their freedoms are turning over in their graves. 

I tell you, Thanksgiving is for the sole purpose of the soul being grateful to a faithful God. It is not a time for football, shopping or anything other than what the Pilgrims did on that day, and that was to give thanks to a faithful God and later they shared a meal to be hospitable to those around them, to those who helped them and to say, “Thanks.”   We who have been born in this great country need to fall on our knees and be thankful that those who came before us paved the way for us. They had a vision of a land that would be called the Promised Land. A land flowing with milk and honey.  A land were they could worship the One True God, and they felt that they were the chosen people of God. Yes, at one time in our history the people who came to this country were truly what we call Judeo-Christians. They very much kept the Jewishness of God’s Word. Jews and Christians played a part in this nation’s history. Why? Because of God. This country was not going to replace Israel, or the nation of Israel, but it was to advance God’s kingdom around the world. America became the most powerful nation in the world. We were the defenders of freedom and the Biblical way of life. You find it in our laws and the mottos on our flags and on our buildings,and the words to our Declaration of  Independence and our Constitution, even on the 

Liberty Bell, all signs of God, the God who brought this great land into being. So as we should be celebrating our gratitude, where does America stand today?  Fallen! Yes, we have fallen out of the grace of God. We have seen less and less of God’s protection. We have seen less and less of God’s prosperity. We have seen less and less of God’s blessings, as we have seen more and more people fall away from God. America, we need to repent and come back to God. Every one of us! We need to draw near to God. We need a revival in this country and it will only come if God’s people repent. We need to come back to the America that God gave birth to, an America  which stood for the love of God, and the American way was the way of loving one’s neighbor. God, Family and Country, that was America. When people would walk to their congregations, or their churches, people were polite,  and people were united, and people cared about each other.  This is the America that we need to return to and we need to return quickly because God tells us this in  2 Chronicles 7:13-14 , “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people,  and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Today, let us come back to our Judeo-Christian principles, and  truly  be one nation under God, giving thanks from a grateful heart.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Sandiegrams: “Thank you Lord” Copyright 2010

Lord, thank You for Your love and for teaching me how to love.

Thank you for giving me Your grace even though I did nothing to earn it.

Thank You for opening my eyes and ears so that I can see Jesus in the people

around me and that I can hear and understand Your Word.

Thank You for blessing me and for calling me out of darkness

into the Light.

Thank You for abiding in me and for letting me abide in You.

Thank You for caring about me and for not leaving my side despite the

trials I go through.

Thank you for being the good Father and for admonishing me when I need it.

Lord, this is a world where there is an evil force all around me.

But You send Your angels to form a hedge around me and protect me.

Thank You.

Thank You for putting the love of nature in my heart and for letting me see You in all this beauty.

Recipe Corner :         

 “Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies”

Ingredients:                       2 ½ cups all- purpose flour          

                                                1 teaspoon baking soda  —   1 large egg

                                                1 teaspoon baking powder  — 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

                                                1  teaspoon ground cinnamon– ½ teaspoon of salt

                                             ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg—1 ½ cups granulated sugar  

                                                ½ cup butter (1 stick) softened

                                                1 cup pure pumpkin

Instructions:                  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheets.  

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder,                                                                                                             cinnamon, (nutmeg) and salt in a medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in a large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

Bake: for 15-18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes: remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle glaze over cookies.

Glaze:    Combine  2 cups of sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.

Makes about 36 cookies.   

ENJOY!

Hebrew Corner:

  Tsadeץ

Tsade is the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It has the sound of Ts or Tz with the equivalent number of 90. At times this letter is called Tzaddik (“righteous person”).  The Tzaddik, the righteous person, is revealed in the letter form as a faithful servant with his arms raised before the Lord in humility. As some of the sages say, the letter Tsade, represents the Tzaddikim (righteous ones) that are the foundation of the earth. Because God is the righteous foundation of the world, the Tzaddik then reflects the divine image when they live in humility and are dependent on God for their ability to live in obedience to His will.

There is a connection between Tzedek (righteous) and Tzedakah (righteous deeds). Just as the Melakhim (angel) are God’s messengers in heaven, so the Tzaddikim are God’s messengers on the earth. There are two forms of Tsade. The letter can look like a man on his side, as in need, when the letter is written in books. The bent form of Tsade represents righteousness and humility, but also is a picture of the suffering  Tzaddik , which is a picture of Yeshua, suffering for our sins. Also the Tzaddik, standing up with arms lifted upward in victory and praise. The famous Rabbi Luria maintained that God created the world by an act of Tzimtzum, which was a voluntary withdrawal or contraction of himself, in order to make room for His creation. Since Tzimtzum begins with the letter Tsade, he reasoned that the first creative act  was the voluntary humbling of God as He made room for the rest of His creation. If God had not made room for His creation by restricting Himself, then nothing could have existed because it would have been overwhelmed by God’s totality. For the righteous person Tzimtzum means this, Making yourself less in order to make others more…humility! Since Aleph represents the creator, and Tsade represents the reflection of His image, you can make the connection of the Bride of Messiah.

צ–א

In this month of November, we take time to share a meal, and to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. This is what Thanksgiving is all about.  Maybe we don’t appreciate this time for what it is really about because we do not grow a garden, or we do not know what it takes for our farmers to grow and harvest theirs and the work it takes to not only harvest, but to get it to market.  But Thanksgiving is only once a year, and so is planting seed in most areas, but what about spiritual seed.? What about reaping a spiritual harvest? Let’s take a closer look at this. 

Yeshua gives us a parable in Matthew 13:3-9,   “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed  fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed  fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

What we see is that you have to make the effort of planting the seed.  Now I know from my own gardening experience that first you have to prepare the soil. Your crop is only going to be as good as your soil. It’s like anything in life, you have to prepare. So the first step to planting is breaking up the ground. After the long winter, the ground is hard and there could be stones that lay under the ground that need to be removed. You also have to pick a spot where your garden will get plenty of sunshine and water. It takes time and effort to prepare for a bountiful harvest. Then the next step is when the seed starts to sprout, you have to not only keep watering , but at times you have to also prune and pull weeds. It takes a caring gardener to attend to the needs of the garden. 

We see God speaking about such things in a spiritual nature. 

Jeremiah 4:3 gives us our first step.

“This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground  and do not sow among thorns.”

God spoke this to Isaiah in Isaiah 57:14,

Build up, build up, prepare the road!     Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” For this is what the high and exalted One says—  He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place,     but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly  and to revive the heart of the contrite. 

And in Hosea 10:12  it says,

“Sow for yourselves righteousness;  reap faithful love;   break up your unplanted ground,  for it is time to seek the Lord,  that He may come  and rain righteousness upon you.”

Our parable about the sower  also has a spiritual meaning. Yeshua goes on to explain His parable in Matthew 13:19-23, 

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road.  The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.  And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

So what is the moral of the story?  If you are going to plant spiritual seed, then you become the gardener. You have to decide where you are sowing your seed. Some people may not be ready to hear what you have to say, and it will all go by the wayside. You may have to prepare a person by slowly preparing their heart. Then you may have to deal with removing some obstacles, and then the person may be ready to receive your seed. Once you plant that seed, you can’t just stop there, you must water it, and keep watch over it until that seed germinates and takes root.  If we see a newly planted garden, that does not have a gardener watching over it, then we must help the seed to grow. Be a gardener friend, who can water and fertilize that seed. Be a garden caregiver. If you are the one to see that seed  comes to harvest, you will be blessed by being able to see the rewards of your hard work. This is the time to give Thanks for not only your blessings, but being able to cause someone else to be blessed by your work.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9.

Happy Gardening. 

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Laying The Foundation

Today all we hear is the sins of our founding fathers and how we should reject all that they did. But what about the sins of our forefathers who passed on their religious beliefs?  To answer this question we must look back with eyes that see clearly. So let’s take a closer look into church history. I think you may be amazed at what you are going to hear. But first we must establish a foundation.

 Moses, before  he died, spoke to the children of Israel and once again repeated the Ten Commandments to them.  Deuteronomy 5:8-10 says this about the sins of the fathers, 

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, even on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,  but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Messiah Yeshua

Yeshua was Jewish, born of Jewish parents, with a Jewish genealogy, from  the line of David. During the life of our Messiah, He never once told  His followers who were Jewish that He was beginning a new religion. Not once did He ever say, “Do not keep the Commandments, or the Sabbath, or the Biblical Feasts of God” mentioned in Leviticus 23. No! He said just the opposite. Matthew 5:17-19, “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!  Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

We have a long way to go before God’s Word has accomplished all that it needs to accomplish and heaven and earth are still here and so every stroke of the pen is still enforced and has value. As far as the Sabbaths, In Mark 2: 27-28 says this,  “Yeshua said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

And regarding the Biblical Feasts, we see time and time again Yeshua keeping the Feast days; John 7:37-38, Yeshua at the Feast of Tabernacles, John 2:13-23, Yeshua keeping Passover. 

The Apostles

During the life of the twelve Apostles, who were Jewish, did they ever say, “We are beginning a new religion, or do not keep the Commandments, or the Sabbath, or the Biblical Feasts of God”?  On the day of Pentecost when Peter stood up and preached to thousands of Jewish people who were in Jerusalem for the Feast, not once did Peter tell the crowd that they were beginning a new religion. On that day 3,000 Jewish believers accepted the Messiah, and shortly after in Acts 4:4 5,000 also. Not Peter or any other Apostle, ever started any new religion. All those on Pentecost went back to their homelands, and still worshiped in the synagogue on the Sabbath, but now their lives were complete because of Yeshua the Messiah.

God Fearers

All throughout the journey in the wilderness there were people who sojourned with Israel because they saw and knew that Israel believed in the One True God. They did all that the Jewish people did. In fact God commanded it so. They lived like them and worshiped like them. In the days of the Messiah, there were still people who clung to Israel, they were called God Fearers. Luke 7:1-10 tells us this story.  We will look at verses 2-5,  “Now a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.  When he heard about Yeshua, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.  When they came to Yeshua, they strongly urged Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;  for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

We know or should know that after Yesua’s victory on the cross over Satan, that he would do everything in his power to destroy that victory,  and we will see as we go on in time that he did just that. But the powers of evil will never undo what Yeshua did on the cross, no matter how much the devil does to destroy that truth. 

God is truth and His truth is eternal, but we must search for truth, for truth is not with man, but with God.

James

James Hatzaddik, (The Righteous), was the brother of Yeshua. James was a Nazarite and he was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, (Episkopos in Greek). A bishop was an overseer or elder of a congregation. A Nasi in Hebrew, was a prince or the head. We see Paul in 1 Timothy 3:1-7  explain the duties of an overseer. “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,  not overindulging in wine, not a bully, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity  (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),  and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.”

 James was the head of the Jerusalem Congregation, and the head of the 1st Council called the Jerusalem Council, which we will see in a moment. Tradition tells us that James was appointed by Yeshua, prior to Yeshua’s ascension into heaven. James, now was the steward of the throne of David. In 62CE James was martyred along with five other of his disciples. In reading the Book of James, you will never find him telling his readers not to obey the Commandments or not to keep the Sabbath or the Biblical Feasts of God.

Paul

Paul, during his lifetime, never said that he was starting a new religion, nor did he ever say, “ Do not keep the Commandments, or the Sabbath, or the Biblical Feasts of God.” No, he never said any of this because the Jewish people would have never thought to not keep the Commandments and Sabbaths of the Lord.

When Paul went to the Gentiles, which was part of God’s plan from the beginning, he spoke to them about the One True God. These people were pagans. They worshiped many gods. They had no knowledge of the One True God. They had no knowledge of the Messiah Yeshua, but when they came to believe, then  they too, worshiped right alongside the Jewish people in their synagogues. There was no new religion. There was just one form of worship, just as God is One. 

Jewish Form of Worship

We must realize that churches as we know them did not come for many centuries later as we will see as we go along. The only form of worship was Jewish.

“Synagogue” is a Greek word that literally means a gathering of people, like when the believers would meet at Solomon’s Portico, Act 5:12, “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.” But it can also refer to the place of assembly. Synagogues were used for a variety of communal needs: such as schools, for communal meals, as courts (Acts 22:19), as a place to collect and distribute charity (Matt 6:2). Worship also took place in first-century synagogues.  Synagogues today are not like the synagogues in the days of the apostles.  Nonetheless, reading and interpreting the Torah and the Prophets are well attested to in first-century synagogues (Acts 15:21), along with communal prayers, (Matt 6:5). We know that Paul went to the synagogue and preached, but we also know that in many places where there were no synagogues, believers met in houses. Over these congregations was an overseer and Paul appointed many of them as we see in Acts 14:23, “After appointing elders for them in every congregation, Paul  and Barnabas, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.”

Also in Titus 1:4-5, “To Titus, my true son in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Messiah Yeshua our Savior. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

So now let’s look forward, beginning with the Jerusalem Council, which took place around the year 50 Common Era. The question that was being asked was, “Do Gentiles who are coming to the faith need to be circumcised?”  This question is what Paul dealt with throughout his whole ministry.  Paul called it, “My Gospel.”(Romans 2:16,16:25) It was given to him by God, because he was chosen to go to the Gentiles. Ephesian 3:2-10 tells us this, “If indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you;  that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Messiah,  which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;  to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the gospel,  of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.  To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Messiah, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

Paul died defending his gospel which was simply Gentiles did not need to go through the ritual of  becoming Jewish, which  circumcision was a part of, nor did Gentiles need to be circumcised to be saved, for circumcision did not save us, but the shed blood of Messiah did. When reading the Epistles of Paul you must keep in mind that this is the background for all he taught, and you need to place this background into interpreting his teachings. Paul did not start a new religion for Gentile believers, Paul tells us in  Philippines 3:3-6, “For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship by the Holy Spirit and glory in Messiah Yeshua and have not depended on the flesh— though I myself might have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he might depend on the flesh, I far more—  circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee;  as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.” Paul did not say I used to be.  

Next we will  look at the Jerusalem Council.

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Jerusalem Council

Acts 15 tells the story. We will look at verses 6-11.

Some believers who were of the party of the Pharisees felt that Gentiles should be circumcised and this is the matter that they discussed.

“The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.  After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;  and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?  But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Yeshua, in the same way as they also are.”

James, who was the head of the council and the believers in Jerusalem, rendered his decision in Acts 15: 13-31. We will look at verses 19-22,  “Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.  For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.”

