End Times

Lawlessness

Those who teach that the law ended at the cross have no standing to complain about where society is today.

Audio only below

Those who teach that the law ended at the cross have no standing to complain about where society is today.

In Joshua 9 we have a very unique situation. The Israelites have entered the land and have had some success demolishing the inhabitants. A group of people called the Gibeonites who inhabit the land appear to know that Israel is going to destroy everything in Canaan. So they set Israel up to let them continue living in the land. They make a huge ordeal of pretending to be from very far away, their emissaries shower Israel with praise, and ask for a covenant. Israel failed to consult with Yahweh and made the covenant. Three days later they discover the deception.

Slide 2 Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim. The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by YHVH the Elohim of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders. But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by YHVH, the Elohim of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.” (Jos 9:17-19)

Even though they were commanded to destroy the inhabitants of the land and even though the covenant was clearly fraudulent, they had to honor it. Why? Because they swore an oath to their Elohim. That cuts two ways: they have to honor their oath to Yahweh because He’s Yahweh and if they swear falsely to Him, then their goose is cooked. They also have to honor it or the word of the nation means nothing. If they didn’t honor that covenant then they would not be able to make any agreements because they would be seen as untrustworthy and also to not even take their own God seriously.

Did you know this is a two way street?

Slide 3 “For I, YHVH, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Mal 3:6)

Do you know what this means? I mean REALLY know what this means? It means He’s made a covenant with Israel and He will not go back on it. He can’t. Because if He did, then we would not know what to believe.

Slide 4 On that day YHVH made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: (Gen 15:18)

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, YHVH appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Elohim Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and Elohim talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and to your descendants after you. (Gen 17:1-7)

“Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'” (Exo 32:12-13)

The foundation of order is honor. To have order it starts with honor. If two people come to an agreement and seal that agreement, however that’s accomplished, then both have to honor the agreement. Today, if someone makes a fraudulent agreement you can get out of it. Why? Because that’s the order of our society. We have clauses that if either side withholds meaningful information, called concealing, then the contract is void.

Yahweh promised to make Israel a great nation and to make Abraham the father of many nations. This is why He brought them out of Egypt. Moses appears to be talking back to Yahweh here but it’s a lesson for us all. The Israelites were told 40-ish days prior not to make idols or worship false gods and they sinned. Yahweh is infuriated. All the plagues, all the plundering, all the fleeing, the miracle of the Red Sea, all brought to nothing in a manner of days. But Moses says “remember your promise”. You said it, so it has to become true. Moses also says if you destroy them you will damage your reputation with the world. To put plainly, if He destroyed them after all that work in Egypt, who would follow Him?

The pagan gods were fickle, selfish, greedy, and, well, human. They were depicted as being effectively super-human beings with powers, not like Yahweh who is not human at all. He’s something else that we don’t understand. He speaks to us in human terms to relate to us and let us understand Him as much as possible, but we can’t comprehend an omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal being because we are none of those things. Their followers didn’t know what they wanted because they were myths, or worse, demons. So they had to guess. Our Elohim, Yahweh, the true Elohim, is different. He says and He does. His words are true. He is referred to as a rock because rocks don’t change. Because if He changed, then we would not know what to believe.

Slide 5 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay 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 signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive 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. (2Th 2:7-12)

Today we are together on LDUB because we’re following the Torah. We’re doing the best we can to obey here in the 21^st century because we believe the Bible is God’s Word and His appointed times matter, as does all of his Torah. But mainstream Christianity teaches that the law was nailed to the cross. They particularly teach that these appointed times are null and void, which makes no sense as we see the first century church having adopted the days. Paul specifically told the church at Corinth to keep this very feast.

What happens when lawlessness and dishonor rule the day? The idea of “the law being nailed to the cross”. Mainstream Christianity has taught lawlessness for hundreds of years. How is society going to be able to identify lawlessness if it’s citizens are taught that lawlessness is biblical? The pagan gods were fickle, but at least they were gods. Today, western society is making it up. Each day is another abomination. It’s pure chaos. And it has been a slippery slope. Decades ago it was “why do you care what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home?” Today, we have drag queen story hour at the public library. It’s disgusting. Decades ago it was that girls had to be allowed in the boy scouts. Today, boys can claim to be girls and be admitted to the girls locker room and are actually participating in female athletics! Those Christians who taught the law was nailed to the cross have absolutely nothing to complain about. Because this is the natural result of their ridiculous doctrines.

Freedom requires boundaries. In order to have peace, we have to have order. We have to have a set of expectations and limitations that society agrees upon. This doesn’t even need to be a set of Christian of biblical tenets. Egypt had order and had peace. So did Greece. So did Rome. Within their borders, they had a set of laws and punishments for breaking those laws. They had rewards for obeying the laws. Societies need boundaries in order for there to be any sort of peace. Now, it becomes very un-peaceful in dictatorial societies when you stray from the path, so I am not endorsing these lifestyles. Not at all. The way Yahweh set it up was for the people to agree and follow, not for there to be a dictatorial society. Yahweh set up a simple set of commandments, the people cried, then He finished with Moses on the mountain. While the people obeyed. Then He added the laws about the priesthood, to keep them on the straight and narrow. Then Israel fell away over and over. But they never descended to the depravity we have today. And they knew the path back because righteousness was defined and had not changed. As far as individuals go, we are in the process of surpassing Sodom and Gomorrah. We are on the fast track to Genesis 6, where the thoughts of men were evil continually. All because we have discarded the basic principles of God and nature.

But remember, I set this up with national sins. With the Israelites having to honor their covenant even though it was made in deceit. Well, we’ve broken those rules as well. To the point that our oldest ally, France, is moving away from us. The French president, who was one of our best friends just four years ago, has openly indicated he can’t trust us. Because our government is ran by dishonorable people. When we abandoned our allies in Afghanistan, we told the world they can’t trust us anymore. That abrupt withdrawal, where we abandoned the airport before we even got our own citizens out, and left all of our military hardware behind, showed the world that our word means nothing. Other allies who depend on us for their existence have betrayed us this week with intelligence. Our inability to keep secret classified information makes it impossible for other nations to share their intel with us. And within this dump of classified information was evidence of us spying on our own allies. Our nation’s leaders are more concerned with men being able to shower with girls than they are of our common defense and standing in the world. We have become a nation of complete lawlessness from the top down. For more than two centuries this nation was the bedrock, and that was because we were a force for good. In two short years that has completely collapsed. No boundaries, nothing to cling to.

Slide 6 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he 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.” (Mat 24:11-14)

Our movement has focused on the Sabbath as the mark of the beast for over 150 years. That was because it was the commandment that set us apart from the rest of Christianity. Those who preached lawlessness still clung to the other 9 commandments, even though that was a ridiculous position. But they continued to preach their lawlessness and adopted worse and worse practices that I won’t even speak of. Instead of being the anchor for truth, Christianity gave into society’s increasing depravity until we have arrived at the place where we are now. Brothers and sisters, it was an error to focus on one commandment when the scriptures were talking about total lawlessness all the time.

The Resurrection of the Dead

The true outline of prophetical events from the first century until today is profound and very easy to learn. The resurrection of the dead is a key to these truths which were held dear by the first century Christians.

