Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Cleansing of the Temple

Prior to the Passover, we are told to keep the 1st day of Abib as a day of solemn assembly for it is a day of cleansing the Priests and the Sanctuary:
“This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. Put them in a basket and present them in it—along with the bull and the two rams. Then bring A’aron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. Bring his sons and dress them in tunics and put headbands on them. Then tie sashes on A’aron and his sons. The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance. In this way you shall ordain A’aron and his sons.
Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and A’aron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. Slaughter it in Yahweh’s presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Take some of the bull's blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. Then take all the fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. But burn the bull's flesh and its hide and its offal outside the camp. It is a sin offering.” (Exodus 29:1-14)
This was the first thing done for Passover:
“Thus says the Sovereign Yahweh: ‘In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary. The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the Temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the gate of the inner court. And so you shall do on the seventh day of the month for everyone who has sinned unintentionally or in ignorance. Thus you shall make atonement for the Temple.’” (Ezekiel 45:18-20) The Tabernacle is cleansed on the 1st of Abib. The simple and sinful are cleansed on the 7th day for the arrival of Passover.
In Ezekiel 43:18 we see that the consecration begins with the altar, the consecration of the priests is required by the Torah: “Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Bring A’aron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.’ Moses did as Yahweh commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Moses said to the assembly, ‘This is what Yahweh has commanded to be done.’ Then Moses brought A’aron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on A’aron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Tummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on A’aron's head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the Tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them.” (Leviticus 8:1-10).
Thus, the priesthood was to already sanctify and cleanse themselves before anything else.
In the books of the exiled Priests it says: “For only through the Spirit pervading Yahweh's true society can there be atonement for a man's ways, all of his iniquities; thus only can he gaze upon the light of life and so be joined to His truth by His Holy Spirit, purified from all iniquity. Through a broken and contrite heart his sin may be covered, and by humbling himself before all Yahweh's Torah his flesh can be made clean. Only thus can he really receive the purifying waters and be purged by the cleansing flow. (Community Rule 1QS 3.6-9)” The cleansing sacrifices could not make us perfect for they only כֻּפַּר “kepar” (covered) our sins, they did not take them away.
The Priests knew that the cleansing began inside: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O Elohim, you will not despise. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” (Psalm 51:16-19)
They knew “the Torah made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to Yahweh.” (Hebrews 7:19)
The word translated “perfect” is τελείωσις “telā'ōsēs” meaning “a completing” from the Hebrew גַ מִר וּ תָּא “gämirütä” from the root גְּמָרָא “gə’märä” meaning “to complete or make whole.” Just as the Talmud is made up of two parts: Mishna and Gemara; the Mishna coming first about 220 CE and the Gemara added later in about 500 CE; the Gemara is seen as complementing and completing the Mishna, not replacing or ending it. Likewise the Zaddokite Priesthood complements and completes the Levitical Priesthood. In the same way the author to the Book of Hebrews is saying the Melchizadek Priesthood complements and completes the “priestcraft” as a whole but it does not replace the A’aronic Priesthood.
The Priests knew they had to appeal to the Heavenly Tabernacle for there to be any meaning to what they were doing in the Temple. “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the Torah was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11)
This could have never been accomplished by the Torah alone, for the Torah could not bring mankind to perfection or completion: “Messiah is the goal of the Torah so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)
Those “good things that are coming” that the Spirit of Truth is guiding us into, of which the Torah is the “shadow” cast down to us, are those things Messiah as Zaddokite High Priest – the Melchizadek, Who “has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises,” (Hebrews 8:6) is ministering to us coming down from that “Tabernacle not made by hand.” (Hebrews 9:11)
The author of the Book of Hebrews through the Spirit of Truth is NOT telling us that the Torah is done away with and does not need to be kept since it is only a “shadow” the Torah has always been a “shadow of good things that are coming.” How else would we know that there is any “there” there? By casting a “shadow” Yahweh is telling us He is there. He’s telling us, we are not alone!