We see that James begins by saying,  “That from ancient generations” which refers to those Gentiles who sojourned with Moses. Then he brings it forward to their present time, referring to the Gentiles who now sit in synagogues on the Sabbath and hear the Torah being read and taught. So James knew that the Gentiles were already being taught the Commandments and Statutes  and wisdom of God.  James exclusively points out certain things pertaining to food. This is because he wanted Jews and Gentiles to be able to fellowship in “Koinonia”  which is in today’s terms called “Christian fellowship,” which is your common pot luck dinner.  James’ concern was communion with God, such as with worship and prayer, along with meals. This also was true about sexual immorality,  and was common to their previous pagan life.

So you have to ask yourself, “ Why?  

Why are we not worshiping at the synagogue today?”

 The Separation of the Jew and Gentile

All the way back to Paul’s day we see that the Gentile believers were being taught that God rejected Israel because they did not accept the Messiah Yeshua. But Paul in Romans 11 disputes that claim. We will look at verses 11-24,

“ I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.  Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!  But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry  if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them.  For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,  do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.  You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”  Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.  See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.  For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”

Paul makes it quite clear that Israel is not being replaced by the Gentiles, but that the Gentiles are being absorbed into the tree of Israel and it is what supports.This does not make the Gentiles the new Israel as verses 25-35 tells us, “For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;  and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”  In relation to the gospel they are enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved on account of the fathers;  for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.  For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,  so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.  For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him?  For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

This was God’s plan from the beginning, as we see the promise to Abraham,  that the Gentiles or as it is said, “ The Nations,” would all be gathered into Israel.

As we continue on this journey through time we will see just how things changed over the centuries and just how we arrived to today. We hope that you will continue on this journey through time, and that you will begin to see the sins of our forefathers.

Next we will look at Jewish Revolts and the Didache

Revolts, The Didache 

The First Century saw three Jewish revolts which changed the course of time for the early believers. Not to spend too much time on these revolts, we will use Wikipedia as a reference.

The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE), sometimes called the Great Jewish Revolt , or The Jewish War, was the first of three major rebellions by the Jews against the Roman Empire, fought in Roman-controlled Judea, resulting in the destruction of Jewish towns, the displacement of its people and the appropriation of land for Roman military use, as well as the destruction of the Jewish Temple and polity. The Second revolt, also called The Bar Kokhba revolt known by Romans as the ‘Jewish Expedition’ , was a rebellion by the Jews of the Roman Province of Judea, led by Simon bar Kokhba, against the Roman Empire. Fought circa 132–136 CE, it was the last of three major Jewish-Roman wars, so it is also known as The Third Jewish–Roman War or, The Third Jewish Revolt. Some historians also refer to it as the Second Revolt of Judea, not counting the Kitos War (115–117 CE), which had only marginally been fought in Judea.

Simon bar Kokhba called himself the Messiah. Because the Jewish people felt that the Messiah would come and deliver them like in the days of Moses, the people followed him. But the believers who followed Yeshua the True Messiah remembered what He told them, as recorded in Matthew 24:4-5 this, “See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will mislead many people.” 

Also in Matthew 24:15-16 Yeshua tells them this, “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand—  then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains,” and that is exactly what the believers did. When the temple was destroyed in 70 CE during the first revolt, Titus the commander of the army did just that. He brought in idolatrous images and placed them on the altar. The believers saw this and they fled to the mountains and were saved, while  a million people were killed during the siege.

Because the believers did not stand with the Jewish people and fight alongside them, they regarded them as traitors. And the separation just grew wider and wider.

The Bar Kochba revolt brought an end to the Apostolic Jewish Community in Jerusalem. The community had three bishops, or overseers, James, Simeon, and Justus.The Jerusalem Community of believers stood firmly with the original apostles and their teachings.

The Didache

After the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple, the Apostolic leadership realized that they had to preserve the teachings of the Messiah for future  believers. As the original twelve apostles were now older, and many of them  had traveled to other countries preaching the Word, they saw the importance of this.  Many false teachers  were leading people astray. So the Apostolic leadership composed a document called, “The Instruction of the Master through the Twelve Apostles to the Gentiles,” or simply “The Didache.” It was written as a catechism book for new believers. This book taught new believers the two ways of life, the way of life and the way of death. This is what God told Israel in Deuteronomy 30:15-20. We will look at verses 15-18a,“See, I have placed before you today life and happiness, and death and adversity,  in that I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, so that you may live and become numerous, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to take possession of it.  But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them,  I declare to you today that you will certainly perish.”

 The Apostles knew that the choice of life and death, the blessings and the curses referenced in Deuteronomy 28 was for everyone. The Didache also taught them about fasting and praying and immersion, much like what Paul refers to when he speaks of the elementary principles in Hebrews 6:1-8, “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Messiah, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.  And this we will do, if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,  and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come,  and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;  but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”

Paul was telling his Gentile readers that they had learned their catechism, and now they need to mature in their faith. Lastly the Didache taught them that God has put people in authority and they need to respect that authority. 

Paul also reminds them of this in Ephesians 4:11-16,  “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Messiah;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Messiah. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Messiah,  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

So we see at the end of the First Century that the teachings of the Messiah were being preserved. But Peter tells us that Paul was being misunderstood. 

2 Peter 3:14-18 tells us this, “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,  as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people and lose your own firm commitment,  but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Messiah Yeshua. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

One thing that was being twisted was Paul’s reference to being saved by faith alone, and not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.”

But James tells us just the opposite in James 2:24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

But the works that Paul was speaking of were the works of becoming a Jew to be saved.  Sometimes he referred to it as the “Works of the Law.”  This is what the Jerusalem Council was all about, does one need to become a Jew to be saved? (refer to part one of this series.) These works are these, in order to convert, the conversion candidate must have a circumcision, and immerse in the mikveh. There is also a requirement to accept the commandments and do works of charity and prayer and like a child who has been  bar mitzvahed, he must know Torah. Paul said that Gentiles  do not need to become Jewish, and the Jerusalem Council agreed. Ephesians 2:11-18 tells us this,  “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision”  remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,  by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,  and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

 So in reality Paul and James agreed, one is not saved by the works of becoming Jewish, but we must use our faith for doing the works of God as Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Simon Magus And Nero

Simon Magus was the first Gnostic and he had many followers. These people pretended to be believers in Messiah, but they embraced the superstition of idolatry.  We first find him in Acts 8:9-13, 18-24

“Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;  and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “This man is the Power of God that is called Great.”  And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts.  But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Messiah Yeshua, both men and women were being baptized.  Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.”

 “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,  saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money!  You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness.”  But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

In 62CE, no sooner did Paul leave Rome, Simon Magus arrived. Magus now in Rome could reach many believers and deceived them back into their original thinking and lifestyle. Simon Magus came to Rome to spread his heresies and found success among the God fearing Gentile believers. He turned them from the true faith and impressed the people of Rome with his Satanic miracles. He was a powerful sorcerer and a master in illusions which won over many people.

Those who followed Magus, the magician or should we say false teacher, taught his followers,  who Paul just converted, to fall down before his image and worship with incense, sacrifices and libations. He used philosophical dualism of the Greeks and he retold the stories of the Torah. He even took the teachings of Yeshua and turned it into something completely different. In the new enlightened world of Simon Magus, the God of the Jews, became an evil angel and Yeshua was not the Son of the God, of the Jews, but the son of a higher god. He was the first to teach the cancellation of the Torah. This laid the foundation for Christian Gnosticism. It used the Scriptures in reverse to prove the exact opposite of what they were saying. Isaiah speaks of this in 

Isaiah 5:18-20, “Woe to those who drag their sins behind them like a bullock on a rope. They even mock the Holy One of Israel and dare the Lord to punish them.“Hurry up and punish us, O Lord,” they say. “We want to see what you can do!”  They say that what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right; that black is white and white is black; bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.”

Paul writes to the believers to refute such lies in 2 Timothy 3:13-15, “ But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,  and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yeshua.” 

The early church writers traced all the Gnostic Christians from the 2-4 Centuries back to Simon Magus. These false Christians slipped into the church like a contagious and leperous disease teaching gnosticism in the manner of their forefather Simon Magus. 

Justin Martyr once said, “Simon Magus established a cult of followers who worshiped him like a god.” Even Peter confronted Simon Magus when he was in Rome.  After the death of James, Peter went back to Jerusalem, but legend has it that Yeshua spoke to Peter in Jerusalem and told him to  immediately leave and go to Rome to fight the enemy, the adversary of the Master and the brethren.

In Rome Peter would have connected with Silas, and Clement, John Mark and Aquila and Priscilla. He would have encouraged those who had fallen away to repent and come back into the fold. Legend has it that Simon Magus summoned Peter to meet with him on the Sabbath. Simon promoted the event, and many of the population in Rome came out just to see Simon’s powers. Peter also had powers, the power of the Holy Spirit, and he challenged Simon Magus to the point that many of Simon’s converts turned away.

Nero

At the time when Peter was in Rome, Nero was the fifth Emperor of Rome. He most likely heard about Peter and Simon Magus’s meeting. Nero loved theater, entertainment, and spectacles. Legend has it that Peter and Paul were imprisoned at the Mamertine Prison and it was from here that Peter and Paul were led to their deaths.  Parts of this prison still stand today.  Nero had his Maximus Circus where he made sport in killing many Chrisitans. It was here that Peter was crucified.  An eighty foot Egyptian obelisk of red granite was in the center, and a gilded ball sat atop of the monument. This obelisk still stands today at the Basilica of Saint Peter. The Maximus Circus is now Vatican Hill.

The followers of Messiah grew in the First Century, but not without darkness, and sorrow, and persecutions that led to the separation of  Jew and Gentile, but also martyrdoms of the Apostles, and many believers, Jew and Gentile, and yet, the true teachings of Messiah,  and the Torah continued. 

Yeshua told His followers what it would require of them as Believers, even persecution.

“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Next we will continue on our journey through history and look at our ante-Nicene Forefathers.

Apostolic Fathers/Ante-Nicene Fathers

As the First Century came and went, with it went the original Twelve Apostles. The Second Century found itself with many influential people making the way for Chrisitanity to flourish, but now it wasn’t Jerusalem that was the core to all things, but Rome and with that, it’s Greek influence. The Apostalic Fathers were very concerned about proclaiming the Gospels just as the apostles themselves proclaimed it. They were just as focused as the apostles were in rooting out and exposing any false doctrine that kept wanting to rise up during the early church. This became the Patristic Era or you could simply say, the times of the teaching and writings of the church fathers.  There were still many who continued the teachings of the apostles and we are going to look at three who are called the Chief Apostolic Fathers.

Clement of Rome

Clement of Rome was one of  three chief Apostolic Fathers. Clement was said to have been consecrated by Peter the Apostle, and he is known to have been a leading member of the church in Rome in the late 1st century. Early church lists place him as the second or third bishop of Rome after Peter. Clement’s only genuine writing still in existence is his letter to the church at Corinth (1 Clement) in response to a dispute in which certain presbyters of the Corinthian Church had been deposed. He asserted the authority of the presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such. His letter, outside the New Testament, was read in church, along with other epistles, some of which later became part of the Christian canon. These works were the first to affirm the apostolic authority of the clergy.  According to tradition, Clement was imprisoned under the Emperor Trajan; during this time he is recorded to have led a ministry among fellow prisoners.

Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius, was the third bishop of Antioch early in the Second Century, and he was a student of the Apostle John and also one of the three Apostolic Fathers.  Ignatius called himself Theophorus (God Bearer). A tradition arose that he was one of the children whom Yeshua took in his arms and blessed. 

 ^{(Matthew 19:14)}

 The Fourth-Century Church historian Eusebius writes that Ignatius succeeded Evodius as bishop. Theodoret of Cyrrhus claimed that St. Peter himself left directions that Ignatius be appointed to be the overseer of Antioch. But many things that were accredited to Ignatius  were not of him, for one, that anyone who celebrated the Passover with the Jews, or recieved emblems of the Jewish feast, was a partaker with those that killed the Lord and His Apostles, and yet being a student of  the Apostle John, he would have known that Yeshua said this as recorded  in John 10: 17-18,   “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back.  No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Polycarp of Smyrna

Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle  John and a friend of Ignatius. Polycarp is also regarded as one of the chief Apostolic Fathers. Polycarp lived in an age after the deaths of the apostles, when a variety of interpretations of the sayings of Yeshua were being preached. Polycarp occupies an important place in the history of the early Christian Church.  He is among the earliest Christians whose writings survived. His role was to authenticate orthodox teachings through his connection with the Apostle John: “a high value was attached to the witness Polycarp could give as to the genuine tradition of old apostolic doctrine.” In 154 CE the new bishop of Rome, a man named Anicetus, attempted to force Chrisitans everywhere to abandon their observance of Passover. The Roman Chrisitans commemorated Yeshua’s death by fasting  from Friday during the seven days of Passover until midnight of the next day, Saturday, in which they celebrated Yeshua’s resurrection. When the question arose about the Passover, Polycarp traveled to Rome and spoke with Anicetus about the change. Polycarp refused to accept the change, with keeping with the Apostles and the Scriptures, that Passover was to be kept on the fourteenth day of  Nisan at evening (Exodus 12:18)

His testimony condemned  many of the heretical teachers and his testimony converted many disciples of Marcion and Valentinus, both Gnostics.

The Ante Nicene fathers also tried to stay true to the gospel, but they had additional worries. There were some writings that began to carry as much weight as Peter, Luke and Paul. Satan has been, from the beginning, determined to undermine Yeshua’s victory at the cross and what better way to do that than to divide Christians. So these false teachings would creep in and cause believers to error in their thinking.  John tells us in  1 John 4:2-3 that the spirit of antichrist was already in his day. “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Messiah Yeshua has come in the flesh is from God;  and every spirit that does not confess Yeshua is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.”

By these men defending the truth and exposing the lies this began the formation of church doctrine. They truly knew what it meant to defend the faith. Jude 3 says this, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

These early fathers held beliefs that most Christians today would consider incorrect. As we go on you will see why.

Irenaeus of Lyons France

Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp. He also was  an early Chrisitan apologist. His best known book was called “Against Heresies” (180CE) in which he enumerated heresies and attacked them.  Irenaeus believed that the only way for Christians to retain unity was to humbly accept one doctrinal authority. He also proposed that the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all be accepted as canonical.

The Latin Father

Tertullian 

Tertullian was one of the most important Chrisitan writers of the Second Century.