Yeshua told us exactly what we are supposed to do to remember Him. We know it, so let’s get together and do it. His command to remember Him by washing each other’s feet and sharing the bread and wine the night before Passover is also tied into today’s message. This is a big apologetic on why we do what we do.

We are commemorating the death and resurrection of Yeshua, the Messiah, the Son of God. While it’s easy to think this is the end of the road, it’s not. It is the single most important event in history, everything before looking to it and everything after looking from it. Imagine in your head an hourglass on it’s side. Yeshua’s death on the cross is the middle point. Everything from Creation flows to that point in time and everything since flows out of it. Sometimes we have to give credit where credit is due and this is the case with the numbering of years on our Gregorian calendar. Today is March 19, in the year of our Lord 2023. It’s been roughly 2023 years since Yeshua was born. Granted, this distinction doesn’t really exist in the faith once delivered, where it is actually the year 5783, and if they were to begin counting, they should have counted from His death, not His birth, but even with all those caveats, I still like the idea of realizing a starting point/finishing point with the coming of the Messiah. Because that’s literally true. And it’s not CE, the “common era”. That’s just a cop out to try and divorce our calendar from Christianity. If one was to consider a “common era”, it would have to be from the printing press or from some much more modern time. There’s nothing common about the Messiah. In fact, He’s very specific and very holy, the opposite of common. But I digress.

The reason I’m on this tangent is because accepting Yeshua as the Messiah, the Son of God, who died so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life, is the most important piece of information available since His death. We really did enter a new era when He was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to the right hand of God. In the first century, one of the biggest doctrinal disputes, if not the biggest doctrinal dispute, was the resurrection of the dead.

Slide 2 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks. But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” (Act 23:6-11)

Understand that the Jews were more upset about the resurrection being a thing than they were about Paul preaching Yeshua. It’s astonishing to think of, but once Paul made it about the resurrection of the dead, the Pharisees took his side. Paul was a Pharisee himself when he had papers to persecute the Church of Yahweh. But Yeshua being the Messiah, the Son of God, took a backseat to there being a resurrection of the dead. Next month, when we observe the night Yeshua was betrayed and the Spring Holy Days, we will be commemorating just that – that Yeshua was resurrected from the dead. And that’s a key for what is to come later.

Slide 3 Now if Messiah is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Messiah has been raised; and if Messiah has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Messiah, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Messiah has been raised; and if Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1Co 15:12-17)

1^st Corinthians 15 is the resurrection chapter. Most of what I am talking about today is summed up in that chapter, which is a remarkably concise and clear outline of what is next to happen in prophecy. This is all founded on the resurrection of the dead, which means that dead people are literally dead, without life, unconscious, and awaiting one of two resurrections. Those two resurrections are separated by 1000 years referred to as “the millennium”.

Slide 4 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” (Dan 12:1-2)

But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1Co 15:20-24)

“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (Joh 5:28-29)

I started this with Daniel to show that the resurrection, and the outline of what’s to come, is not all that new to the New Testament. Yeshua is effectively citing Daniel in John 5: 28-29 and Paul is providing more detail. Ezekiel gives the most graphic information about the resurrection, too. This outline was common knowledge to the Pharisees and because central to first century Christianity. Of course we believe in the resurrection of the dead because our Messiah was resurrected from the dead! At some point, though, mainstream Christianity deviated from this and has a very confused look at what is to come. The pagan belief that dead people are alive somewhere else has overtaken a core doctrine of the early church. Instead of looking forward to a resurrection, Christians of almost all denominations talk about dead people as if they are in heaven, hell, or in some sort of third option yet still conscious. But if we just read 1 Cor 15, and other places, we know the truth. And next month we will commemorate the truth.

Slide 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:5-6)

Revelation 20 is the place to look for the timing. This is where we learn about the millennium. Today I’m encouraging you to listen and then go read these chapters for yourselves. 1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20 and the one I’m going to talk about next, Ezekiel 37 and 38. Putting these together shows us the time frame and the details about what’s next in the history of mankind. In fact, this shows us what is next all the way until the end of this era and the beginning of eternity. Which is the first resurrection when Yeshua returns, a 1000 year period of time where mankind gets a break from Satan, who is locked up for the 1000 years, and then the second resurrection, which is called the resurrection of judgment. The second resurrection is where all of mankind who did not get resurrected in the first resurrection are judged, which means decided upon. Some are found written in the book of life, others are not. And at the end of that is when we enter into eternity.

Slide 6 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Rev 20:7-9)

And the word of YHVH came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the YHVH Elohim, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. (Eze 38:1-3)

This is showing is the timing of the second resurrection. This goes against the grain of most of Christianity as well, but Ezekiel 37, the chapter prior, talks about the first resurrection then Ezekiel 38 talks about the second, where this great final war, Gog and Magog, are to take place. It’s the end of the 1000 years, at least 1000 years and 1 day from now, when this battle takes place. After Satan is released from being imprisoned for 1000 years, he will go out to deceive the nations again. Unfortunately, many will follow that deceiver and pay the ultimate penalty.

Slide 7 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1Jn 5:10-12)

Brothers and sisters, this knowledge I am talking about today is the knowledge that leads to life – eternal life. That we know the Son, and have accepted Him as the Son of Yahweh, so we have the opportunity to enter into life, a resurrection of life. And for a special few, some will not even need to be resurrected but will rise to meet Him in the air when He returns. As you listen to these messages, and read them, and they hopefully inspire you to search the scriptures to see if they are true, understand this is not knowledge for the sake of knowledge. It’s the knowledge of the plan of salvation laid out at the foundation of the world. That plan relies heavily in the resurrection of the dead, something we will commemorate again this year, as we do each year. And you’re invited to join us.

Let Us Reason Together

Society is losing the ability to think critically and determine good information from bad. This ability was given to us by Yahweh when He made mankind in His image. In this message, I address logical fallacies, which are errors in thinking that lead people to false conclusions. These concepts are biblical and we are even commanded to think properly in order to make sound judgments.

Audio only below.

Slide 2 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says YHVH, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of YHVH has spoken. (Isa 1:18-20)

Isaiah 1:18 famously reads “Come, let us reason together, says Yahweh. Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be whiter than snow.”

This line is in the midst of a rather blunt rebuke of Israel for falling away while still obeying the festivals and, effectively, pretending to be righteous. This is rife in our society today. Putting on airs is how we coin it, or blatant hypocrisy. In the context of Isaiah 1, Yahweh is telling the leadership of Judah to stop doing this. He’s telling them to repent of their evil deeds, knock them off, and return to obeying both observing the festivals and all of the Torah. He’s telling them to use their ability to reason and come to the logical conclusion that He is the only true Elohim (God) and their only mechanism for salvation is through Him.

Today I want to talk about reason. Our ability to think critically and come to good conclusions. Because our society is almost completely been destroyed through the dismantling of this fundamental to human thought. Our ability to reason, to think, to weigh choices, to analyze data and experiences, in order to improve ourselves and our society, is what separates us from the animal kingdom. Adam was given the task of naming the animals because he was given the ability to do so. Humankind was made in the image of Elohim. Part of that was the ability to think and deduce.

One of my favorite topics in college, and even in High School AP English, which my daughters are learning now, are logical fallacies. When learning to write one task is learning how to author an argumentative essay. To do that, we get educated on logical fallacies, which are errors in reasoning that lead people to make erroneous decisions. Learning that this is still part of the curriculum in college, which is where my daughters are learning this, is a good thing. But it makes me concerned for society because if people are still learning about these things, why does our public discourse look like the population is completely ignorant of these things?