“They serve at a Sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in Heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the Tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ (Exodus 25:40)” (Hebrews 8:5)
“When Messiah came as High Priest of the good things that are coming, He went through the greater and more perfect Tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.” (Hebrews 9:11)
The “good things” “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Messiah who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Messiah and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the full message to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:10-12)
Rather than teach that the sacrificial system is abolished, the author of the Book of Hebrews is telling us that they serve to bring to remembrance their sins year after year to bring them into a state of תָּשׁוּבָה “teshuvah” (repentance). The Jerusalem Talmud states, "nothing can stand before teshuvah" (Yebamos 47b).
Every ceremony, ritual, sacrifice and Priest were all shadows cast to earth representing what Yahweh was doing for mankind in Messiah’s Melchizedek High Priestly ministry in the Heavenly Tabernacle. The redemptive work of Messiah is greater – brighter – than what could be realized in the “shadow.” The righteous requirements of the Torah could never be fully satisfied by the rituals of the Tabernacle nor were they designed to. They were only a covering for sin. It was always understood that the Messiah had to come as the Lamb of Yahweh that would take away the sin of the world. No sacrifice would ever birth the worshiper anew and stamp once again the image of Yahweh upon the life of the Believer to bring that one to perfection.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of Adonai, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of Adonai.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Thus, we are dealing with a priesthood already sanctified and commencing the sacrifices of the altar within the original Zaddokite Priesthood. This priesthood preceded Levi, and Levi tithed to it in the loins of Abraham.
Sanctification of the Priesthood
There is a sequence of sanctification. The first-born of Israel is sanctified, and then Israel itself is sanctified in its entirety to meet the Face of Yahweh, as manifested by the Adam Kadmon – the Express Image of Yahweh (Colossians 1:15) - we know as Messiah YahShua.
“‘Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5, 6)
“But you are a Chosen People, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people belonging to Yahweh, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of Yahweh; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify Yahweh on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:9-12)
The restoration of the worship of the Living Elohim commences with the House of Yahweh and from its priesthood. Preparation starts on the 1st of Abib.
The question then arises: How are we sanctified?
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.” (Leviticus 17:11)
“In fact, the Torah requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)
“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O Elohim.”’ (Psalm 40:6-8)
Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Torah), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O Elohim’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Messiah YahShua once for all.” (Hebrews 10:5-10)
He is our Zaddokite High Priest – the Melchizadek that had to administer the sin offering before Yahweh in the Holy of Holies. “But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:26)
Messiah died "once for all" (Romans 6:10; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10). Once for all what? Once for all times. Once for all people. Once for all sins. Once for all guilt. Messiah’s sacrifice and death was "once for all!"
Each Sabbath of Leviticus 23, to include Passover, that I keep has its own special “shadow” of its Heavenly glory and as I keep them and learn by its significance what King Messiah is doing for me in the Heavenlies it changes me – “from glory to glory” He’s changing me! “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh Who sanctifies you.” (Exodus 31:13)
Through all the object lessons of the Torah Messiah leaves the imprint of Elohim on us. “His Son…Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:2, 3) is imprinting His likeness upon us, we are becoming like Him – we are the image of the “express image.”
Elohim said: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)
King David said: “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)
Rabbi Sha’ul said: “… as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (1 Corinthians 15:49)
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from Yahweh, Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory is being absorbed, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is being absorbed is glorious, what remains is even more glorious… Now Yahweh is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of Yahweh is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-11, 17)
“…he who looks into the perfect Torah of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)
“For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) also said, ‘Do not murder.’ (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Torah. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the Torah of liberty.” (James 2:11, 12)
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. Yahweh is Spirit and His worshipers must worship in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:23, 24)
“Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“Your Torah is truth.” (Psalm 119:142)
Thus, the Sabbaths of Yahweh are a sign that Yahweh sanctifies us.