His works were highly significant in developing the basic doctrines of the church. In one of his writings called, “Against the Jews”, he blamed the entire Jewish race for the death of Yeshua. He too was a writer of apologetics, theological, controversial and ascetic works. Tertullian would denounce Chrisitan doctrine he considered heretical, but as time went on he adopted a montanism approach to life with ascetic works, which the mainstream church considered heretical. He also added the words, Old Testament and New Testament to the Chrisitan Vocabulary, along with the idea of three persons in one for the Trinity.

The Greek Fathers

There were many Greek fathers. These were those who wrote in Greek and they were very anti-Semetic. There were many who continued Paul’s work, but not everyone was in step with him.  Although there were many, we will only look at a few.

Justin Martyr

There was  a philosopher named Justin Martyr. Justin was born around the time that the beloved  John the Apostle died. Justin a Gentile lived in the area of  Samaria and yet, he was not a Jew or a Samaritan, but he came to the knowledge of Christianity. After the Bar Kochba Revolt he moved to Ephesus and began developing a philosophical apologetic form of Chrisitanity filled with Platonic ideas from Plato. He addressed his first apology directly to Antonius Pius and his second directly to the Roman people, in an attempt to legitimise Chrisitianty and to put down the lies about it. In 150 CE Justin traveled to Rome to begin  teaching a school of disciples. Ten years later Justin debated a philosopher named Crescens who was a talker who knew nothing about what he talked about and he convinced the people and the Roman  authorities that Justin  and his disciples were illegitimate and so was Chrisitanity. Justin was a Christian, but he was not for the Jews. He taught that God’s covenant with the Jews was no longer valid and the Gentiles had replaced Jews in God’s redemptive plans.

Because the Romans had given the Jewish people the right to worship their God, they also realized that many Gentiles were worshiping with them, so they made the believers worship their  Roman gods.  When Justin and his disciples refused they were scourged and beheaded.  We see this practice widely  developing later in years.

The Decian Persecution of Christians occurred in 250 AD under the Roman Emperor Decius. He had issued an edict ordering everyone in the Empire to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the emperor. The sacrifices had to be performed in the presence of a roman magistrate, and be confirmed by a signed and witnessed certificate from the magistrate. An unknown number of Christians were executed or died in prison for refusing to perform the sacrifices, including Pope Fabian. Others went into hiding, while  many apostasized and performed the ceremonies. The effects on Christians were long-lasting: it caused tension between those who had performed the sacrifices (or fled) and those who had not, and left bitter memories of persecution.

Clement of Alexandria

There were many who came out of Alexandria, Clement for one. Alexandria, Egypt was one of the most important cities of the First Century. It was the center of learning anything Greek, science, literature, mysteries and Christianity. There was a theological school for the instruction of new Christians and this is where we find Clement. Clement was the first member of the Church of Alexandria who was a distinguished teacher. He united Greek Philosophical traditions with Christian doctrine and he valued spiritual mysteries.  Like Justin Martyr he developed a Christian Platonism, which were ideas from Plato and was well versed in pagan literature.  Clement is best known for his famous pupil and successor Origen who was only eighteen when he became head of the school in 203 CE.

Origen of Alexandria

Origen interpreted the Scriptures allegorically and showed himself to be a stoic, a neo-pythagorean and a platonist. He wrote  that the soul passes through successive stages before incarnation as a human and after death, eventually reaching God. He imagined even demons would be reunited with God. Origen taught the allegorical method of interpretation of the Scriptures which denies the literal meaning of God’s Word, as to say, “This is what God meant.” This way you can make it mean whatever you want it to mean. Many of Origen’s students became leading theologians of the early church. Clement also taught that the Jews were guilty of plotting to kill Chrisitans. Origen’s fame and influence was recognized throughout the Roman world, even by the Emperor.

 The Allegorial Teaching Method

The Gentiles wanted to completely separate themselves from the Jews and to do this they had to have their own interpretation of God’sWord. This came with the method of interpreting the Bible allegorically, this was the Greek method of interpretation. The Bible is meant to be interpreted literally , unless it states otherwise, like Paul using Sarah and Hagar as an example, in Galatians 4:24, when Paul says,  “This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from Mount Sinai giving birth to children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.” It is important to know the background of the Scriptures to know when something may even be an idiom or a metaphor, or even irony, all of which are figurative language. 

Eusebius 

 Eusebius was a great admirer of Origen. He wrote the history of the first three centuries of the church and is considered the “Father of Church History.”  He taught that the promises and blessings in the Tanakh were for the Christians and that the curses were for the Jews. He declared the church was the “true Israel of God” that had replaced literal Israel in God’s covenants. Eusebius became the bishop of Caesara and he became a very close friend and advisor to the Emperor Constantine.

Constantine I

Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, changed Chrisitanity forever. You can say that he was the biggest factor in the way we worship today.  Constantine became a Chrisitan though he continued worshipping his sun god. His mother Helena was a Chrisitan, and so Constantine declared that the whole Roman Empire would be Chrisitan in the edict of Milan in the year 313. He now ruled over the  empire not only in it’s politics, but also in it’s religion, the church and the state together. The state and the church merged as one, as in a marriage and Constantine considered it to be the kingdom of God. It was considered to be the bride of Constantine, the combination of his military and political might and Origen’s allegorical interpretation of Scripture made the way for Constantine to rule over every area of the church.  Most of the Roman Empire was pagan, and this made the way for paganism to flourish within the church, because these people now had to consider themselves Chrisitans, even though they had no personal relationship with God. Constantine  also divided the empire into East and West and to this day we have the Catholic Church in the West and the Greek Orthodox Church in the East. This eventually led the way to the Byzantine Era and western Medieval culture. Of course, all of this put an end to Chrisitan persecution by the Romans which was the only good thing to come from Constantine. He was now the Pontifex Maximus, the Great Priest. He was building cathedrals and churches. Many of his decisions were based on superstition, like if he did not do right by Christians that God would punish his empire. He made new teachings and laws which did not pertain to the Scriptures at all. His worship of the sun god influenced artists for centuries with their halos around their heads. 

But it still to this day affects each one of us. Constantine changed the day of worship from the 7th day Sabbath to Sunday, enacting that all courts of justice, and all people of all towns and places of work were all to rest on Sunday as the “Venerable day of the sun.” This goes back to ancient Babylon and their cult worship of the sun and continued all throughout history up to the Roman Empire and to the church today.

Constantine not only merged the State with the Church, but as we will see he changed many other things, that to this day, has led Christians to follow him, and not the Messiah.

Continue with us as we learn about these changes .

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The Ecumenical Councils

So we have begun to see the gap grow wider between Yeshua’s teachings which were upheld by His disciples, and those who began bringing in pagan ideas. 

The Council of Nicea

 All of these new teachings and ideas led to the First Ecumenical Council in 325 Ce. It was held in Nicaea, which is now Turkey. It was a council of  318 Christian bishops and was given by the Roman Emperor Constantine I. If you remember the last council held  in Jerusalem in 50 CE, it was led by James the brother of Yeshua in regards to the Gentile believers. We see by the Fourth Century that Christianity is now being decided by Roman Emperors and there has become a big disconnect from truth. The council ends with the Nicaea Creed which says: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the begotten of God the Father, the Only-begotten, that is of the essence of the Father. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten and not made; of the very same nature of the Father, by Whom all things came into being, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Who for us humanity and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate, was made human, was born perfectly of the holy virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. By whom He took body, soul, and mind, and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance. He suffered, was crucified, was buried, rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven with the same body, [and] sat at the right hand of the Father. He is to come with the same body and with the glory of the Father, to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there is no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, in the uncreated and the perfect; Who spoke through the Law, prophets, and Gospels; Who came down upon the Jordan, preached through the apostles, and lived in the saints. We believe also in only One, Universal, Apostolic, and [Holy] Church; in one baptism in repentance, for the remission, and forgiveness of sins; and in the resurrection of the dead, in the everlasting judgement of souls and bodies, and the Kingdom of Heaven and in the everlasting life.

You may say, “I see nothing wrong here,” but it does not speak about all the changes they made during this council. No, this was truly a parting of the truth. The council decided that the church would celebrate the resurrection of Yeshua on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 21st) rather than on it’s Biblical date. This also changed the day of His crucifixion. Let’s look at Scripture;  John 19:14,   “And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King!” 

Luke tells us this in Luke 23:52- 54, “Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.  Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.  It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” That Sabbath was the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Even Paul makes reference to it and tells us to keep the Passover in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?  Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah our Passover also has been sacrificed.  Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 

Paul tells us that Yeshua is our Passover Lamb, just like John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” There are times when the church celebrates Yeshua’s death a whole month after Passover. This is because they also went from the lunar calendar which was from the time of  creation. Scripture says,  “And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day,” and every day for the seven days of creation. This is what they called each day and this gave witness to creation and the 7th day rest of God as the Sabbath. But they changed it to the pagan Roman calendar, with all of it’s pagan days which honor a different pagan god, like the Sun and Moon and Saturn and so forth. This also automatically changed the Feast of First Fruits (resurrection) to Easter, which was the spring feast of Ishtar. So now we have good Friday instead of Passover and we have Easter instead of First Fruits as mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But Messiah has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 

Constantine also hated the Jews and so he did not want his empire to reflect anything that had to do with their beliefs. But Passover and First Fruits are not all that Constantine changed at the Council of Nicaea. Remember Constantine worshiped the sun god among others and  they celebrated winter like spring with a festival called Saturnalia,which was on December 25th. It was also called “the Nativity”, this was considered the birthday of the sun god Mithras. Naturally Constantine made this time also the time to celebrate the birth or nativity of the Son of God. Now everyone in his Empire could have something to celebrate. But it is believed that Yeshua was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and was circumcised on the eighth day of the feast. Thus the theme of the feast is God dwelling with man, and rejoicing in the Word on the eighth day. To this day the believers in Yeshua, who now call Him Jesus, because we have lost all our Jewish roots, follow two pagan holidays. Yeshua kept the feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread( which is all called Passover now) and the Feast of  First Fruits. I don’t recall Him ever saying not to keep these feasts, instead as He said  that He came to fulfill the Word and not abolish it. There came others during this time of the council who taught nothing but hate for the Jews . 

Council of Rome

The Council of Rome was a meeting of Catholic Church officials and theologians which took place in AD 382 under the authority of Pope Damasus 1, the then Bishop of Rome. The Decree of the Council of Rome (AD 382) on the Canon of Scripture during the reign of Pope Damasus I (AD 366–384) reads thus, according to the later ‘Gelasian Decree’:

Now indeed we must treat of the divine Scriptures, what the universal Catholic Church accepts and what she ought to shun. The order of the Old Testament begins here: Genesis one book, Exodus one book, Leviticus one book, Numbers one book, Deuteronomy one book, Josue Nave one book, Judges one book, Ruth one book, Kings four books, Paralipomenon [i.e. Chronicles] two books, Psalms one book, Solomon three books, Proverbs one book, Ecclesiastes one book, Canticle of Canticles one book, likewise Wisdom one book, Ecclesiasticus [i.e. Sirach] one book.

Likewise the order of the Prophets. Isaias one book, Jeremias one book, with Ginoth, that is, with his Lamentations, Ezechiel one book, Daniel one book, Osee one book, Amos one book, Micheas one book, Joel one book, Abdias one book, Jonas (Jonah) one book, Nahum one book, Habacuc one book, Sophonias (wisdom)one book, Aggeus one book, Zacharias one book, Malachias one book. Likewise the order of the histories. Job one book, Tobias one book, Esdras two books [i.e. Ezra & Nehemiah], Esther one book, Judith one book, Maccabees two books.

Likewise the order of the writings of the New and Eternal Testament, which only the holy and Catholic Church supports. Of the Gospels, according to Matthew one book, according to Mark one book, according to Luke one book, according to John one book.

The Epistles of Paul the Apostle in number fourteen. To the Romans one, to the Corinthians two, to the Ephesians one, to the Thessalonians two, to the Galatians one, to the Philippians one, to the Colossians one, to Timothy two, to Titus one, to Philemon one, to the Hebrews one.

Likewise the Apocalypse of John, one book. And the Acts of the Apostles one book. Likewise the canonical epistles in number seven. Of Peter the Apostle two epistles, of James the Apostle one epistle, of John the Apostle one epistle, of another John, the presbyter, two epistles, of Jude the Zealot, the Apostle one epistle.

Now you have to ask yourself, What led them to decide which book were in and which one were out?  I’m more concerned with the ones they decided not to consider. We know that there were actually 4 letters that Paul sent to the Corinthians. But I am glad that they accepted the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings, which makes up the Tanakh. How could they argue with the Scriptures that God entrusted to the Jewish people, but what about the writings of the apostles? We will never know why!

John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom was the Archbishop of Constantinople, which is now Istanbul.  He was called the “Golden Mouth.” He was a very eloquent preacher and public speaker. He was passionately hateful toward the Jews. He preached that even God hated the Jews, and it was a Christian’s duty to hate the Jews. He preached that the synagogue is worse than a brothel, the temple of demons, a den of thieves, the refuge of devils.  It was this kind of preaching that caused 

anti -semitism throughout the decades. It also helped, along with others, who would come to strengthen the Nazi’s in their ideology and justification, to rid the world of the Jews. 

As we will see the post Nicene fathers were more interested in defending the gospel than teaching it’s truths. As they began to fall away from these truths, they began to fall away from the Apostolic Fathers who brought these truths. This led to the “Age of Theologians” where there was commentary on every issue and everyone had an opinion. From all of this came the “Doctors of the Church.”

These were people whose teachings on faith had been deemed sound and they benefited the church through their writings and study and research of the Word along with their theological contributions. These were highly regarded people who later were all canonized as saints. They all had to receive a formal proclamation by a pope or at an ecumenical council.

The Church Doctors

Hilary of Poitiers

Hilary was one of the first Latin doctrinal writers. He was the bishop of Poitiers. At times he was referred to as the “Hammer of the Arians.” The Arianism teaching said Yeshua was not equal to the Father and that He was created, and so He was not without a beginning like the Father. Augustine of Hippo, which we will soon hear about, called him “the illustrious doctor of the churches”, and his works continued to be highly influential in later centuries. 

Ambrose

Ambrose was the Bishop of Milan. He was a theologian, and one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th Century.  In the late 4th Century there was a deep conflict in the diocese of Milan between the Nicene Church and Arians. Paganism was a lesser concern than heresy for Christians in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries, which was the case for Ambrose. The great Christian writers of the Third to Fifth Centuries felt their “business was to discredit traditional religious practices as a route toward propagating their new faith and destroying any loyalty to the old gods and goddesses that still survived in the Roman West. 