A case in point is that we bought a new truck back in 2017. Our old Suburban was crumbling and we needed a vehicle to take its place. A Suburban was out of the question because at that time, they cost about half as much as a house. Today, they are up to the price of a full duplex. So we need a truck that did a few specific things and at a certain price point. I contacted dealers who said they could meet our needs. However, they kept asking what color we wanted. We did not care about the color of the vehicle unless it was atrocious. It’s not like a manufacturer is going to put something out that people don’t want to look at, so our focus was on cost and capability. This is what should take precedence when making a large purchase of anything. We got to the dealership and they had two trucks waiting for us to test drive. They were stunning, one black and one royal blue. We drove them and liked them but realized they had us drive the nicest trucks on the lot. There was no way we could afford these things. When we got done driving them, the salesman asked “do you want the black one or the green one”? I asked how much they cost. He would not answer. I had to get blunt and ask if they were near our price point, where he told me that our price point couldn’t be met, we needed to come up. But he still wouldn’t tell us how much they cost. We ultimately had to leave, kids in tow, while the guy literally chased us in the parking lot.

This sales technique is successful because of logical fallacies. Marketing is almost completely base on these, which is why we need to be concerned for the fate of our society. We have all bought things that we just “wanted” based on attraction. I’ve made this mistake with purchases large and small alike. I once bought a lever action hunting rifle because it was simple beautiful. I had no idea how to hunt and had no need for this rifle whatsoever, but like a fool, I let it catch my eye and then I held it. Big mistake. $600 out the window and I was the proud owner of something I simply wanted. I ultimately learned how to hunt deer, got one, and then sold that rifle for quite a profit. That’s because it had the initials JM on it and turned out to be among the last lever action Marlin’s produced with John Marlin’s initials on it. Yes, I bought it on emotion and made money because someone else had a stronger emotional attachment to it. I should probably be ashamed of that transaction now that I think of it.

So let’s look at a couple logical fallacies. A great place to learn about this is the website for Purdue University here Fallacies – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University. Which is the site I’m using to define these things. Keep in mind that these concepts are in Latin, but are also in Torah. These things are ancient errors in logic that Yahweh has warned us about and that mankind has also learned to label and avoid the hard way.

Post hoc or false cause logical fallacy is when conclusions are drawn based on coincidences. This is also similar to the phrase “non-sequitur” meaning “does not follow” or, in southern US language “you can’t get there from here”. False causes and non-sequiturs are when things happen at the same time that might look related but really aren’t. A way to think about this are these commercials for vitamins and health products that show people doing athletic or active things and try to make you think that the product they are advertising caused them to be able to do those things but they really didn’t. It could be the person adopted a lifestyle change, changed their diet, and consciously decided to get out more at the same time they started taking the healthcare product. In this case, the product may have helped but it’s not clear causation for the change. Another way to think of this is if someone said they played the lottery for years and never won. But after they started taking these health products, whamo, they hit the jackpot! That’s an extreme example to make the case.

This one shows up in scripture when Yeshua talks about the people who died when a tower fell on them in Luke 13:1-5. He makes the case that all are sinners so the manner of death is rather irrelevant if one doesn’t repent, that their horrific death was not the result of some special level of sinfulness they had attained.

Ad hominem logical fallacy means “to the person”. This is when people are smeared to get folks turned against the person rather than deal with the person’s argument. This happens so much in politics I don’t think we will ever return to debating issues. Each campaign smears the other candidate to the point of making that person seem like a demon when they really aren’t. This can work in reverse as well where people will follow someone’s advice because they like them, irrespective of whether the person is putting forth sound advice. This is why actors, who are popular because of acting, are often used in advocacy campaigns. The people are comfortable with a certain person telling them things so they are more receptive to other information from that person. But we really should be looking at topics and arguments objectively, without regard to the person making the argument. In scripture, the spiritual leaders of Yeshua’s day tried to smear Him at every turn to get the people to dismiss Him and His teachings because they could not refute His words. This was an attempt to use the ad hominem logical fallacy.

Ad Populum logical fallacy is when people go along with the crowd just because the crowd is doing it. We can see this today with social media trying to make immorality popular so more people agree with it and legalize/normalize it. We see it very often when the media gets us all mad about an issue in order to change our behavior, such as to favor one candidate or another in an election. What does the Torah say about this?

Slide 3 “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice;” (Exo 23:2)

Today, this is probably the most dangerous logical fallacy in existence. Because our entire foundation for understanding the world comes from a flawed cultural experience. In the days of Moses, when this mitzvot was given, Yahweh had established His culture and all the children would be raised in a proper culture, knowing right from wrong from when they could learn. So their population was intended to be inherently sound. Our culture is, let’s face it, crazy. There is no right or wrong anymore at all! So we start our life experiences without being surrounded by a population with and foundational morality that is sloshing around in a living cultural experiment. At any given moment, we do not know what will become popular and a new norm and what virtue that has been held dear for hundreds of years will become unpopular to the point of being exterminated. When we are at the will of the a volatile populous, we are in a state of pure chaos, never knowing how to think or react to any situation. This situation happens often in history. People get ginned up on a large scale to make decisions they would never normally make and almost instantly regret. The Bolshevik Revolution when Russia became communist is one. The NAZIs coming to power is another. Our own country is at great risk of this today, as we have had incredibly emotionally driven protests and riots in the last few years where people were clearly being manipulated through media to perform certain behaviors.

You probably already know where this is going, but there’s a big place in scripture where this logical fallacy was employed by none other than Satan himself.

Slide 4 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Yeshua to death. But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Yeshua who is called Messiah?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” (Mat 27:19-23)

The people had been ginned up to despise the Messiah and Pilate allowed himself to be swayed because he didn’t want a riot or civil war, thus yielding to the ad populum logical fallacy. Don’t let the irony that it’s in Latin to be lost. The nation that was told to not follow the masses into evil persuaded the nation that knew better than to follow a logical fallacy to murder an innocent man, the very Son of Yahweh. The lesson today is to not be a part of this.

By the way, this one works in reverse, too. Just because the masses do or believe something doesn’t make it right or wrong. We also need to be careful not to discard information because it is popular, but do our best to judge each situation on its merits, which is what will happen at the end of days when the books are opened and all mankind are judged based on the context of their lives.

The Knowledge that Brings Peace

Understanding the scriptures from a first century Christian perspective gives one an understanding of the plan of salvation that results in a deep psychological shalom that we want all to experience!

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The Temple and the Messiah

For those who desire proof Jesus is the Messiah, the destruction of the second temple provides ample. The leaders in Judea at the time of Christ were looking for someone to free them from the Roman occupation. They were looking for a messiah like Judas Maccabeus, who led the successful revolt against the Greeks. The Maccabees were successful in repelling the pagans and restoring Judea. The leaders in the time of Yeshua, aka Jesus, were looking for the same thing. This is why the disciples were constantly ready to fight for Him, because they could not comprehend a different outcome.

The prophecy of the ultimate Messiah, Jesus aka Yeshua, given by Daniel, included the phrase “desolations are determined”. This mean that the true Messiah was quoting Daniel when He foretold the destruction of the temple at Matthew 24 and other places. In fact, this phrase is why they ultimately killed Him, defying even the prophecy they sought to be fulfilled.