First, the first-born of Israel are sanctified: “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” (Exodus 13:2) That’s what it means when it says: “And we know that in all things Yahweh works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those Yahweh foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30)
Second, all of Israel is sanctified: “And Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, “Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.” Only when the shofar sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.’ After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.” (Exodus 19:10-14)
Israel could not receive the “good things that are coming” without first sanctifying themselves. After they sanctified themselves Yahweh came down: “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with Elohim, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because Yahweh descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.” (Exodus 19:16-19)
“The voice of Yahweh is powerful; the voice of Yahweh is majestic. The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars; Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of Yahweh cleaves through tongues of fire. The voice of Yahweh shakes the desert; Yahweh shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of Yahweh twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His Temple all cry, ‘Glory!’ Yahweh sits enthroned over the flood; Yahweh is enthroned as King forever.” (Psalm 29:4-10)
“Then Moses spoke and the voice of Elohim answered him. Yahweh descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and Yahweh said to him, ‘Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see Yahweh and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach Yahweh, must consecrate themselves, or Yahweh will break out against them." (Exodus 19:19-22)
“When Moses went and told the people all Yahweh’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, ‘Everything Yahweh has said we will do.’ Moses then wrote down everything Yahweh had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to Yahweh. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, ‘Everything Yahweh has said we will do and hear.’
Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that Yahweh has made with you in accordance with all these words.’ (Exodus 24:3-8)
Moses could go to the mountain but the people could not. We, the Zaddokite Priesthood, can go with confidence before the Throne of Yahweh through the new and living way of Messiah YahShua as Zaddokite High Priest – the Melchizadek.
“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this which was said before: ‘“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares Yahweh. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares Yahweh. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”’ (Jeremiah 31:33, 34) And all of this establishes that there is forgiveness, it is not necessary to still offer sin offerings. Accordingly, brothers, we have confidence to enter the Holy of Holies by the blood of YahShua, which establishes a new and living way opened for us through the veil, that is, His body, and since we have a High Priest over the House of Yahweh, let us approach Yahweh with a true heart in confidence of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with the waters of purification. (Exodus 24:8) Let us hold fast to the understanding of hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. And you shall not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:15-25)
We have covenant renewed by our new Moses – Messiah YahShua – Who has sprinkled us: “When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the Torah to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant, which Elohim has commanded you to keep.’ In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the Tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.” (Hebrews 9:19-21) So too have we had “our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with the waters of purification. (Exodus 24:8)” We have been made holy, we have entered the Holy of Holies, so this should spur us on “toward love and good deeds.” To encourage us to do good works we are commanded to keep the Sabbaths (Leviticus 23) to include Passover and so much the more as we see the “Day of Yahweh’s Wrath” approaching.
Sanctification of the Temple
The Temple is sanctified on the First of the First month and “we are that Temple”. “Don't you know that you yourselves are Yahweh’s Temple and that Yahweh’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys Yahweh’s Temple, Yahweh will destroy him; for Yahweh’s Temple is sacred, and you are that Temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
This is the Temple in which Yahweh dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from Yahweh? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor Yahweh with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)
So then, the physical Temple looked forward to the spiritual Temple, which we are.
“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on YahShua, the apostle and High Priest Whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all Yahweh’s house. YahShua has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but Yahweh is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all Yahweh’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Messiah is faithful as a son over Yahweh’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” (Hebrews 3:1-6)
Thus, we are the household of Yahweh, being of the household of Messiah. “On that day Yahweh will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like Elohim, like the Angel of Yahweh going before them.” (Zechariah 12:8) The household of the King is destined to become like Messiah our head. “...speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, that is, Messiah. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:15, 16) So, it is the responsibility of every person to sanctify him or herself from the First day of the First month before the Passover.
“So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, “Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.” So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.” (Psalm 95:7-11)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living Elohim. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Messiah if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’ (Psalm 95:7, 8)
Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did Yahweh swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:7-19)
They had not put what they did understand into practice in their lives mix it with faith. “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the full message preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4:1-3)
The sanctification process is not one of outward cleansing only, but also one of inward cleansing. That is the most difficult of all.
“Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.” (Exodus 40:9-11)
The altar sanctifies everything that touches it.