Jerome of Stridonium

Jerome was a great Bible scholar. His Latin translation of the Scriptures became the official Bible of the church. It was the Vulgate Bible and he became known as the Father of Biblical Science.  All the writers of the Bible believed in the literal meaning of God’s Word, such as that a Jewish Messiah would establish His kingdom on the earth and that He would rule His kingdom for 1,000 years. The Messiah would restore Israel and be the ruler of all nations including the Gentile believers who would be blessed also in this kingdom. But  literal interpretation of the Scriptures were not compatible with the teachings of replacement of Israel by the church, and with Jerome being a big fan of the allegorical teaching of the Word  the church now became the kingdom of God.  So now after the Council of Nicea this became the foundation to all of their teachings going forward. 

Now it was the spiritualizing of the kingdom, so that they could establish their false doctrine that the church was now the true Israel. Contantine along with the church, in partnership, established the spiritual kingdom of God in the hearts of men throughout the world to this day.

Augustine of Hippo

Augustine was the bishop of Hippo, a philosopher and theologian. He is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Chrisitanity along with John Chrysostom. Augustine was into the works of Plato, like so many others. He framed the concept of original sin and he wrote a book called the “ City of God,” where he spoke  of  the church as the spiritual city of God rather than a physical city. His thoughts profoundly influenced the medieval worldview. The segment of the Church that adhered to the concept of the Trinity as defined by the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Constantinople closely identified with Augustine on the Trinity. 

Pope Gregory the Great

Pope Gregory the Great was a Doctor of the Church. He was known as Gregorius Dialogus because of the dialogue he wrote. He was the first of the popes from a monastic background and one of the four great latin Fathers of the church. Gregory I had the most influence on the early medieval church.

First Council of Constantinople

All of this brought about the First Council of Constantinople in 381 CE. with the Emperor Theodosius presiding. In this council they still were discussing Arianism and Apollinarism. Apollinarianism was a Fourth-Century Christian heresy that plagued the early church and that denied the full humanity and perfection of Jesus Christ. It is named after Apollinaris the Younger, who was bishop of the Laodicean church and who originated the teaching 361CE  Apollinarianism taught that Jesus’ two natures, human and divine, could not co-exist in the same person. According to Apollinaris, since Jesus was human, He must have sinned, and a sinful nature could not share the same body with the divine nature. To overcome this “problem” in Jesus, the Logos of God came upon Jesus, replacing His human mind or rational nature with God’s and overwhelming the sinfulness inherent in Jesus’ humanity. The Logos thus became the divine nature of Christ, as opposed to the human nature of Jesus. Once again they did not go to the Scriptures for their answers. Philippians 2:5-7 should make it all clear to us. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.” Yeshua was the Logos, the Word of God. He stripped himself of all that was His deity, to become a man. All that Yeshua did, His miracles, and His dying, were all done as a man, a man who abided with God, and God who abided with Him,  John 15:1-11. 

The council also discussed the divinity of the Holy Spirit, which led to the rewording of the Nicean Creed, which was then called the Niceno- Constantinople Creed, which is still recited today.

The Council of Nicea brought about great division. Because Constantine divided the empire into the East and the West, so too, the thought on doctrine divided itself. There was much infighting, and the fact that there were so many different branches of the church, the Greeks, the Asians, the Latins  and some believed in the Council Creed, others did not, many believed in Arian thinking and others did not, and so many different kinds of thinking, all different  and most all,  were plain heresy from these theologians. A call for unity in the church was the topic of the day, but this did not come about because which theory was correct?  Today we see so many churches, with so many beliefs, and it all goes back to the fact that our forefathers left the truths that Yeshua the Messiah gave us,  and the Apostles carried on, and the Apostolic Fathers after them fought so hard to keep. But unfortunately these people were bishops and doctors of the church, and writers who had an impact on so many people of their day, and even to this present day, mislead believers in untruths. But the Fourth Century was not the only time when we see such division, the Fifth Century had trouble of its own.

Council of Ephesus

In 431 another council was called, this time it was held in Ephesus. This time it was to discuss Nestorianism. Nestorianism is the doctrine that there were two separate persons, one human and one divine, in the incarnate Christ. It is named after Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople (428–31), and was maintained by some ancient churches of the Middle East. A small Nestorian Church still exists in Iraq.  The conflict was that it was heretical to call Mary Theotokos (Mother of God), God Bearer, as she gave birth to a man, Jesus, in whom God dwells. The council affirmed the unity of Christ by recognizing that the correct title for Mary was indeed “Theotokos”- Mother of God, and  a definition was agreed upon to present Christ as one person with two natures.  Before the incarnation of the Son, there were two and there was only one nature after His birth.

They also discussed Pelagianism, also called Pelagian heresy, a 5th-Century Christian heresy taught by Pelagius and his followers that stressed the essential goodness of human nature and the freedom of the human will.  Celestius, a disciple of Pelagius, denied the church’s doctrine of original sin and the necessity of infant baptism. The council was against this idea.

Well it wasn’t long and the church still could not agree on things so this brought about the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE  presided by Emperor Marcian and was attended by 520 bishops.

Council of Chalcedon

It seems that what they had decided twenty years ago still needed some discussion. The principal purpose of the Council was to reassert the doctrine of the Council of Ephesus against the heresy derivative of Eutyches and Nestorius. Such heresies attempted to dismantle and separate Christ’s divine nature from his humanity (Nestorianism) and further, to limit Christ as solely divine in nature (Monophysitism). This time they came up with the doctrine called “Hypostatic Union.” This was the union of two distinct natures of God and man in the person of Jesus Christ who is true God and true man. They owed their gratitude to the foundation of faith presented by Pope Leo I. But the infighting continued and the divisions only got worse in the Sixth Century. Every question throughout the centuries could have been answered if they would have just read the Scriptures and listened to Yeshua’s own words. “I and the Father are One,” John 10:30.  “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father,”John 14:9. “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made,” John 1: 1-3.  “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth,” John 1:14.

Second Council of Nicaea

In the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 CE they restored veneration of icons and condemned iconoclasm which is the destruction of religious and political images and monuments. Again if they had not disregarded the Scriptures they would have known this in Exodus 20:4-6, the second Commandment, “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” But they said their prayer went beyond the icon, but to the person of the icon. Again they were making the Scriptures to say and mean what they wanted them to say and mean. But the Scripture tells us that we are not to pray to anyone except the Father. Mathew 6, the disciples ask Yeshua to teach them how to pray and He said, “This, then, is how you should pray:“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,    on earth as it is in heaven.”

And again,  “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Again in John 16:23, “Whatever you ask the Father in My name.” No where in the Scriptures will it tell you to pray to a saint or a loved one, but only to the Father in Yeshua’s name.

We ask that you will continue on our journey through church history as we continue to see how our forefathers changed Scripture.

Councils Of Rome And The Papal States

There were eight councils held in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, which would be considered the Eastern Orthordox Church, only 7 of  which were accepted by the Roman Catholic Church. The word Catholic (in Latin catholicus) meaning universal was first used by Ignatius of Antioch in his letter to the Smyrnaeans in 110 CE. because unification was the goal of these first eight councils. Constantine laid the groundwork for the split when he divided the Empire into east and west, which went beyond politics, but also included the state run church. In 1054 the breakup came and to this day we have the east vs the west in its influence in politics and religion. But the Catholic Church still believes that it is the Universal Church, the mother church to all who came after. So let’s look at a few of the councils of the west.

During the medieval years also known as the “Dark Ages” the church went through its own dark time, as we will see.

Priests

Elders were now called priests. An elder was an ordained person who was below an overseer (bishop) but was above a deacon.  Paul writes in Titus 1:5-6 this, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion.”  But as time went on this all changed. The first written mandate requiring elders to be chaste came in AD 304. Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira stated that all bishops, presbyters (priests), and deacons and all other clerics” were to abstain completely from their wives and not to have children. In the First Council of Nicaea, Constantine and the bishops  addressed  the problem of heresies, and argued for a consistent practice of priestly celibacy. This was met with great resistance and contributed to the “ Great Schism.” The practice of priestly celibacy began to spread in the Western Church in the early Middle Ages. In the early 11th Century Pope Benedict VIII responded to the decline in priestly morality by issuing a rule prohibiting the children of priests from inheriting property. Pope Gregory VII attempted to mandate priestly celibacy, but the practice was contested widely by Christians in the Orthodox Eastern Mediterranean world.

The First Council of the Lateran

The First Council of the Lateran was held in the Palace of Lateran in Rome. The church was not as critical about such matters as the earlier Trinitarian and Christological concerns as in the past but the church wanted to rid the secular authorities of interfering with the church, namely the Emperors or Kings. Pope Callixtus II resided over this council. This council was trying to take back its power over the church from the state and one was the discussion of priests marrying. Canon 3 of the council states, “Summary. Priests, deacons, and subdeacons are forbidden to live with women other than such as were permitted by the Nicene Council. Text. We absolutely forbid priests, deacons, and subdeacons to associate with concubines and women, or to live with women other than such as the Nicene Council (Canon 3) for reasons of necessity permitted, namely, the mother, sister, or aunt, or any such person concerning whom no suspicion could arise.” By the Second Council of Lateran in 1139 it was finally compulsory that no clergy could marry, though to this day the Greek Orthadox Priests may marry.  There were a total of four councils at Lateran but at the Fourth Council in 1215 there were several anti-semitic canons which continued the unchristian attitude toward the Jewish people. This council defined the teaching of the Catholic Church on transubstantiation, the doctrine which describes in precise scholastic language the transformation by which the bread and wine offered in the sacrament of the Eucharist becomes the actual blood and body of Christ. We will discuss this in the next episode.

The Papal States

The Papal States also referred to as the Republic of Saint Peter tells us how Constantine had such an influence in church history even more so then the Messiah or even His disciples. When Constantine made the church a state church it was more about power than about Salvation. Beginning in the 8th Century the church went from teaching their doctrine to powerful political leaders. From 756 to 1870 the church was in control of central Italy and even part of France. As early as the 4th Century , the popes had acquired a considerable amount of land around Rome. It was called the Patrimony of St. Peter. In the 5th Century with the separation of the east and west, Pope  Gregory I had even more influence in Central Italy with the Byzantine Empire, and it increased as the people relied on the church for protection against barbarian invaders, like Attila the Hun. Church history is so vast that we cannot discuss all that went on throughout the years, but many popes came and went and many countries got involved and even for a time Rome shared its power with France. There was a period from 1378 to 1417, when there were two  rival popes, each with his own following, his own Sacred College of Cardinals, and his own administrative offices and for a while there were even three popes. I wonder if all three of them were infallible, and took the place of God here on earth?

Avignon Papacy

The Eccumenical Councils kept coming, Council of Lyons I and II, and then the church saw great division. From 1305 to 1378, the popes lived in the Papal Enclave of Avignon, surrounded by Province and under the influence of the French kings. This period was known as the “Avignonese” or “Babylonian Captivity.” During this period the city of Avignon itself was added to the Papal States; it remained a papal possession for some 400 years even after the popes returned to Rome, until it was seized and incorporated into the French state during the French Revolution. Because of the two popes  a council was called in 1409 in Pisa whereby they appointed a third pope who took the name John XXIII. Under pressure from the Emperor Sigismund, John convoked, in 1414, the Council of Constance, which deposed him, received the resignation of the Roman pope, Gregory XII, and dismissed the claims of the Avignon pope, Benedict XIII. That series of events opened the way to the election of Martin V in November 1417, whereby the schism ended. In the 15th Century, popes beginning with Martin V sought to reestablish their control over Central Italy. During his time as pope, Martin V  whose real name was Oddone Colonna, took the opportunity to increase the Colonnas’ power and enriched them with vast estates in papal territory. Martin V was involved in the one hundred year war between France and England. He asserted himself as authority in England, and in the Spanish Kingdom similarly emphasizing the rights of the church against the crown. (1503-13 CE.) Julius II, who was called the warrior pope, expanded the Papal States. Pope Julius actually joined in on many of the war efforts, or should we say, the fight. But by the 16th Century the Papal States were diminished by the Reformation and one thing led to another that even economically the Papal government  was weakened. This leads us to another interesting fact.

 Did the popes play a role in Revelation?

The Roman Empire And The Blessings Of The Pope.

Daniel 7, and Revelation 13, and 17, all point to an interesting sequence of events that could easily be considered as the Roman Empire. Here is only a part of each segment of Scripture. Let’s see if you agree.  Daniel 7:24-25,  “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will humble three kings.  And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.” Revelation 17:9-10 could this  mean seven resurrections of the Roman Empire?  “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sits,  and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.” Revelation 13:1,3,  “Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads were blasphemous names.”  “I saw one of his heads as if it had been fatally wounded, and his fatal wound was healed.” 

The Western Empire fell in 476 CE and  in 553 CE the eastern Roman Emperor Justinian and his armies had succeeded in reconquering Italy and all of the Western Empire. Justinian looked to the church and decreed that the proper people be chosen to govern by the bishops(who later would be called popes) and those influential people in each province. The church and the state reunited once again in the west. This was called the “Imperial Restoration”. Revelation 13 says, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been fatally wounded, and his fatal wound was healed.”  The deadly wound that Rome’s Empire felt in 476 was now revived and brought back to life by Justinian, but there would be six and even seven times more attempts to bring back the “Eternal City” called Rome, the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the Church of Rome which began in 554CE to  even today.