Fully understanding the fall of the Temple and the events that led to it helps us to understand our faith better. This message identifies the four key factions in the first century working to remove Rome and their idiosyncracies. This knowledge helps us to build confidence in who Jesus aka Yeshua really was. This detailed message about the fall of the second Temple ties in relevant scriptures to Daniel 9 and provides proof Jesus is the Messiah. I recommend watching this one because the notes below are pretty rough.

Proving-Yeshua-is-the-Messiah-from-the-Destruction-of-the-Temple Download

Prophecy Outline for Messianics

Do you want to know when the Gog and Magog war is? When is the final battle of this age? Please give this a watch and learn some simple truths that have escaped Christianity for a really long time!

Video with slides below (recommended for this one!)

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Prophecy Outline for Messianics

I don’t spend a lot of time on prophecy studies outside of the outline of the Holy Days. My philosophy here is that if we keep Torah while believing in Yeshua, then the details of prophecy will work themselves out. Perhaps it’s an oversimplification, but if we are doing the Master’s will, does it really matter when He returns? Isn’t that the point of the parable?

However, prophecy is what brings a lot of people to the faith once delivered. Let’s face it, when we read what’s going to happen to the disobedient and pagans, it’s a big motivator to get ourselves on the right side of history. Moses reminded the people of what was going to happen to them when (not if) they disobeyed. Yahweh used other nations to smite Israel repeatedly. Yahweh also destroyed the entire earth once before because of sin. So understanding the stakes, the eternal stakes, is a really good motivator for getting right with Yahweh and Yeshua.

Prophecy is another of our beliefs that needs to be adjusted once we come out of Babylon. One of the key topics we break with most everyone else is on the state of the dead, for example. Most of Christianity, Judaism, and even the world today think that there is no such thing as death. Their when our bodies cease to contain us, we translate into some other type of non-corporeal or semi-corporeal life. We accept that death is the opposite of life. We did not exist prior to our births, we live a mortal life, and then we sleep in the grave awaiting resurrection. It’s rather bizarre that most of Christianity has shed belief in the resurrection when it is such a core belief of Yeshua, who died and was resurrected to prove it (among other things), and then the rest of the apostles.

The resurrection of the dead is an enormously important part of prophecy.

Slide 2 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (Joh 5:28-29)

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” (Dan 12:1-4)

Yeshua is actually referencing the prophet Daniel in John 5:29. In fact, I use John 5:29 as kind of a benchmark for Bible translations. You’ll notice this says “resurrection of judgment” rather than the KJV “resurrection of damnation”. This is a key distinction because those in this category are not even automatically condemned, let alone damned. The resurrection of judgment is just that, a decision time. I’ll get into that a little later. I’m starting with these verses because this is the broadest outline for Messianic prophecy: that the resurrection of the dead is real. All mankind will live again, but in the future. And then we get some more information about the resurrection in Revelation. We learn there are two.

Slide Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:4-6)

It’s Revelation 20 where we learn there is a gap of 1000 years between the resurrection of life and the resurrection of judgment. This 1000 years is also something that Christianity has discarded along the way and I don’t believe Judaism has ever adopted. This 1000 year period is called “the millennium” and we who believe it and take it literally are in the minority, despite it being a very crucial point in history: 1000 years for mankind to have a shot without Satan’s interference.

At this point in this message, I’d like you to stop listening, watching, or reading and read Ezekiel 37 and 38, then Revelation 20, in that order and all at once. If you don’t do it first, you’ll likely end up stopping and doing it anyhow. This is because the timing laid out in plain scripture is contrary to almost everything those who put out eschatological messages ever put out and I want you to see these things for yourselves, not because some guy with a mic told you.

Now we’re back. The book of Revelation is the most Jewish of the NT books. John assumes that the reader is fluid with the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, or what we call the Old Testament. Roughly 70% of the verses in Revelation either cite or make allusion to some verse in the Tanakh. And if you did the exercise, you’ll see what I’m talking about. The Book of Revelation is akin to a PhD. paper. I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but it builds upon the elementary school level understanding of scripture, all the way through high school, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. In the same way that an Algebra book assumes the student understands basic math and number lines, the Book of Revelation assumes the readers know their bibles. So when folks start in Revelation with only an understanding of the New Testament, it can take one in wild directions.

Let’s run down Revelation 20 with Ezekiel 37 and 38 in mind.

It’s hard to see but Revelation 20 is on top and Ezekiel 37 on the bottom. When John, Paul, Yeshua, and anyone else in the first century talked about the resurrection of the dead, they were referencing Ezekiel 37. Now that we know there are two resurrections that bookend the millennium, we know Ezekiel 37 to be the first. John is assuming we know Ezekiel 37 when he references the first resurrection in Revelation 20:1-6. In what’s called “the resurrection chapter” 1^st Corinthians 15, we get an order of resurrections that also compliments the order put forth here. In verses 42-49 of 1 Cor 15, Paul explains that the resurrected saints get a spiritual body that will never die. This is exactly what’s depicted in detail in Ezekiel 37’s resurrection.

The Two Sticks

Much ado is made in our circles about one-house versus two-house. What is known is that after the return from Exile, the term Jew applied to any of the tribes that kept the Torah and maintained their identity as children of Yahweh. I know, I know, Jew is derived from Judah, but language is not static nor is it precise. In the New Testament, Paul called himself a Jew, a Benjamite, and an Israelite. Then, as well as know, it’s just common parlance to call those with the bloodline, whether Messianic or non-Messianic, “Jews”. What we have in Ezekiel 37: 15-28 coupled with Revelation 20: 1-6 is proof that both houses have not been reunited yet, they will be, AND we have a time when that will happen, which is after the first resurrection. The first resurrection is when Yahweh gathers all His people from the corners of the earth, reunite the tribes, and set Yeshua as King over all of us.

When is the Gog and Magog War?

Many, many calories have been spent trying to figure out who Gog and Magog are in Christian circles. This is because Christianity desperately wants this war to happen before the return of the Messiah. But when does this war actually happen?

Yes, brothers and sisters, we are at least 1000 years and a day from this war. Ezekiel 37 references the first resurrection where all the saints who have ever lived and those whom Yahweh wills are resurrected, perfected, and glorified. Then at the end of the 1000 years, Satan goes out to deceive the nations one last times and brings an enormous army to Jerusalem where Yahweh has finally had enough.

Then what?

Slide Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 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. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:11-15)

Then, after all this, we have the second resurrection. This is when all who have ever lived that were not part of the first resurrection are brought back to life and judged based on their previous lives. The word here for judged G2919 krino which does not mean condemned or executed. It means “decision time”. Judgments can go either way and we can see that there will be names found written in the book of life at this event. Let us pray most of them, if possible.

The Remnant

What are the traits of God’s remnant in these troubling times?

The image below here is a video hosted by Rumble with slides. Just hit the white play triangle in the green box and it will play right here. You can also watch and follow our channel on Rumble if you like by clicking the word Rumble.

The image below here is audio only hosted by Spotify. If podcasts are your thing, you can like and follow this channel on Spotify by clicking the word Spotify here. Depending on how you listen to Spotify, you may be able to see the slides there, too.

This begins the written transcript for those who like to read, or use ctl-f to search for things.