The protection that the east was giving the west now became negotiable and King Charles, king of the Franks and Leo, Bishop of Rome, held negotiations  to resolve this problem.  In  800 CE, on Christmas day, Charlemagne, the king of the Franks knelt before St. Peter’s altar and Pope Leo placed a jeweled crown on his head and anointed him with holy oil. So was the coronation of Charles the Augustus as the pope saluted him, “Charlemagne as Emperor and Augustus.” So we see first Justinian and now Charlemagne second. Charlemagne King of the Franks now became part of the Holy Roman Empire. In 936 CE, the German Saxons became the most powerful group in central Europe. In 955 Otto, Duke of the Saxons and king of the Germans entered Italy at the request of Pope John XII and crowned him with the imperial crown at Pavia in 962 and so the restoration of the Roman empire continued with King Otto being the third. The Holy Empire was now to a large extent German in its ways and politics , but definitely Rome in its legacy. Rome was out to conquer the world. The church was now a political machine, and there was no stopping it. Otto had imperial symbols like the imperial apple, filled with the earth from the four corners of the world. He called the crown,  the crown of Rome and of the globe and he called himself  the head of the world and ruler of the globe and of Rome and the empire went on for another 300 years till Rudolph I was elected emperor in 1273.This was the first for the Hapsburg family to be placed on the imperial throne and it came with Rudolphs’ descendant Charles V in 1530 when Pope Clement VII crowned him king. He was now the fourth to receive the blessings of the pope, and this was the fourth revival of the Roman Empire. By the 18th Century the title “Holy Roman Emperor” became an empty title. By the end of the 18th Century life was about to change and it was called the French Revolution. An  ambitious man from France rose up whose name was Napoleon  Bonaparte and his goal was to be the head of a French Republic, even king of all of France. He considered himself to be a successor of Caesar and Charlemagne. In 1791 Avignon had removed itself from the papal control and annexed themselves with France. In 1797 Napoleon had taken several papal territories and in 1791 he had taken control of the rest of the papal territories and claimed the Roman Republic. The Hapsburg Family of Austria joined with Napoleon and even helped him to gain the imperial title.  The Holy Roman Empire was seeing itself fall apart. Napoleon gained land from Spain and France, Holland , Belgium and western Germany and even Italy. Is this beginning to look like something familiar? It should and we will see as we go on that it was all too familiar. In 1804 Pope Pius sought peace with France and presided over the imperial coronation of Napoleon, thus making him the fifth crowned by the pope and the fifth revival of the western Imperium since Justinian. This was in fact a period of 1,260 years since the imperial restoration under Justinian in 554, thus fulfilling Revelation 13:3-5 The beast was given  authority for forty-two months which equals 1260 days, but there were still two more attempts to be made in this prophecy regarding ancient Rome. By 1871 Bismark united all of the non- Hapsburgs of Germany under the Prussian king while Garibaldi united all of Italy under the northern king Sardinia-Piedmont. Fifty years after Garibaldi’s inauguration, he too, had visions of restoring the glory of ancient Rome. Well, it happened and it was led by a man named Benito Mussolini. He led his Fascist to power in 1922. Fascists derived their name from the faces of Imperial Rome. The “Faces” was an ax wrapped in a bundle of rods signifying unity and authority. Back in the day it was carried by Roman consuls as a symbol of their office. In 1870 King Victor Emanuel defeated the armies of the pope and captured Rome. Needless to say that the pope and it’s new rulers were cold to each other, but in 1929 Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty with the pope which gave the papal sovereignty over the Vatican City which made Mussolini’s government the first Italian government in modern history to be recognized officially by the pope.  This treaty was just a prelude to the one that would be signed four years later, in July 1933, between the pope and the Nazi government of Germany. Mussolini went and conquered Ethiopia and Somaliland in 1896 and in 1936 Mussolini proclaimed from the Palace of Venezia that after 15 centuries, the reappearance of the Empire on its hills of Rome. Mussolini  entered into an alliance with Adolf  Hitler that resulted in the Rome-Berlin Axis of World War II. This was the sixth attempt at uniting Europe by reviving Imperial Rome, but it was short-lived by the defeat of Germany in 1945. After the war Stalin made himself known in Europe but after defeating Nazsism, the world did not want communism either. IN 1957  with the Treaty of Rome a Common Market began with France, West Germany, Italy and three Benelux states. This became what we know today as the European Union. So is it true that the popes played a role in the end times scenario? Six attempts have been made to restore ancient Rome with the help of the popes and there will be one more attempt. Keep your eyes open, and maybe we will see this last attempt to fulfill  the prophecies in the Book of Revelation.

Next we will go back a few years and look at the Reformation.

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Martin Luther And The Reformation

The church saw heresy and division and scandals throughout the centuries, the Crusades and Inquisitions, and the Papal States which resulted in land grabs and power. Emperors and kings were ruling and dictating what the church was going to preach and what it’s main doctrine would be  until the Popes gained the power to rule. We also saw that no longer did the Scriptures or even God Himself matter. There was no leading of the Holy Spirit. These were truly the Dark times. But the Times changed and people began to see things differently. We entered into the time called the Early Modern Era, the Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment. The invention of the printing press and famous people like Shakespheare, Da Vinci, Bach, and Martin Luther made great accomplishments in science, theater and music and religion.  In the 16th Century the church was going to see another split. This time it was not going to be like the last time, when the Church of Rome was divided between East and West, no, this was going to be a totally different denomination  called Lutheranism.

Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a German Theologian who would change the history of Christianity. Martin became a lawyer by the wishes of his father. Later after experiencing a severe thunderstorm, felt that he was being called into the monastery and so he left his law practice to become a Monk. While there he went back to school to receive his degree in theology and so wanted to advance his studies to get a Doctorate Degree. But this was interrupted by his assignment to represent the observant German Augustinian monasteries in Rome. He found that Rome lacked spirituality and soon he found himself back in Germany finishing his degree. He began to publish theological writings, such as the 97 Theses entitled Disputation Against Scholastic Theology. He offered courses on the Psalms, Romans and Galatians and the book of Hebrews. One of his students wrote this about him, “He was a man of middle stature, with a voice that combined sharpness in the enunciation of syllables and words, and softness in tone. He spoke neither too quickly nor too slowly, but at an even pace, without hesitation and very clearly.”

By 1517 everything was going to change. Irritated by a Dominican friar named Johann Tetzel, who was reported to have preached to the faithful that the purchase of indulgence could forgive sins, Luther wanted to debate this topic of indulgences. An indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment for sins after the sinner confesses and receives absolution. … The first known use of plenary indulgences was in 1095 when Pope Urban II remitted all penance of persons who participated in the Crusades and who confessed their sins.

Luther sent a copy of the Ninety-five Theses to Tetzel’s superior, Archbishop Albert of Mainz, along with a request that Albert put a stop to Tetzel’s extravagant preaching. Before long, Albert formally requested that official proceedings be commenced in Rome to determine the work’s orthodoxy.  Luther used such phrases as, “Christians should be taught.” One of his questions was, “Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?” Surely this was the beginning of Luther’s departure from the Catholic Church. Luther struggled and even agonized over the Scriptures. He felt that he could not totally live up to its standard. He would read Paul’s Epistle to the Romans over and over again, especially Romans 1:17, “ For in  the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith: as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’” By 1518 Luther was summoned to Rome to examine his teachings.As Luther was being questioned , Luther only had thoughts of their ignorance, and the otherside, thought he only had fantasies in his head. Neither side got anywhere and Luther left Rome, but Luther was apprehended and brought back. Pope Leo X  made a Papal statement and addressed the issue of the authority of the church to absolve the faithful from temporal punishment. Luther’s views were declared to be in conflict with the teaching of the church. This debate went on till finally, on June 15, 1520, Pope Leo issued another Papal statement, which charged that 41 sentences in Luther’s various writings were “heretical, scandalous, offensive to pious ears,” though it did not specify which sentences had received what verdict. Luther was given 60 days upon receiving the statement to recant and another 60 days to report his recantation to Rome. On December 10, 1520 Luther took the Papal statement and burned it. Luther was excommunicated from the church. In 1522 Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. He insisted that the Bible alone was the source of Christian truth and that every Christian believer was able to understand the Biblical message.  Luther had repeatedly written, most significantly in 1523, that marriage is an honourable order of creation, and he regarded the Roman Catholic Church’s insistence on clerical celibacy as the work of the Devil. He married an ex-nun and his enemies made sarcastic remarks about his marriage. In 1525 Luther was isolated from various other reformers in a controversy over the meaning of the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. The dispute concerned the proper interpretation of Jesus’ words when He said, “This is My body…This is My blood.” There were those who argued that these words had to be understood symbolically, as “This symbolizes My body…This symbolizes My blood,” But Luther argued firmly for a literal interpretation. Many believed that Jesus was spiritually, but not physically, present in the communion host, whereas Luther taught that Jesus was really and bodily present. The reform movement became a house that was publicly divided. No matter what, Luther made it clear that he would not change his views: he took a piece of chalk and wrote the Latin words, “Hoc est corpus meum” (“This is My body”), on the table, but the deep division within Protestantism remained. 

Here is a great example of what happens when you do not have an understanding of the Word of God due to a lack of understanding of our Jewish roots. 

The Last Supper

All four gospels including 1 Corinthians all speak about the Last Supper. 

Luke 22:15 says this, “And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” This is a direct reference to the Seder Meal.

The Seder was a celebration of the Exodus from Egypt, Israel’s redemption. As Exodus 6:6 tells us, “Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the labors of the Egyptians, and I will rescue you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.” 

The Seder consists of  four cups of wine and three matzahs and other elements on a plate each representing part of the Exodus story. When Yeshua came to the broken matzah, Luke 22:19-20 records Yeshua saying this, “When He had given thanks, He broke it (the matzah) and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

This matzah that Yeshua broke was called the Afikomen, which is wrapped in a white napkin and hidden till later in the service when it is brought back, and the cup that Yeshua had in his hand was the cup called Redemption. What Yeshua was telling His disciples was that when you do this part in the Seder, this is not only about the Exodus, but about Me. Remember Me, as the Afikoman, that was buried and then rose again, and  remember that the Cup of Redemption is My blood that was shed for your salvation. When we get to this part of the Seder we are to remember our Redeemer and Savior who shed His blood and who died for us, and who took us out of the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of  light, Colossians 1:13.That was our Exodus.  Paul tells us  in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that Yeshua is our Passover Lamb and that we are to celebrate the feast.  

Eucharist

Over the Centuries we see that there has been this discussion regarding if the Eucharist is the actual body and blood of the Messiah. Once again it is because our forefathers did not base their facts on Scriptures, but they always wanted to have their theories to make their doctrine.  John 6:48-58 tells us this,“I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh.” Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”  So Yeshua said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.  The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Yeshua was not into cannibalism nor was He a vampire. How many times did Yeshua say the bread, the true manna from heaven? John 1:14 tells us that Yeshua is the Word made flesh. Jeremiah writes in 15:16, “ Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul. They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me. How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord.”  Psalm 119:103 says, How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

We are to eat the Word of God, in other words the Word must become part of us. That is how we abide in God and God abides in us as John 15:7-8 tells us, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” When Yeshua said those words to the crowd He was also referring to His crucifixion, as we saw in the Seder. Yeshua did not start some new sacrament, or eucharist or communion…the sacraments were all man made. This was all part of their doctrine and their worship ceremony and they were taken out of their Jewish context, just so they could separate from their Jewish roots. This is a good time to say that Luther and the Prodistant five main beliefs which include by “Grace Alone”, are scripturally debateable.  Today everyone quotes Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Let us never forget that we are saved by the shed blood of Yeshua. It is something that you rarely hear any more and maybe that is why Yeshua said, “When you do this remember Me.” The devil knows that there is power in the shed blood of Yeshua and he would like you to forget that. Are you eating the body and drinking the blood? If not, you need to start by confessing the truth of God’s Word and applying the blood on the lintels of your heart. Luther’s role in the Reformation after 1525 was that of theologian, adviser, and facilitator but not that of a man of action. Biographies of Luther accordingly have a tendency to end their story with his marriage.  He was drawn into fierce controversies during the last decade of his life, and he became a different person—easily angered, dogmatic, and insecure. His tone became loud and harsh, whether in comments about the Anabaptists, the Pope, or the Jews. In each instance his pronouncements were severe and harmful: the Anabaptists should be hanged as seditionists, the Pope was the Antichrist, the Jews should be expelled and their synagogues burned.  Thus he wrote in a June 1543 letter to a friend: “I desire that there be given me a good little hour when I can move onward to God. I have had enough. I am tired. I have become nothing. Do pray earnestly for me so that the Lord may take my soul in peace.” Martin Luther died on February 18, 1546 Martin Luther is assuredly one of the most influential figures in Western civilization during the last millennium. He was the catalyst for the division of Western Christendom into several churches, but he also left a host of cultural legacies, such as the emphasis on the language spoken by ordinary people of the region. He was not a systematic theological thinker. Much like St. Augustine in late antiquity, Luther was what might be called a controversial theologian.  

Next we are going to look at the key tenets of what the Lutherans believe  and the Reformation 500 years later

Ten Interesting Facts About Hanukkah

1. The traditional Hanukkah dreidel is a throwback to the times when the Greek armies of King Antiochus controlled the Holy Land, before the Maccabees defeated them. The powerful regime passed a series of laws outlawing the study of Torah and many of the mitzvot (commandments). The Jews were compelled to take their Torah learning “underground.” Jewish children resorted to learning Torah in outlying areas and forests. It is said that if a Greek patrol passed by they would quickly pull out and play with small tops. The Hanukkah dreidel games are a salute to these Jewish heroes of yore.
2. The modern dreidel game is played for fun. Whoever wins the game gets chocolate coins or candies. Each of the four faces of the dreidel have a Hebrew letter written on them: nun ׁ(נ), gimel (ג), hay (ה), and shin (ש). This is an acronym for nes gadol hayah sham, which means, “a great miracle happened there,” referring to the victory over Antiochus and his armies. Depending on which letter on the dreidel lands facing up, the player will either get the full pot, half the pot, nothing, or will have to add one chocolate coin to the pot.
3. The menorah used during Hanukkah is different from the menorah used in the temple. The temple menorah has seven branches and was only to be used in the service of the temple. The Hanukkah menorah, called a hanukkiah, has nine branches and is only used during this festival. 
4. Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah, because the events it commemorates did not happen until after the books were canonized. However, it is mentioned in the Gospel of John, where it is called the Festival of Dedication (John 10:22). It is also mentioned in the Book of Maccabees, which is canonical in Catholic Bibles, but not in Protestant Bibles.
5. The middle candle of the Hanukkah menorah is called the shamash, which means “servant,” or “attendant.” This should remind us of Yeshua, Who came to serve and to give His life for us (Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:7).
   
6. Every night, the shamash candle is lit and is used to light the other candles in the hanukkiah. On the first night, one candle is added to the menorah and lit, traditionally in the slot which is furthest to the right. On the second night, another candle is added to the left of the one from yesterday, and the candles are lit from left-to-right. This process continues until the eighth night, when all nine candles are lit. Since the shamash represents Yeshua, the act of lighting the other candles with the shamash should remind us of how Yeshua, the Light of the World, commanded us to follow His example, being light (Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12; Philippians 2:15) and serving (Luke 17:7-10; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 4:10).
7. The candles of the menorah are lit shortly after sunset in some traditions and shortly after nightfall in other traditions. The candles that light the menorah are not supposed to be the only source of light in the room. Doing so would be considered misusing the menorah, since its purpose is commemorative and holy rather than practical. In addition, from the time the candles are lit until 30 minutes after nightfall it is customary that no work is done. Instead, this should be a time to sit around the menorah and tell stories or play the dreidel game.
8. It is customary to eat potato pancakes, called latkes, during Hanukkah. Since the latkes are fried in oil, this reminds us of the miracle that God did when He made the one-day’s supply of oil for the temple menorah last a full eight days. For this reason, jelly doughnuts (fried in oil) are also eaten on this holiday.
9. Another culinary tradition is to eat cheese latkes or other cheese products. This commemorates the events recorded in the non-canonical Book of Judith, which tells the story of a Jewish woman named Judith who gives a feast, including cheese, for one of Nebuchadnezzar’s generals who is encamped at her village. Using his drunkenness as an opportunity, Judith kills the general, which inspires the Israelites to drive out the invading armies. Even though the standard form of this story is set centuries before the events that inspired Hanukkah, other versions instead have it set during the time of Antiochus, and these variants inspired the connection between Judith and Hanukkah.
10. It is customary for parents and grandparents to give children gelt (money) during Hanukkah. A tithe (10%) is given to charity, and the rest can be spent for wholesome purposes. This teaches children the beauty of generosity. Additionally, it is customary for adults to give more to charity during Hanukkah as well. Giving generously became associated with Hanukkah because Antiochus took over the possessions of the Jewish people and used them for ungodly purposes. In this world, where we have the freedom of using our money how we wish, we have the opportunity to do the opposite of Antiochus by using our money for holy purposes.

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

This is the season of Advent. So what really is advent and what is it all about? Advent started out as a time of fasting. It was like another time of Lent, except people’s thoughts were directed to the second coming of Messiah. But in modern times, the season of Advent is just the time leading up to Christmas, Yeshua’s first coming. But wait! Yeshua already came. Yet we still celebrate and wait for His coming leading up to Christmas.

It’s always nice to remember one’s birthday, but the early church did not celebrate Yeshua’s birthday, nor does the Bible tell us when He was born. Actually, it was the Emperor Constantine who began the Christmas tradition of celebrating Yeshua’s birth on December 25 to coincide with the birth of the pagan sun god, Mithra. Because Constantine made Christianity the religion of the empire, this tradition has been kept for almost 1800 years. In reality, Yeshua was most likely born at the beginning of the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), a feast which celebrates “God with us,” and on the eighth day, which is a celebration of rejoicing in the Word, was most likely circumcised. So why do we prepare for Yeshua’s coming during this season of Advent if Yeshua has already come? What is it that we are waiting for? We want to take a closer look at these questions and try to answer them in a way that pertains to each one of us.

We know that this time is not for us to do our holiday shopping or for decorating our homes or trees—these have nothing to do with Yeshua’s birthday or His first advent. Let’s start by looking at the traditional song which is sung when the Advent candles are lit each week.

“O come, O come Immanuel (God with us) and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile until the son of God appears.” What we see here is that Israel is waiting for her Messiah to come and save her from exile. This is one of the main jobs of the Messiah (Isaiah 10:21, Jeremiah 33:7, Zechariah 10:6-10). Even though Israel is back in her land with the state of Israel, Messiah will gather all His people and bring them back from exile.

“O come Thou Lord of Might who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s Height, In ancient times didst give the law in cloud, and majesty, and awe.” Another job of the Messiah is to teach the world Torah. “And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For the Law (Torah) will go forth from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem’” (Isaiah 2:1-5, Micah 4:2).

“O come the Rod of Jesse (Messiah), free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave.” Micah chapter 5 not only tells us that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, but He will be a Ruler who will shepherd His people Israel and He will have victory over all the enemies of Israel. Micah 5:9: “Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, and all of your enemies will be cut off.” And of course, the last enemy to be conquered is death (1 Corinthians 15:26).

“O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.” In Luke 1:68-79, Zechariah’s blessing, which he spoke after naming his son John, says this: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise (Dayspring) from on high shall visit us (His advent), to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

It’s great to remember and celebrate the birth of Israel’s Messiah, but that’s not what we are waiting for; that is not what we are preparing for. We, along with the Jewish people, are waiting for the Messiah of Israel: not His first coming, but His second. When Messiah comes back, He will restore the kingdom and it is this that we need to prepare for. We will be taking a closer look at this in parts 3 and 4, so join us as we wait and prepare not for the birth of Messiah, but for His second coming, when He will come in all His glory and might.

“O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.” “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the Living God.” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the Sons of Israel be as the sands of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved.”

“Rejoice, Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.”

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:2).

You may say to yourself, “I have never heard of the Christian celebration of Hanukkah.” Well, let me give you the background first. Yeshua (Jesus) celebrated Hanukkah. We see this in John 10:22-24, “At that time the Feast of Dedication (this is Hanukkah) took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Yeshua was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews therefore gathered around Him, and were saying, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah tell us plainly.’”

Why is this significant? Because first, Yeshua kept Hanukah and we are His followers and what He does we need to follow in His footsteps. But also it is important what took place at this time. Let’s continue on with this discourse. In verses 25-26 Yeshua says, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not My sheep.” What does the word believe mean? Vines tells it this way: “Pisteuo means to be persuaded of, reliance upon.” This is where we get the word “believer.”

In other words, if what Yeshua was saying is true and as believers we accept it as truth, then we must also believe that He is the Messiah that Israel was waiting for. Verses 27-28 continue the dialogue: “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.” Let’s continue laying the groundwork.

John 8:12 says, “Again therefore Yeshua spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall have the light of life.’” John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” We see that if we truly believe in Messiah Yeshua then we are believers and as believers we must hear His voice and follow in His footsteps and this means to keep His commandments because John 5:19 says, “Yeshua therefore answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the son also does in like manner.’”

We too must do what Yeshua does, for He is following His Father and we must follow Him. We see that we are to keep His commandments; and what is His commandment pertaining to Hanukkah? Let’s take a closer look.

The Story of Hanukkah

We find the story of Hanukkah in the book of Maccabees. The story in a nutshell is about the Jewish people who were ruled by the king of Syria, King Antiochus. Antiochus wanted all the Jews to stop practicing the Torah and follow his pagan ways. But the Jewish people refused, so he destroyed their homes and he stormed the temple and defiled it and replaced the Ark of the covenant with a pagan god.

Many Jews ran and hid, but not old Mattathias and his five sons. When Mattathias could no longer fight, he appointed his son Judah to be their leader. He told them, “Be strong and brave.” Judah was called Maccabee, “the hammer,” and many people followed him and fought against the Syrians until they reached Jerusalem. They first went into the temple, which by now was all filled with weeds in the outer courtyard, and they took down the pagan idol and they restored the temple and its courtyards and rebuilt the altar. They rebuilt the menorah and exactly three years to the date, they relit the menorah and rededicated the temple. For eight days they celebrated joyfully before the Lord, for He had given them a great victory.

The Light Must Stay Lit

In Matthew 5:14, Yeshua tells His followers, “You are the light of the world. A city that sits on the mountain will not be hidden, nor do people kindle a lamp just to put it under the bushel measure, but on the menorah, to illuminate all who are in the house. So also, shine your light before sons of men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father who is in heaven” (The Delitzsch Hebrew/English Translation). Yes, Yeshua was telling us that we need to be menorahs in this world.

In the verses before this, Yeshua was speaking about being persecuted. Today we have seen the Christian faith come under attack all over the world: people being martyred for their faith, people being persecuted for following God’s commandments. But our Messiah, our Savior, our Light tells us in Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We, like the Maccabees of old, must stand tall and contend for the faith. We must shine our light in the midst of darkness, for we too will have the victory. We are people of the light and of the day. Our Messiah is the Light of the World and we follow in His footsteps as light in the dark world. We can not shrink in the midst of persecution, but we must be like that city that sits on a mountain top. We are lighthouses in the midst of the storm. Yeshua is the menorah that was in the temple and only pure oil was used to keep it burning day and night. Pure oil only comes from being crushed and pressed; so too with us, when we are persecuted, we are crushed and pressed but our oil will be pure and our light will shine all the brighter.

We are menorahs, and our light will never go out, so shouldn’t we also light a candle for the eight days of Hanukkah as a witness and a testimony to the world that we will not shrink back at persecution? But like the Maccabees, we will contend for the faith because we follow in our Messiah’s footsteps and we keep His commandments; and His commandment for us is to be the light to the nations, and we are going to shine in the midst of the darkness.

“For a child will be born to us, a son given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called, Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Revelation 22:7 tells us, “And behold, I am coming quickly, Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:12 tells us, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2 tells us, “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Advent is all about the birth pangs of the coming child, but this child is not a child, but the Messiah of Israel, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).

Yeshua (Jesus) rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees for not recognizing the signs of the time. Matthew records it in Matthew 16:2-3, “But He answered and said to them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,” and in the morning, “There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.” Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?’” This is why it is important to know what the Bible says and what Yeshua tells us we should be looking for. Let’s take a closer look.

The Signs of the Times

In Matthew 24, Yeshua gives us those warning signs. He tells us that many will come saying that they are the Messiah and they will lead many astray. There will be wars and rumors of wars. Nations will rise against nations. There will be famines and earthquakes, but all of this is just the beginning of birth pangs. He goes on to say that they will persecute and kill those who believe and because of this, many will fall away. Many false prophets will lead many away, but to the one who overcomes, he shall be saved.

In verse 15 he goes on to say, “Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of in the book of Daniel (which took place at the time of the Maccabees in the story of Hanukkah and the destruction of Jerusalem), then there will be a great tribulation.” Revelation 6 speaks of these things also in the Seal judgements, the first being a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering and to conquer.  The red horse was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another. The black horse brought famine and high inflation. With the ashen horse, death and hades, a fourth of the earth was killed by the sword and famine and pestilence and by wild beasts.

Underneath the altar in heaven, the souls of those who had been martyred cry out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Today Christians are being martyred and persecuted. All over the world we have seen an increase of persecution against not only Christians, but also an increase of anti-Semitism against the people of God (Israel).

The Epistles are full of warnings against false prophets and teachers. Today we have Pastors teaching congregations when they themselves do not even believe in the Word of God. Beware, churchgoers, make sure you yourselves know what the Word of God says, because Yeshua warns us that these false shepherds will lead many astray.

Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, “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, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

One last sign: the One World order and the Antichrist who will rule over it (Revelation 12-13, 16-20). Today we have a global economy, which includes a global bank and stock market, and we have a global army and police force and food bank. Of course, most of all of this is run through the United Nations which has brought about this one world order.

So like never before, what we are seeing could be, in fact, the birth pangs of the Messiah and His coming could be soon. The question is: are you prepared? Next we will look at what we need to do to prepare for His advent.

Key Tenets Of Reformation/ Council Of Trent/ 2nd Vatican Council

Certain key tenets of Luther’s theology have shaped Protestant Christianity since the 16th century. They include his insistence on the Bible, the Word of God, as the only source of religious authority, a dogma known as sola Scriptura; his emphasis on the centrality of grace, appropriated by faith, as the sole means of human salvation and his understanding of the church as a community of the faithful—a priesthood of all believers—rather than as a hierarchical structure with a prominent division between clergy and laity. Recent interpreters of Luther have attempted to understand his thought in terms of his struggle against the overpowering reality of the Devil or in terms of his intense fear of a death that would permanently separate him from God. Although there is evidence to support both views, neither quite captures Luther’s spiritual essence. What seems to characterize him more than anything else is an almost childlike trust in God’s overarching forgiveness and acceptance. Luther talked much about his temptations, by which he meant his doubts about whether this divine forgiveness was real. But he overcame these doubts, and his life thereafter was one of joyous and spontaneous trust in God’s love and goodness toward him and all sinners. Luther called this “Christian freedom.”

The center of scholarly attention in Luther studies in the late 20th Century was Luther’s understanding of the proper role of the Christian in society and politics. According to many scholars, Luther’s disavowal of the German peasants in 1525 and his notion that, as he once put it, “The Gospel has nothing to do with politics” facilitated a tendency toward political passivity among Protestant Christians in Germany. Luther’s notions developed in opposition to the belief developed by the medieval Catholic Church that all of society wore a Christian mantle. The notion of a “Christian” politics or a “Christian” economics was very much disliked by Luther. However, this did not mean that the public realm had no principles that needed to be honoured. What Luther rejected was the notion that there was a uniquely “Christian” approach to these realms; uniquely Christian, Luther insisted, was only that which pertained to Jesus’ salvational work of redemption.

  In Martin Luther’s older years, he realized that he would not be able to convert Jews to his version of Christianity, so he unleashed a tirade of anti-Semitic writings. He argued that Jewish synagogues, schools and homes should be set on fire, that Jews should have their assets confiscated and that they should be used as forced labor and expelled.

The Five Solae of the Protestants Reformation.

The Five Solas are  by faith alone,  by the Scripture alone,  by grace alone,

 by Christ alone,  by God glory alone. So let’s look at a few of these to see if they are correct in their statement. 

Faith Alone: 

Hebrews 11:1 says this,  “Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see.” So who is right and who is wrong?

Romans 3:28 tells us this, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the works of the Law.”  James 2:24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

We saw earlier in part 2 that Paul and James did not contradict each other. In fact when Luther translated the New Testament into the German language he added the words “alone” to Paul’s statement. So what does it mean to have faith in the work of the cross?  Is this not what your faith needs to be in? Is not faith in itself work?  Let’s use a synonym for faith, like trust: Now trust means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for… or confidence means putting our full faith in the things we hope for. Maybe we are saved by trusting in the work of the Lord, or having our confidence in the work of the Lord, either way there is something on our part that we must do either, trusting or having confidence or having faith  is still work on our part and this is what James was talking about, but Paul was speaking of the works of the law as far as a believer having to become a Jew to be saved. He still upheld the law in Romans 3:31, “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Far from it! On the contrary, we establish the Law.”

Romans 6:15-16 tells us this, “ What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Far from it!  Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

We know that sin separates us from God

Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” 

Luke 13:3 tells us what Yeshua said, “Unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.” 

We can see that we must still have to walk in the ways of the Messiah if we truly have faith in His work on the cross.