Slide 2 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 and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent poured 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 poured 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 YHVH and hold to the testimony of Yeshua. (Rev 12:13-17)

Specific group. Doing both things. Context to show the difficulty. The last sentence is the focus. Often referred to as the remnant message because of how it is worded in KJV and because, well, it is the remnant message.

When I first came to this walk I was taught that keeping the commandments was really just about the 4^th commandment. That since the rest of Christianity kept the wrong day, the sign of the remnant was keeping the Sabbath. So to achieve this part of the formula, one had to keep the 10 commandments, including the Saturday Sabbath. And then the testimony of Yeshua was very narrowly defined as the spirit of prophecy. This is because in one verse, Rev 19:10, the testimony of Yeshua is defined as that. But in other verses, it’s clearly talking about the entirety of Yeshua’s testimony, so it’s not just prophecy. And one needs to understand prophecy from the Tanakh, it’s not just being able to tell the future, but something much more special.

This is a case of “when I was a child”. This formula of keeping the ten commandments and the testimony of Yeshua is a very good start, if you don’t get carried away with the prophecy part. Strict adherence to the 10 commandments is and always will be an absolute foundational, unchangeable, truth. If one does that, the rest will surely follow. As long as one accepts Yeshua as the Messiah, that is. When we learn the truth about the commandments, we get really excited about them because we see just how far off the mark society is in general, and Christianity is specifically. I learned the truth more than 20 years ago. As I have learned and grown in the faith, Christianity has fallen even farther off the mark. So today I wand to talk about what the remnant looks like know as one who is mature in the faith.

Slide 3 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay 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 signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive 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. (2Th 2:7-12)

Does this sound like lawlessness is restricted to the Sabbath? No, I didn’t think so. This is a comprehensive lawlessness. What did Yeshua say it will look like at the end of this age? The days of Noah.

Slide 4 Then YHVH saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. YHVH was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. YHVH said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of YHVH. (Gen 6:5-8)

Yahweh destroyed the earth with a flood because mankind’s thoughts were continually evil. That a comprehensive failure. It’s not just one commandment, it’s everything. And it shows that this breakdown in society was fundamental. But Noah found favor. Why? Because he still believed and behaved appropriately. The next line states that Noah was righteous, blameless in his time. This scenario is playing out for us today. Society is devolving at an incredible pace. Those who are striving for righteousness today are increasingly isolated.

The bible reflects a culture of cycles. With the days of Noah, the cycles applied to the all mankind, the entire earth. With the nation of Israel, the cycles narrowed and we learned the cycles of obedience can be short or long. Once the faith left Israel, 1900 years ago, these cycles shifted back to the larger scale they were under in the days of Noah, leading to the final culmination at the return of Yeshua. As we draw nearer to that end, it’s important to get a clearer understanding of what the remnant looks like. Society today is increasingly godless and lawless, and we who believe are feeling it. As I look around, the falling away is quite comprehensive as society lacks any sort of religion, except the imaginations of men. Our politicians have become our priests and their causes the doctrines. The inability to see anything wrong at all in your favored leader is now comprehensive. We have returned to the systems of old, where the kings could do no wrong whatsoever, even when they did incredibly bad things. Rather than list out the bad, which we will likely do afterwards, let’s look at the behavior of the remnant:

Slide 5 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (Jas 1:27)

Our faith needs to drive us to have compassion on those less fortunate. Orphans and widows were the least fortunate in the first century. They had no means of income or being taken care of at all. A widow depended on her husband for her sustenance. Once he’s gone, so is her income. An orphan is the most helpless, lacking both parents and not being adopted in by their kin or strangers. Our obedience to the commandments and our knowledge of Yeshua’s ministry needs to drive us to caring about those who need help, especially when they are in distress.

Remember, the chapters and verses aren’t there. So what is the next verse?

Slide 6 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Yeshua Messiah with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (Jas 2:1-9)

We cannot assume wealth or high office equates with righteousness. As we look at our society today, the wealthy and powerful are turning out the be the most miserable of creatures, aren’t they? What does it say in Genesis? The men of renown were wicked. Does this sound similar? This is a good thing for us, though, because our behavior is to call balls and strikes right down the middle. We are both compassionate to the less fortunate and not respecters of persons, so these are more remnant boxes to check off.

Slide 7 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mat 25:31-46)

Our doctrines and faith need to drive our compassion. Yeshua is representing the final judgment here. And it’s not based on doctrines but behavior. That doesn’t mean we ignore doctrine at all. We know from later scripture that the recipe is to keep the commandments and follow Yeshua’s testimony. This is the dividing line, though. Are we compassionate? Are we attending to the needy? Our actions in recent weeks say yes, we are. We’ve met an entire family that we didn’t know because we stepped up with Tonya’s passing. In fact, our hearts hurt because we can’t help everyone because the world is affecting our own lives.

I was on a call last night with some of the brethren. It was a wonderful experience to hear them sharing about their lives and ministries openly. And that helped to form my topic today. This year we have had to deal with a lot of people passing away and being sick. It’s the remnant all over the place who are doing the right things. We are the ones who don’t hesitate to visit the sick or step up to help with funeral arrangements. We are the ones who keep attending and scheduling services, even though the groups keep getting smaller. Let’s pray our example gets through to people and we can grow our light in these increasingly dark times.

Understanding Prophecy

It’s a strange circumstance we find ourselves where most of Christianity yearns to understand prophecy but simultaneously rejects the Torah, which provides the outline of prophecy. This message is about the Holy Days of Leviticus 23 and how they show us the pattern for interpreting prophecy. Please join me as I explain how many of the answers we seek about the future and the afterlife are hidden in plain sight if you just know where to look!

Video with slides above through Rumble. Audio only below through Spotify.

The Sabbath

Slide 2 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of YHVH your Elohim; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you. For in six days YHVH made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason YHVH blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exo 20:8-11)

The Sabbath is one of the things that starts brining a person into this walk. It’s the chief sign of Yahweh’s people, resting every 7^th day and actually on the 7^th day. He did this on the 7^th day of Creation and it has been kept and known since. This is where the rubber meets the road – behavior. Our walk, our conversion, has to be accompanied by works. There is no other way to gauge a person than by works. Reciting creeds and academic study are fine, but you know a person by their deeds. When someone changes their lifestyle to obey this commandment, they undergo a change. They start to realize how far society is removed from what was intended.

The Sabbath starts the second cycle of the bible. The first is the cycle of a day. And evening and a morning is one day. The cycle is somewhere very near 24 hours but changes as the earth runs its elliptical orbit around the sun. The weekly sabbath shows us shaping our lives to conform to the example our Creator laid out at Creation. It’s the first “shall” commandment, meaning to do and remember. We do not work, make others work, do commerce, or work animals on this day so everyone gets the chance to rest.

Slide 3 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. (2Pe 3:8)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. (Rev 20:1-3)

Many of us put these two verses together with the Sabbath (and the Sabbatical year) to come up with the Sabbath being a foreshadowing of the millennium where mankind gets a 1000 year rest from Satan. As you recall from previous messages, we use the different levels of scripture to say the Sabbath is literal, but it is also a metaphor, and hints at a deeper meaning. The deeper meaning being that this world has roughly 6000 years to fulfill its mission, whatever that mission may be, and then 1000 years for a respite.