 Scripture Alone: 

Luther believed that only the Word of God was to be used as our basis for belief. On the surface this is correct, but As we saw in part 6, how do we know which books were left out? And what truths were never revealed to us.

Also you have to ask yourself with so many translations, which one is correct?  According to Wikipedia, as of September 2020 the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages, the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,551 languages and Bible portions or stories into 1,160 other languages. Thus at least some portions of the Bible have been translated into 3,415 languages. There are translations and revisions, and some translated word for word, others translated thought for thought, some according to their philosophy, and so on.  According to livescience.com “There are more than 45,000 denominations globally. Followers of Jesus span the globe. But the global body of more than 2 billion Christians is separated into thousands of denominations. Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist — the list goes on.”  If all of these translations and opinions can create so many denominations then what is truth?

We just saw that Martin Luther added the word alone to Romans 3:28 and of course, you always find added commentary in different lines of Scripture which are  all based on the translator’s own views of  that line of  Scripture like John 4:25 “The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Yeshua was not called Christ in His day. This only happened when we stripped Him of His Jewishness and changed His real name  to Iesvs in Latin, and Iesous in Greek, and then when the letter “J”,  in 1524, was added to the alphabet His name was then changed to Jesus, when all the time we could have said His real name Yeshua, the Name His Father gave Him, meaning God’s salvation for a reason. But I ask you this question, Acts 4:12 tells us this, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” So which name is the correct name under heaven that we should use to be saved? Only Yeshua, which means “God’s Salvation,” The name His Father gave us.

This verse in the AKJV Matthew 1: 21, has been changed as every other modern version, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Yeshua was Jewish not Greek or Latin or any other nationality, so why have we changed the most important name in the Scriptures? We also know that so much has changed over the years as each council got together to voice their own opinions and made their own doctrine to fit that opinion and those who taught heresies and people like Constantine who changed dates and days and names and the Scriptures had to be changed to fit the narrative,  like this line of Scripture:

 John 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Messiah Yeshua.” So let’s look at this to see if it may have been changed or added.  John 1:14 tells us this, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” But in this content there was no need for this to be put in, so was it added like many other things to form their doctrine to make people think that the law is obsolete? The Torah is Truth, because Yeshua is the Word (Torah) made flesh.  Yeshua came not to nullify the Law but to make it complete. The Law of God is His holiness, it is what sets His people apart from the world. It is His teachings and it is His Commandments. He chose the Jewish people, not on their merit, as we have not been chosen on ours. This is grace. He delivered the Jewish people out of slavery (Eygpt), not on their merit, just as He has delivered us from our slavery of sin, not on our merit.  This is grace, but once again it was to take away the value of the Jewish people and to nullify the Hebrew Scriptures. 

But Scripture alone also meant that people should not consider traditions or other books. We learned that the Didache was written by those who had been taught by the apostles, but still, people today use commentaries like they are the Word of God, even though many of these people are only giving their own opinion.  Today people are writing books as though they are authorities on the subject. Pastors today even get their sermons online because they do not know the Word of God. Even Psychology has entered into the teaching of the Scriptures. Romans 3:2 tells us, “ They (the Jews) were entrusted with the actual words of God.” The Jewish people have had the Torah going back to Moses, which he received by God Himself.  Yeshua quoted Scripture after Scripture from the Torah. If it was not true or not for our use, I don’t think He would have quoted it, but it is for our use because it is our foundation. The Jews have their books like the Mishnah, which  is a book that is on the study of Scripture and was published at the end of the Second Century CE. The Mishnah is an edited record of the complex body of material known as Oral Torah that was transmitted in the aftermath of the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.  

Yes, the Rabbi’s have been debating Scriptures for centuries, but that is what it is, a debate, and when you read their debates in their commentaries it says, Rabbi so and so said this, and Rabbi so and so said that, and you can see for yourself which school of thought you think is right. Even in Yeshua’s day they debated. Yeshua would often debate with the teachers of His day, because He said to them, in Matthew 5;17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (In the Hebrew what Yeshua was saying is that He had come to teach the law correctly.)  Yeshua was a Pharisee and not a Sadducees, and in today’s world that would equate to a Orthodox Jew.

Because Yeshua would correct them on the oral law, people today think that He was fighting with them because they were hypocrites or heretics,  and as we would say today, Yeshua was canceling them out. But this is not true, Matthew 5:21-48 is a good example of this. Everytime Yeshua would say, “It is said”, He was referring to the oral law, which was open for debate, because the oral law had to do with how one walked out the commandments of God. This was not a debate on the written law. Some of the Jewish references were written by people before Yeshua was even born, and even their prayers go back to King David, and their worship goes back to Moses, and when Chrisitans try to teach the Hebrew Scriptures based on modern day commentaries it makes no sense, because we do not understand the idioms of their language that were used. We need to go to those books that have been used throughout the ages by the Jewish people, for if God entrusted them, then we should also trust them. We no longer question what we are taught, because we do not know the Scripture ourselves, but Act 17:11 tells us, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” If they questioned Paul then we should be questioning our Pastors and Teachers as we examine the Scriptures. 

The Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was held in 1545-1563 as a counter -reformation. It’s main purpose was to respond to the issues at hand and enacted the formal Roman Catholic reply to the doctrinal challenges of the Protestants. The Council met for twenty-five sessions under three different popes. It issued condemnations of what it defined to be heresies committed by proponents of Protestantism. They made sweeping decrees on self-reform and for its dogmatic definitions that clarified virtually every doctrine contested by the Protestants like

teachings, including Scripture, the Biblical canon,  the Old and New Testament books were definitely fixed, and the Latin Vulgate revised, and was declared adequate for doctrinal proofs, a stance against Protestant insistence upon the original Hebrew and Greek texts of Scripture. Decrees on  sacred tradition, and the nature and consequences of original sin were defined.  After months of intense debate, the council ruled against Luther’s doctrine of justification by faith alone: a person, the council said, was inwardly justified by cooperating with divine grace that God bestows gratuitously. Indeed, both of the doctrines of the Protestant reformers—justification by faith alone, the authority of Scripture alone—were put down, and the doctrine of justification by both faith and works on the basis of the authority of both Scripture and tradition were uplifted.

 On the sacraments  penance was extensively defined, extreme unction (later, the anointing of the sick) explained, and the number of sacraments was fixed at seven. On the Mass, it defined the Mass as a true sacrifice; in place of the liturgical chaos that had prevailed, the council laid down specific prescriptions about the form of the Mass and liturgical music along with issued doctrinal statements on holy orders, matrimony, purgatory, indulgences, and the veneration of saints, images, and relics and the veneration of saints and  salvation.

The 2nd Vatican Council 

In 1962 the Vatican held it’s 21st Ecumenical Council. The purpose was to address the role of the church in the modern day world. They thought that it was time for a spiritual renewal.  So  they changed the liturgy of the Mass from Latin to whichever language was of the people. They also thought that it was time for those Christians who had separated themselves from the Roman Catholic Church to return. By describing the church as the people of God, a pilgrim people, the council fathers provided the theological justification for changing the defensive and inflexible stance that had characterized much of Catholic thought and practice since the Protestant Reformation. They gave more church responsibilities to lay people. The “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” establishes the principle of greater participation by the laity in the celebration of Mass and authorizes significant changes in the texts, forms, and language used in the celebration of Mass and the administration of the sacraments. The church began uniting believers and they started at the beginning by uniting the East and the West, the Eastern Orthodox and Rome by putting back together what Constantine separated. They also looked to bring back those who separated from the universal church because of  Martin Luther. The baby step that they started with was that it was all right if a person came into either’s church, like for a wedding or a funeral.

Wake up! For our salvation is nearer now than we first believed” (Romans 13:11).

We have seen that Advent began as a time of fasting and preparation not for Yeshua’s (Jesus’s) first coming, but for His second coming. So how do we prepare? Matthew 24:42-43 tells us, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” If we do not know when He is coming then how do we know when to be ready? Matthew goes on to say that if the head of the house knew what night the thief would have come, he would have been on the alert. So you should be ready too.

Matthew 25 gives us a clue in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. The five wise virgins had enough oil to light their lamps while the five foolish did not; and when the time came at midnight, the shout came, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet Him!” When the five foolish ones returned from buying oil, it was too late; the door was shut. So be on the alert, for you do not know the day or the hour.

Luke 12:35-36 tells us this way: “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.” This imagery of the wedding runs throughout many of Yeshua’s parables. For example, in Matthew 22 Yeshua gives this parable of the wedding feast: The king gave a wedding feast. He sent out his slaves to tell the people that all the preparations have been made and it’s time to come to the feast. But they paid no attention to the invitation. In fact, they mistreated and even killed the king’s servants. The king said, “The wedding is ready, go out to the highways and byways and bring people in so that my table may be filled.” But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw there was a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. The king was outraged and said, “How did you come in here without wedding clothes?”

Oil and lights and wedding clothes: what does this all mean?

Oil

Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was given to us as a pledge or a down payment on our salvation. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit and the spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Verses 24-25 say, “Now those who belong to Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Yeshua sent the Holy Spirit to be a helper, a counselor to us so that we can walk according to the Word of God.

The Menorah lamp in the temple, which represents the Messiah, used olive oil. To get this oil, the olives had to be pressed and crushed, and so we too must be pressed and crushed so we may be presented to the Father as holy. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:8-14 that he considered all that he had obtained in life to be rubbish just to know Messiah in the power of His resurrection, to fellowship in His sufferings, and in being conformed to His death; but he says that he has not yet obtained or become perfect, but pressed on to lay hold of it. We cannot obtain this in our own righteousness, but only through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Light

God is light and His kingdom is the kingdom of Light, so we too must be light. Yeshua is the Light of the World and He tells us that we too must be that light in the world (Matthew 5:14). Yeshua is the Word of God made flesh and so too the Word of God is light. We must be light and we must live by the word of God in keeping His commandments; to do this, we must be led by the Holy Spirit of God and to be led by the Spirit of God, we must be born again.

Wedding Clothes

Revelation 19:7-10 speaks of the Marriage supper of the Lamb. It begins, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Hebrews 6:1 tells us, “Therefore, leaving the elementary teachings about Messiah, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works . . . .” First we must start with repentance; then we must read and live by God’s word with prayer and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will begin to understand God’s will for us in our lives and by this we will begin to obey and do what God is calling each one of us to do for Him and His kingdom. Then we will be prepared and we will be ready for Him if He chooses to come as a thief in the night. Our lamps will be lit and shining bright to welcome Him.

O come, O come Immanuel!

500TH Anniversary Of The Reformation 

2017 marked the 500th anniversary of the prodistant reformation. But since the council called Vatican II the Catholic church has been once again uniting all faiths together under the guise of peace. There was a statement of faith which over 1500 people signed who were theologians and college professors and prominent people in the church from all over the globe. In this series we have seen a few statements from the Eccumenical Councils of the past, so here are a few statements of faith from the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. 

THE REFORMING CATHOLIC CONFESSION WHAT WE, PROTESTANTS OF DIVERSE CHURCHES AND THEOLOGICAL TRADITIONS, SAY TOGETHER

A “Mere Protestant” Statement of Faith to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation

“That the world is divided – by race, class, age, gender, nation, politics, and religion – is as obvious as it is tragic. That Protestants are divided is equally obvious and, given our Lord’s prayer for unity (“that they may be one” – John 17:11), even more grievous. While we regret the divisions that have followed in its wake, we acknowledge the need for the sixteenth-century Reformation, even as we recognize the hopeful possibilities of the present twenty-first century moment. Not every denominational or doctrinal difference is a division, certainly not an insurmountable one. We dare hope that the unity to which the Reformers aspired may be increasingly realized as today’s “mere” Protestants, like Richard Baxter’s and C. S. Lewis’s “mere Christians,” joyfully join together to bear united witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to its length, depth, breadth, and width – in a word, its catholicity. We therefore aim to celebrate the catholic impulse that lies at the heart of the earlier Reformation even as we hope and pray for ever greater displays of our substantial unity in years to come.” (You can read it in its entirety at https://reformingcatholicconfession.com/)

HOLY SCRIPTURE

That God has spoken and continues to speak in and through Scripture, the only infallible and sufficiently clear rule and authority for Christian faith, thought, and life (sola scriptura). Scripture is God’s inspired and illuminating Word in the words of his servants (Psa. 119:105), the prophets and apostles, a gracious self-communication of God’s own light and life, a means of grace for growing in knowledge and holiness. The Bible is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it commands, trusted in all that it promises, and revered in all that it reveals (2 Tim 3:16). 

Our refute: And yet we ignore the Hebrew Scriptures and God’s Appointed Times in Leviticus 23  and we nullify that which we chose to nullify like the 7th day Sabbath which was made holy and set apart at creation. All which was changed throughout history and not by Yeshua and His disciples. 2 Timothy 3:16 which they quote tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. Just to remind you, when Paul wrote these words, the only Scriptures were the Hebrew Scriptures.

JESUS CHRIST

That Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God became human for us and our salvation (John 3:17), the only Mediator (solus Christus) between God and humanity (1 Tim. 2:5), born of the virgin Mary, the Son of David and servant of the house of Israel (Rom. 1:3; 15:8), one person with two natures, truly God and truly man. He lived a fully human life, having entered into the disorder and brokenness of fallen existence, yet without sin, and in his words, deeds, attitude, and suffering embodied the free and loving communication of God’s own light (truth) and life (salvation).

Our Refute: As we saw earlier in this series that Yeshua emptied himself as Philippians 2:5-7 tells us, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Messiah Yeshua,  who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.”  Yeshua is God, He said “I and my Father are one,” (John 1:1) yet to be the perfect sacrifice He had to do it as a man, not God. We diminish the sacrifice on His part when we say that He was able to do this because He was God.

Hebrews 2:18, “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

Hebrews 2:7-9 also says this, “We have not yet seen all of this take place,  but we do see Yeshua—who for a while was a little lower than the angels—crowned now by God with glory and honor because He suffered death for us.”

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

That the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, the unseen yet active personal presence of God in the world, who unites believers to Christ, regenerating and making them new creatures (Tit. 3:5) with hearts oriented to the light and life of the kingdom of God and to peace and justice on earth. The Spirit indwells those whom he makes alive with Christ, through faith incorporates them into the body of Christ, and conforms them to the image of Christ so that they may glorify him as they grow in knowledge, wisdom, and love into mature sainthood, the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). The Spirit is the light of truth and fire of love who continues to sanctify the people of God, prompting them to repentance and faith, diversifying their gifts, directing their witness, and empowering their discipleship.