Slide 4 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; (Rev 21:22-25)

At the end of the 1000 years, the universe is remade, and we no longer have night. That also bolsters our view because this would be the end of Sabbath keeping because there will be no more daily cycle for us to accumulate 6 days of work and a seventh of rest.

Passover

Slide 5 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. (1Co 5:7)

I have a message devoted to this topic in it’s entirety called The Four Cups of Passover. I recommend digging into that one because the spring holy days are our proof for applying prophecy to the holy days at all!

The holy days of Leviticus 23 are literal. Remember, as we dig deeper, we have to let the literal remain literal. The Sabbath is the first day mentioned in Leviticus 23 but then it goes on to the Passover. Exodus 12 outlines of the first Passover. On the 10^th day of the first month, Israel was to select a one year old lamb for each household. On the 14^th day of the first month, at sunset, they were to slay this lamb and then drain the blood and cover their doorposts with the blood. Then the household had to stay indoors overnight, and YHVH passed over the homes with blood on the doorposts, but slayed the firstborn son of all the homes that did not complete this ritual. This literally happened, then Israel did it again one year later at the base of Mount Sinai as a memorial. Then they did not observe Passover again until they crossed the Jordan, 39 years later. Once they entered the land, the observance was to be a pilgrimage observance where all the lambs had to be slain at the place YHVH placed His Name, meaning the tent of meaning or later the temple.

There is much meaning here. The part about Messiah being our Passover is the chief. It’s the chief doctrine for all mankind, that Yeshua became the Lamb of God. This was foreshadowed when Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, his chosen son, and Abraham was faithful enough to do it. At the last second, YHVH swapped out a ram, which is equivalent to a lamb. The lambs slain in Exodus 12 were a call back to Abraham and Isaac, that YHVH was willing to even sacrifice His first born Son to redeem His people. Then Yeshua was sent to earth and voluntarily died, like a lamb led to the slaughter, to offer innocent blood to cover the sins of all who accept this truth.

Another meaning I want to touch on with Passover is that it is an observance that we know is coming. We get to plan it out. Even in Exodus 12, Moses told the people well in advance to prepare for the last plague. The holy days show us that Yahweh is giving everyone a chance to prepare for judgment day. There is a plan in plain sight, in every Bible on earth, showing that Yahweh has a 6000 year plan in motion. The Passover shows us that we can prepare and need to, lest we get left out with the weeping and gnashing of teeth. The meaning of Passover is known to almost all Messiahians, the Yeshua is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But the knowledge is not the end of the story. The rubber needs to meet the road and we need to observe these days as a memorial annually. This is how we prepare for the end of time, but showing Yahweh our faith in His Son through our deeds.

First Fruits

Slide 6 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1Co 15:22-24)

The next holy day to cover for meaning is First Fruits. In the Torah, this is the day when all Israel has to bring in the first of their spring grain to be offered by the Kohen Gadol. Annually, we purge all the leaven from our homes prior to Passover and then start a new lump after ULB. The nation was forbidden from using any of the new year’s harvest until it was offered by the priest. On our reckoning, this offering was made on the first day of the week during ULB. This is confirmed by Yeshua’s resurrection on that same day. Our bibles tell us He was resurrected by Yahweh before sunup after Shabbat. We use Passover to know that He was crucified on Abib 14 at sunset, then resurrected on Abib 17 sometime around sunset, thus being 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb. The significance is that Abib 17 at sundown would be the first day during ULB which means the Messiah was resurrected on first fruits, as Yahweh planned from before time, thus fulfilling the hinted prophecy of this day as well. Paul is communicating all this to us in these few sentences. Remember, he was one of the most gifted Rabbis of all time and communicated as such. Paul told us here in 1 Cor that first fruits prophesied the resurrection of Yeshua, and that prophecies the resurrection of the rest of mankind. As we dig deeper into this topic, it becomes irrefutable that these days are meant to be used for understanding prophecy.

There is nothing for us to do to observe first fruits today. This day is not a sabbath, but a workday. We do not have a priesthood to bring offerings, we don’t live in the land, and this is just something we know. You can observe first fruits by bringing in the first of your garden to the assembly or any other number of ways, even monetarily, but those are on the individual. We can’t observe this day literally today.

Pentecost aka Shavuot

Slide 7 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Act 2:1-2)

Many of us thought this was the first time Pentecost was observed when we first read the bible. This is a trap we fall into when just focusing on the New Testament. What this shows is that the apostles, fifty days after Yeshua was resurrected, were still observing Torah as the observant Jews they continued to be for the rest of their lives. This day is our proof that Yeshua did not come to abolish Torah, but to fulfill it. To show us the deeper meanings and the hints at future prophecy, but that we need to keep Torah to see those things. Those of us who grew up not observing Torah need to learn it, just as the first converts did in the first century.

Shavuot is a day in Leviticus 23 that means “count 50”. From the day of the first fruit offering, we count 7 weeks and a day. This is also a bolster to first fruits being on the first day, Sunday in common parlance, because weeks start on the first day and end on the 7^th. 49 days is seven weeks, then on the 50^th day there is a Sabbath and an offering of leavened bread. This is also proof that leaven does not represent sin. The bible doesn’t say that anywhere. It’s an analogy brought in to make illustrations, but if there’s an offering with leaven, we can take it to the bank that is not a sinful offering.

Leavened bread represents peace. In order to have a harvest, you need peace and security to plant, nobody to invade and destroy your crops, rain in due season, and the freedom to go harvest. You can’t do this very well if the men are off in battle. It’s possible, but not optimal. Once the leaven is purged, you need time to make new starter lumps and for the lumps to mature. Shavuot expects the nation to be obedient and at peace. Pentecost in Acts 2 shows that Yahweh is in control. He kept the apostles safe after Yeshua’s death, resurrection, and ascension. They were together obeying the commandment when Yeshua sent the Ruach ha Kodesh, as He promised He would. Trusting Yeshua and His Father, the apostles stayed faithful those ten days after Yeshua ascended, and when the 50 days were completed, they were rewarded handsomely. This day shows that Yahweh’s plan was completed at that stage. That the days, the people, the Messiah, and everything came together in the perfect recipe that was allowed to leaven over 4000-ish years for that moment in time to be fulfilled and the apostles to go forth with the power and confidence of the Holy Spirit. Their faith in Yeshua and obedience to Yahweh was so strong, that it lasts to this day, being illustrated in our common faith.

Yom Teruah

Slide 8 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Yeshua. For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. (1Th 4:13-18)

The day of Trumpets is the first day of the 7^th month on the Hebrew calendar. This is the beginning of the Fall Holy Days. Up to this point, I’ve been talking about the Spring Holy Days, which have had fulfillments. They may have more fulfillments to come, so we have to be careful not the close the door on learning and be open to the Spirit showing us new things. The fall Holy Days have not yet been fulfilled, or at least that’s how we who observe these things in a NT context generally believe. This also works with the theme of former times and latter times. Christians look at the phrase “latter times” as being the end of the age. That’s not how we look at that. The end of the age is the end of the latter times, but we can generally divide time as former or latter with Yeshua’s earthly ministry being the center point. All time leading up to His sacrifice and ascension being the former times, all time after being the latter times. There can be a whole lot of latter times. I understand ancient Israel marked two seasons vice four like we do today, with the former being somewhat equivalent to spring and summer and the latter being somewhat equivalent to fall and winter. Which makes the scripture make a bit more sense.

When talking about days that have yet to be fulfilled, I have to be careful to make sure you know these are interpretations and speculations. Some of the material is a slam dunk when it comes straight from scripture, but some of what we believe about the future days are extrapolations, thus subject to biases and such. We know for a fact, though, that Yom Teruah, the day of trumpets, is the day that prophecies the return of Yeshua and the first resurrection, which is the scripture on the board. One of the biggest doctrinal disputes of the first century was the resurrection of the dead – is there an afterlife? Yeshua proved this. It is strange to me that this was in doubt because Yahweh used Elijah to resurrect a boy in days of old.

The first day of the 7^th month is referred to as “the day no man knows” sometimes in Judaism. This is because we do not have time to prepare for this Sabbath. Unlike Pesach, which happens in the middle of the first month, Yom Teruah happens as the first day of a month. We can still see signs of the times, leaves beginning to change, temperatures lessening, fall crops being ripened, and such, but we still have to watch and be ready. This theme should sound very familiar because it’s how Yeshua spoke about His return. We understand this day to represent the abrupt return of Yeshua, like it says on the screen, and a dramatic change in the world. Mainstream Christianity is obsessed with the end times, always coming up with schemes to predict it, but they are really missing the boat. This day means we need to live our lives in a way that we are not unprepared when the Messiah returns. Granted, it will be shocking and amazing, so we will be surprised, but we know it’s going to happen, just not exactly when. And we’re not supposed to know when, so be prepared.

Yom Kippur

Slide 9 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. (Heb 9:6-7)

The book of Hebrews tells us an enormous amount about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This day is steeped in Torah, so the more Torah you know, the more you will appreciate this day. Yeshua has fulfilled this day a little. One of His dying words was to forgive those who knew not what they did. His special death attire is also a hint that He was fulfilling Yom Kippur because it was similar to what the Kohen Gadol wears on this day. The other significance is that this happens on the tenth day of the 7^th month and the lambs are chosen on the tenth day of the first month. This is a pretty big clue that this day is associated to Pesach.

What I like to focus on here is the inclusion of the “sins committed in ignorance” part. Most of Christianity condemns those who have never heard the gospel, and some even those who don’t accept the gospel in their way, to hell. It’s an awful teaching. They don’t even believe like us, that it’s eternal death (meaning non-existence) but teach eternal torment for those who never heard the WORD. This is an appalling understanding. It’s much better to say “I don’t know” than to condemn billions to eternal torment, as if they were created for such an end. Yeshua’s dying words about forgiving those who actually murdered Him because they did so in ignorance, even thinking they were doing a good thing, is much more hopeful for mankind and more representative of a loving God and His Son.

I also like to focus on the aspect of doing nothing in order to fulfill this day. The commanded observance of Yom Kippur is to fast and do nothing for 24 hours. In the Torah, it was so the Kohen Gadol could make atonement for the sins annually. The people could not do that themselves, they had to have a mediator. Our New Covenant understanding of this day is that Yeshua is our Mediator and we also cannot save ourselves. We have to do nothing, imagining Him on the cross, covering our sins. He’s the only way to the Father, and our only hope of salvation, hence His Name is Yeshua, which means salvation.

Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles

Slide 10 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. (Joh 1:14)

The KJV renders this “tabernacled” among us. To be frank, that’s probably better than dwelt but dwelt is the same connotation in Hebrew. It means to encamp or live temporarily.

The fifteenth day of the seventh month starts an 8 day festival called Sukkot. It has two Sabbaths, one on the fifteenth and the other on the 22^nd. This gets complicated but this day is a remembrance of living in Sukkot for 40 years. A sukkah is NOT a tent. It’s a ramshackle structure made from whatever is around. A made tent is a different word, which is an ohel. The meaning here is that our time in this world is temporary and a mess. We have to trust Yahweh to sustain us, as He did the Israelites in the wilderness. Our entire lives are temporary and temporal, but if we trust He is guiding us, we will make it to the promised land.

Yeshua came here to dwell among us temporarily. He knew it was temporary the first time. The significance here is immense, that He knew how it would end but He did it anyhow.

Some liken Sukkot to the millennium because Nehemiah 14 says it will be kept in the future, and the context seems like the 1000 years. I agree with that assessment, but don’t equate Sukkot itself with the 1000 years. That’s more like Shabbat, where we started today’s journey. Now it’s time to come to the end of the journey.

The Eighth Day

Slide 11 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:7-15)

The 8^th day is the end of Sukkot. It’s the last Sabbath in Leviticus 23 and unique because it is outside of normal time, hayom ha shamini also called Shimini Atzaret. The Jews even equate this day to the end of the age. Being an 8^th day, it is a gateway between things. Boys are circumcised on the 8^th day, so they are both gentile and Jew on that same day. This day is understood as the gateway between this work and the one to come, the olam haze versus the olam haba. This is the day that most of Christianity reckons as the day Yeshua comes back. They are wrong. That’s not going to be a pleasant day for most of humanity, but it is not the end. It’s 1000 years before the end of the age, which is on the screen now. We reckon the 8^th day as the day Yahweh and Yeshua wrap up all the mess of this age and bring those who are saved into eternity, where they were no longer be any darkness or sadness. This is the day that culminates the Holy Days, and we also believe it to be the day that culminates the end of this age and the beginning of the one that will never end.

The Mediator and the End of Days

Understanding that Yeshua, Jesus, is our Mediator between Yahweh (God) and us not only brings salvation, but it also brings a peace that we desperately need today. Losing this basic Christian concept is ushering in the Days of Noah.

Slide 2 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (Joh 3:16-21)

The most important doctrine is that we believe in that Yeshua is the Son of God, Ben Elohim. These words mean what they say. Some would say “we can’t understand the relationship between Yahweh and Yeshua”. I disagree. Completely. The notion that the single most important truth of scripture is something we can’t understand doesn’t make sense. This is akin to the mystery religions where the gods had to be appeased and one had to guess what they wanted. Our God doesn’t work like that. He created us so He knows how to communicate to us. He created us in His image and then He created us to procreate and make children. Then He sends His Son into the world to save us. And we know what a son is. This verse on the screen is not a mystery. It’s easy to understand. So will be the rest of the verses we go through today to show the linearity of this doctrine.

Slide 3 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1Ti 2:5-7)

This is the foundation of our faith, that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Today I’m going to show how simple this is to understand. But I’m also going to get into the concept of a mediator. This is something our society lacks today but did not until the past few decades.

Slide 4 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Mat 24:37-39)

What does the mediator have to do with the days of Noah? Everything. The thoughts of men were continually evil in the days of Noah. Genesis 6:5 says this and that Yahweh destroyed the earth to kill all the men, who’s thoughts were evil continually. And by men, I mean “mankind”. Mankind had become primal, carnal, like animals. And they had to be put down.

The mediator had not yet come. The difference between now and then is stark.

Slide 5 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of Elohim, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. (Isa 53:4-5)

In the days of Noah, evil promulgated until it was overwhelming. They did not have a Mediator like we have for almost 2000 years. Yeshua bears our transgressions if we accept Him as Messiah, the Son of God. He takes our stripes. That’s how He mediates. He doesn’t mediate like Aaron did. But having Aaron was a vast improvement on the days of Noah. Aaron had to first make atonement for himself because he was a sinner. Then he could make atonement for the people, but only one per year in a specific fashion. Yeshua has made atonement once for all for the sins of all who will accept Him.