Our Refute:  The subject of the Trinity has gone back for centuries now.  God is not a man that He should be called a person. Numbers 23:19 tells us this, “God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

So He is not three persons in one. God is a Spirit, as Yeshua told the Samaritan woman in John 4:22-24,  “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.  But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

And the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Messiah Yeshua, and Yeshua is the Word, the Logos of God. Remember the Armor of God, in Ephesians 6:17? “The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God”

2 Corinthians 3:17a, “Now the Lord is the Spirit,” 

Galatians 4:6, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 1 Peter 1:11,  “Inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Messiah and the subsequent glories.”

 Genesis 1:2,26a, “ And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.  Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

Yeshua said I and the Father are one (John 10:30). The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Messiah,  Messiah and the Father they are all one God.  Yeshua never said, I am one of three.

THE CHURCH

That the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church is God’s new society, the first fruit of the new creation, the whole company of the redeemed through the ages, of which Christ is Lord and head. The truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the church’s firm foundation (Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Cor. 3:11). The local church is both embassy and parable of the kingdom of heaven, an earthly place where His will is done and He is now present, existing visibly everywhere two or three gather in his name to proclaim and spread the gospel in word and works of love, and by obeying the Lord’s command to baptize disciples (Matt. 28:19) and celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19).

Our Refute: The Catholic Church is far from the Apostolic Church. First of all, John 14: 6, says this, Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Because Yeshua said that He was the way…His followers called themselves the ‘Way,’ as Acts 19:23 tells us “About that time a major disturbance occurred in regard to the Way.” In Acts 11:25-26 was  the first time the term Chrisitans was used . “ Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul,  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met together with Messiah’s community and taught a large number. Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christianoi.” Which is the combination of  Christos, which means the “anointed one” with the word follower. This term was only used a few times, here in Acts 11:26 and 26:28 and like  1 Peter 4:16 in the New Living Translation “But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.” The word (Chrisitan) is applied where it was assumed, but it is not in the original manuscripts. It is believed by some that the word Chrisitan was coined by the Bishop Ignatius of Antioch. Second, the Apostolic church was in Jerusalem, not Rome, and when the Apostle traveled to spread the Salvation message they knew that Jerusalem was the main, should we say, Headquarters. When Yeshua and His disciples gathered there was no church. Those who came after them met in the synagogue for worship, and  in homes or at Solomon’s Portico for teachings and fellowship. The church is not the kingdom of heaven, for everywhere the Spirit of the Lord is there is the kingdom. Luke 17:20-21, “Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed;  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Before there was such a thing as a church of believers, Yeshua said this in Matthew 4:17,  “From that time Yeshua began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Not only Yeshua, but John the Baptist, and the disciple, all preached the same thing. In fact when you gather in prayer in your home that also becomes part of the kingdom. 

BAPTISM AND LORD’S SUPPER

That these two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which some among us call “The Sacraments,” and that they are found in God’s  Word, and by the Spirit, they are proclaiming the promise of the gospel, to those who enter into them . Baptism and the Lord’s Supper communicate life in Christ to the faithful, confirming them in their assurance that Christ, the gift of God for the people of God, is indeed “for us and our salvation” and nurturing them in their faith. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are physical focal points for key Reformation insights: the gifts of God (sola gratia) and the faith that grasps their promise (sola fide). They are tangible expressions of the gospel insofar as they vividly depict our dying, rising, and incorporation into Jesus’ body (“one bread … one body” –       1Cor. 10:16-17), truly presenting Christ and the reconciliation He achieved on the cross. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper strengthen the faithful by visibly recalling, proclaiming, and sealing the gracious promise of forgiveness of sins and communion with God and one another through the peace-making blood of Christ (1 Cor. 11:26; Col. 1:20).

Our Refute:  Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” So would Yeshua tell His disciples to baptize? The word baptize comes from the Greek and it means to immerse. The origin is from Judaism. The ritual of immersion was basically a purification ritual going back to the Tent of Meeting and then to the Temple itself.  God told the people to build a laver. It was for the priests to cleanse themselves before entering into the work of the Tabernacle. Later, as “God-fearers” or “righteous” Gentiles expressed their desire to convert to Judaism, priests broadened the rite’s meaning, and along with circumcision, performed an immersion into a mikvah “baptism” as a sign of the covenant given to Abraham. This is what Paul called the Works of the Law. The Mikvah was a pool of water that was free flowing, like a river would be. But when Yeshua was so called baptized, He was immersed by John, who was immersing people as a “sign of repentance.” Water is regarded in the  Hebrew Scriptures as signifying cleansing, ritual purity, and a renewal of life from defilement. Water is also associated with the Holy Spirit, and thus that is why a dove appeared above Yeshua’s head. But immersion was never for salvation or even the forgiveness of sin, but just as a sign. Many Jewish people will enter a mikvah before their wedding, or before they began a new ministry. So Yeshua would never say, Go and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, because He would have considered it entering into the mikvah, and He knew that He and the Father are one, and so He would never have said to immerse in the Father, Son and Holy  Spirit, because God is One, Plus all of it is very unJewish in thinking. But for those who were pushing the doctrine of the Trinity, they would have added this on along with the concept of their Sacrament of Baptism. Yeshua would have told His disciple to go and make disciples of all the nations,  not converts, teaching them to follow all that He commanded; and that He was with them  to the end of the age.” 

As far as the Lord’s Supper we already refuted this thinking in Part 10

It’s the holiday season, and as they say, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” What makes it so wonderful? Is it the lights, the decorations, the festivities, maybe the gifts? Or maybe it is all of these things. Christians traditionally celebrate Messiah’s birth on December 25th since the fourth century CE when the Emperor Constantine made this the official date of Messiah’s birth, but many historians believe that the Messiah was born on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and was circumcised on the eighth day, because of the theme of Tabernacles (“God with us” and the celebration of the Word). But we also find that in this same month on the 25th of Kislev on the Biblical calendar is the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah, which can be as early as the end of November or as late as the fourth week in December.

Today we want to look at the holiday season and see how it is all connected and how we are to relate to it as believers in Messiah. We want to start by looking at John 10:22-28: “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yeshua was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.’”

Why does Scripture tell us that it was the Feast of Dedication and that it was winter? Well, that is because it was Hanukkah. Hanukkah means “dedication.” So we are going to take a closer look into this to see why John feels he needs to tell us that it was Hanukkah, a time of dedication.

Let’s look at the Hanukkah story. There was a cruel king named Antiochus (look at his name, it almost looks like his name is antichrist), who came to power. He wanted all the Jews to follow the Greek religion of polytheism, for the Greeks worshiped many gods, but the Jews worshiped only one God, the One True God. The Jews refused to worship these false gods. In fact, the king wanted them to change their names to Greek names and wear Greek clothes and eat unkosher Greek foods. The king wanted them to put statues of Greek gods in their homes. When they refused, the king was very angry and he ordered his soldiers to destroy their homes and the Temple, and many people were killed. Then he set up an idol on the Temple altar (the Abomination of Desolation). It is important that we remember that this was a battle between two worldviews: God’s and Satan’s (which is Humanism; for more info read Fleeing Babylon).

There was a man who was called Mattathias who refused to listen to the king, and he and his five sons gathered together the farmers, shepherds, and townspeople. They took whatever they had that they could use as weapons to fight the king’s men. These people became known as the Maccabees, named after Judah Maccabee (“The Hammer”), their leader after the death of Mattathias. God was with them and gave them the victory over the Syrian army.

As the story of the Maccabees continues, they go to restore the Temple, for it was badly damaged. After repairing and cleaning the Temple, they had to rededicate it—thus the name of the holiday, Hanukkah, meaning dedication. But when they went to light the Menorah, they found that there was only one day’s worth of consecrated oil.

The people found themselves in a dilemma when they realized that they only had one day’s worth of oil, because the Menorah was to be continually lit, as Exodus 27:20 tells us, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.”

Leviticus 24:2 says, “Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.”

To make the oil for the Menorah, the olives were to be crushed, beaten, and struck. Does this make us think of anything? It should! Isaiah 53:4-5 says this: “Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

John 19 tells us, “And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him, ‘Prophesy:’ and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands.”

Luke 22:63-64 says, “The men who were guarding Yeshua began mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded Him and demanded, ‘Prophesy! Who hit you?’”

Isaiah 53:10a tells us this: “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer.”

So why did the olives have to be crushed, struck, and beaten? Well, one reason is that the menorah represents the Messiah. In the Temple, the Menorah is called the “Light to the Nations.” The Menorah represents Messiah, the “Light of the World.” John 8:12 records this: “Again, Yeshua spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Because of this, every time they made the oil for the “Light of the World,” it was a prophetic witness to the death of Messiah. We see that it pleased God to crush Him because through this He was going to bring about salvation, as Hebrews 5:8-9 tells us, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

We want to look at carbon as an example. Carbon is what makes up the graphite in a lead pencil, and carbon is what also makes a diamond. When only low pressure and heat is put to carbon, you get graphite, the lead needed for a pencil, but if you put carbon under great pressure and high heat then you get a diamond. In fact, this is true of all precious gems. God wants us to be diamonds, full of light, reflecting Him.

If our Messiah is the Light, then we too must also be light. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Because we are light also, we must follow the example of Messiah. We are to follow in His footsteps. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:7-12, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Messiah. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Messiah—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Messiah took hold of me.”

What did Messiah take hold of? Our salvation.

Yeshua tells us just how important it is for us to keep our lamps burning in the parable in Matthew 25:1-13. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

But to get the pure oil needed to keep our lamps burning, we must also be crushed. The word “press on” that Paul uses in Philippians 3:12 is just like the pressing that takes place when you crush an olive.

Paul tells us about this pressing in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. “Are they servants of Messiah?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”

Paul tells us again in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, “But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.”

Yeshua tells us in John 12:25, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”

James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

So how is your supply of oil? We all need a daily refueling. We all need the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep our light burning, and to do that we must walk in the Spirit and live in the Spirit as Galatians 5:25 tells us.

Well, returning to the Hanukkah story, the God who told the people that the light must never go out and that the Menorah must be continuously lit made sure they did just that. The one-day supply of oil lasted eight days. What a miracle! On the 25th day of Kislev, 165 B.C.E., the temple was rededicated. Exactly three years to the day that the Abomination of Desolation was placed on the altar, the new rebuilt and dedicated altar was now offering up sacrifices unto God, and thus this feast was also called the “Sukkah of Fire,” referring to the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).

We too must be living sacrifices unto God, as Romans 12:1-2 tells us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The Maccabees had just finished keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, and when they wanted to keep the remembrance of the dedication of the temple and the great victory and miracle, they considered having another eight days of Tabernacles. They brought out the boughs and the palms, and they rejoiced for eight days as they lit an eight-candle candelabra—one candle for each of the eight days. But before the Feast of Tabernacles, they had just gone through a 40-day preparation time, preparing for the Day of Atonement, a time when one considers his deeds and repents and, as it were, rededicates his life to God. As we had said in the beginning of this teaching, historians believe that Yeshua was born during the Feast of Tabernacles. Today many people keep Advent as a time to prepare for the birth of the Messiah. We know that Messiah came, so now we must be preparing for His second coming.

This now brings us to another story that took place many years after the Maccabees, another story of light: the star that guided the three wise men. Historians believe that they were three rabbis from Babylon.

Luke 2:1-21 gives us the account of His birth: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named Yeshua (God’s Salvation), the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.”

Yeshua was a king that was born a pauper in humble surroundings, and yet hosts of angels sang and rejoiced and praised God, appearing to lowly shepherds out in the fields. Wisemen would travel a great distance to pay homage to the king and give him costly gifts. When King Herod heard that there was a newborn king, he sent his soldiers to kill all the baby boys under two. Right here we see that our two stories are connected: the family name of the Maccabees was Hasmonian and they were a priestly line, but when they won the victory over the Syrians they became the ruling class in Jerusalem. Of course, they were illegitimate because they were not of the line of David, but Levi. So years later, we find that King Herod, who kills all the babies because he felt his kingship threatened, is of the Hasmonian dynasty.

Luke 2:25-32 continues the story. Mary and Joseph bring Yeshua to the Temple: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’”

We continue to read in Luke 2:41-42, “Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” After leaving Jerusalem three days, Yeshua’s parents finally realize that their son was not with them. So they went back to look for Him. “After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:46-47). It is so interesting that this took place during Passover. Yeshua could not be found for three days (a foreshadowing of Him being in the grave), but then He was found (resurrection). Found where? In the Temple, among those who were teaching the Word of God. Yeshua loved the House of God so much that we find Him one day making this point in Matthew 21:12-13, “And Yeshua entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you make it a den of robbers.’”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

This is a season about so many things: miracles, a baby, a king, a savior. But it is also about many things that we need to be. We are to be light, and we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and we too must be holy and our temple must also be a house of prayer. Like sheep we must hear God’s voice and follow our Shepherd, the Messiah. It may have been just the shepherds who saw and heard those angels that night, but God’s Word speaks to us today telling us that Messiah has come to bring us Good News.

Conclusion

The Apostle John tells us that it was the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) because John wanted to remind the people what Yeshua told them that day during Hanukkah, as they gathered themselves at Solomon’s Colonnade, that His sheep listen to His voice and follow Him, because as Mark 13:14 tells us, Yeshua warns the people, “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

The people understood Yeshua’s reference to the Abomination of Desolation, that it was referring to the time of Hanukkah, and that Yeshua was warning them that it was going to happen again—and it did. The people remembered His warning and did just as He had said. They were saved because they listened to His voice. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Satan has been at war with God since he fell, and Humanism has been his religion. Humanism tells us that there is no One God—we are all gods, and we have the ability to help ourselves. Humanism is what creates power, elitism, and slavery. Humanism is the religion that will usher in the Antichrist. Like Antiochus, he will be anti-torah, law-less, and everyone will have to worship the god of Humanism. But Yeshua tells us how we can avoid falling into the trap of Humanism, and it starts by hearing God’s voice and doing as He says.

Yeshua goes on to say in Mark 13, “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look, there He is!” do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”

Today let us keep our light shining and let us be the temple of the Holy Spirit, holy unto the Lord. Let us proclaim like the angels, like the shepherds in the field, God’s harvest fields, that Yeshua is coming back and we need to prepare.

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King, and let every heart prepare Him room.”
Have a very blessed celebration of Messiah’s birth and a very happy Hanukkah!