The difference today is that mankind is rejecting the Mediator. We focus on the responsibility of Yeshua’s sacrifice, often thinking of that verse in Hebrews that says there is no more sacrifice for those who sin willfully after receiving the truth. This is indeed a heavy responsibility for us. But what about those who today are living like they are in the days of Noah. What about those who do not know about the Good News we know? You see, we receive shalom from our knowledge of the Son of God. Knowing that God gave Him to take our sins gives us hope which leads to peace. We have confidence in the resurrection of the world. We know our sins are forgiven. Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter about the state of mankind before Yeshua returns. And it looks like a world that has reverted to the carnal days of Noah. Which is what we have today. People sin and are trapped in it, thinking there is no way out.

Think about all these crazed mass shooters. They look to have mental issues. Did those issues come about all at once? Not with most of them. Could these mental issues actually be demonic possession? That’s a possibility as well. But how many of these kids were crying for help along the way? How many of them were trapped inside their heads, thinking crazy thoughts, which escalated to madness and then action. How many of them knew Christ and that He takes our sins? Any of them? When you see evil spiraling out of control in this world, understand that it’s because they don’t know our Messiah. Understand that accepting Yeshua as the Messiah allows us to cast our burdens on Him. That’s what it means to be a mediator. He’s not mediating like an impartial arbitrator, He’s taking our sins so we can come into the presence of Yahweh. There is so much peace in this!

Slide 6 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1Ti 2:5-7)

Familiar scripture. It was just up. But the Gentiles. How did this conversation start with people who had a completely different religion? Paul is writing to Timothy. They both worked evangelism in the pagan world of the Roman empire. The conversation had to start somewhere. In Acts, we see Paul go into the areopagus and speak about “the unknown or invisible God”. He found a way to break the ice.

Today is a larger challenge. Our society, that used to benefit so much from Christianity, has more than turned its back on it. It’s hostile to the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Yeshua. I believe this is one of the factors of the end times. People have the way out. The knowledge of the Messiah is the most important doctrine. It doesn’t just bring salvation in the future, it puts us at peace today. Our anxieties can rest on Him.

How do we teach the Messiah? Well, hopefully we can reach people with the salvation angle. And perhaps the knowledge of the peace we have knowing He is our Mediator will help, too. But when pressed on what is a Mediator, we have to teach the Torah. Contrary to mainstream Christianity, Paul and the gang weren’t teaching a new religion. They were building on the faith that already existed. Yeshua said famously if the Jews had believed Moses, they would believe Him, because Moses spoke of Him. Moses didn’t just speak of Yeshua, He lived as a mediator.

Exodus 3 is technically where Moses became the mediator. And he was not terribly willing. And he needed help. But this is the burning bush incident. And Moses is sent to be the representative of Yahweh to Pharaoh. This also entails becoming the mediator and the beginning of a long road for Moses.

Exodus 32 is where Moses became a mediator like Yeshua. This is the part of the story where Moses comes down the mountain the first time and finds the people worshiping idols. Idols they made right after saying they wouldn’t worship idols. Moses goes back up the mountain and actually tells Yahweh that if He is going to destroy all of Israel to blot his name out of the book of life as well. This is the first mention of the book and it’s very intriguing that Moses already knew of it. Moses offered to die for eternity in an effort to save Israel. This was a prophecy of Yeshua literally dying to save all who will accept Him as Messiah.

Slide 7 “YHVH your Elohim will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. This is according to all that you asked of YHVH your Elohim in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of YHVH my Elohim, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ YHVH said to me, ‘They have spoken well. ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (Deu 18:15-18)

The tenth commandment is where Moses literally became the mediator. Moses had to go up that mountain and intercede for the people. This is what YHVH is referencing here. Moses became the mouthpiece for Yahweh, just like Aaron was the mouthpiece for Moses. Moses only recorded what Yahweh said to record. He did not add to or take away. Moses was not perfect, and the people were very imperfect. So we needed another Mediator, Yeshua.

Slide 8 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (Joh 6:37-40)

Yeshua came from heaven to only do the will of Yahweh. He built upon what Moses did. This is part of the progressive revelation that Yahweh is showing us over these thousands of years. The people knew Moses after his work with Pharaoh. They knew Moses was the boss. Yeshua had to live without that notoriety. He had to be betrayed by His own countrymen and then executed by both Jews and Gentiles so He could become the ultimate Mediator. He takes our sins, our transgressions, our hurt. Like a lamb to the slaughter, He didn’t open His mouth. This is the most important thing we can know and teach, that Yeshua is the Son of God, the Messiah, and our Mediator.

Tickled Ear Syndrome

Examining amazing things that people have convinced themselves to believe from Exodus to modern days and exploring why mankind has such a propensity to believe things that just aren’t true.

Slide 2 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2Ti 4:1-4)

Theranos – scientists, technicians, and very educated people. A drop of blood versus spun down volumes. Talk reactions. This was impossible, yet it still happened

Abortion not in the constitution – lawyers and historians. Civics lesson. Slavery, women voting, legislature, etc.

Freedom of religion – the “free exercise” clause ignored for decades.

Sunday, Christmas, Easter, and the Trinity – very educated theologians

Why do all these remarkably educated and bright people keep falling for these things?

Slide 3 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and YHVH is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of YHVH?” When Moses heard this, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning YHVH will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself. (Num 16:1-5)

The rebellion of Korah. These guys were led out of Egypt by YHVH through Moses. Their ambition made them think “hey, I can do that, too.” They wanted to believe something that wasn’t true, that Moses, the most humble man the world had every known at the time, had exalted himself.

Slide 4 In that night Elohim appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon said to Elohim, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. “Now, O YHVH Elohim, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?” Elohim said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.” (2Ch 1:7-12)

Now YHVH was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from YHVH, the Elohim of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what YHVH had commanded.(1Ki 11:9-10)

Solomon and the idols. The guy asked for wisdom. He knew better. He knew a lot better.

Slide 5 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. “If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of YHVH at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” (1Ki 12:25-28)

Penuel means “face of God”. The guy who built a city called “face of God” then built two idols to replace Him. Can you imagine? Jeroboam purposely deceived his people so they would not go worship Yahweh at the proper place and at the proper time. And many, many people followed. Knowing full well it was wrong. And Jeroboam knew well the idols were just metal, nothing supernatural at all. And the people followed.

Today we have the same exact thing. Sunday, Christmas, Easter, and the Trinity are all laughable false doctrines. The same is true with many things people believe about current events and our society. But folks keep believing. What to we have this tendency?

Slide 6 “For Elohim knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:5)

Because we want the world to operate on our terms. We want to be our own gods. Tickled ears because we want to be able to set the rules. As Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun. And it spans all topics, not just religion. Those people at Theranos who knew the technology was impossible and still made themselves believe are the same as the people who knew the golden calves were just statues and the same as those who let Solomon introduce idols and the same as those who rebelled against Moses in the desert.

Tag: end times

Lawlessness

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The Resurrection of the Dead

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Let Us Reason Together

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The Knowledge that Brings Peace

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The Temple and the Messiah

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Prophecy Outline for Messianics

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The Remnant

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Understanding Prophecy

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The Mediator and the End of Days

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Tickled Ear Syndrome

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