“For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.” (Exodus 29:37) “Make…a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its articles, the menorah and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.” (Exodus 30:25-29)
Sin is treason: “Everyone who sins breaks the Torah: in fact, sin is the breaking of the Torah.” (1 John 3:4) The penalty is fatal: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life in Messiah YahShua our King.” (Romans 6:23) Adonijah, the second oldest son of David. Adonijah attempted to have himself made king, even though David had chosen Solomon to follow him as king, that was treason. Upon hearing the news, David immediately had Solomon anointed as king over Israel. When the news came to Adonijah, the reality of what he had done and the penalty it deserved caused him to be filled with fear – horrific fear. Would he end up dead like Absalom, his older brother that had also committed treason trying to over throw his father in a coup? What should he do? Where could he go? Should he go into exile? Should he go into hiding? There was only one place a person could go for mercy: “Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.” (1Kings 1:50) Joab, the commander of the army, who supported Adonijah in his attempt to seize the throne. Shortly after assuming the throne, Solomon began to clean house: “When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the Tabernacle of Yahweh and took hold of the horns of the altar.” (1Kings 2:28) According to Exodus 21:12-14, grasping the horns of the altar was a way of seeking sanctuary or protection when one was charged with a serious offense. What is so special about the altar that it provides Sanctuary? According to Leviticus 4, it was because there was where the blood was applied; all the sin offerings of the people of Israel were brought to the bronze altar. Whenever someone sinned, a bull, goat, or lamb without blemish was brought to the bronze altar as a sin offering. The one bringing the offering would lay his hand hard upon the animal then the priest would slaughter it. The priest would take the blood of the offering and put it with his finger on the four horns of the altar. The fat of the animal would be burned on the altar. The rest of the animal would then be carried out of the camp and burned to ashes. If the offering was accepted the smoke would rise in a single column and it was declared a sacrifice.
Why did Adonijah and Joab grab the horns of the altar? Not because they were innocent but because they were guilty! It is guilty people who come to the bronze altar. When Adonijah and Joab grabbed the horns, they were confessing their guilt and their shame. They were admitting they were guilty of the crime. Justice demands our execution if we deny Yahweh’s sovereignty. By rights we, like Adonijah, should pay for treason against Yahweh’s Kingdom with our own blood. It is up to the King to show mercy. It is Yahweh’s mercy that put animals on the altar instead of the sinners themselves. The sin of the guilty one has been transferred to the innocent lamb or goat or bull. And the blamelessness of the lamb or goat or bull without blemish has been transferred to the repentant sinner. It was the blood – and only the blood – that gave the horns of the altar their protective power. Yahweh’s mercy created the “sin offering” as a symbol of the way back to Yahweh, 4 times in Leviticus 4 we read the words, “and he will be forgiven” (Leviticus 4:20,26, 31,35) through the at-one-ment through His own sacrifice His only begotten Son, to satisfy justice once and for all.
Once atonement is made, there’s got to be sanctification. If a person goes back into sin, the atonement is lifted. Like Adonijah who was shown mercy but was put to death for trying to steal the throne a second time. When is there no more mercy” When there is no justice in the world.
However, it is Yahweh’s presence that sanctifies: “There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by My glory.” (Exodus 29:42, 43)
“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of Yahweh filled the Tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35)
As the Temple we too will be filled: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from Whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Messiah, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of Yahweh. Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the Called Out Ones and in Messiah YahShua throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amien.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)
It is that “Presence” or “Spirit” that sanctifies us as His Temple of the “good things to come”: “Now it is Yahweh Who makes both us and you stand firm in Messiah. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him Who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Messiah, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Messiah when you heard the Word of Truth, the full message of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are Yahweh’s possession—to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14) So, it is the Spirit that sanctifies the Temple and makes it holy. “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of Yahweh are sons of Yahweh. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Yahweh’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of Yahweh and co-heirs with Messiah, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:12-17)
The presence of Yahweh in the Elect as the Holy Spirit, and the body of Messiah as the Temple of Yahweh, must be holy in all aspects. Thus, the Body of Messiah as the Temple of Yahweh must be sanctified before Passover. We’ve been “chosen according to the foreknowledge of Yahweh the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Messiah YahShua and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” (1 Peter 1:2)
Hence, we are partakers of the divine nature: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of Yahweh and of YahShua our King. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but Yahweh rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)
“To the Torah and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20)
“Worship Yahweh! For the testimony of YahShua is the Spirit of Prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)
“I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my Sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their Elohim, and they will be My people. Then the nations will know that I Yahweh make Israel holy, when My Sanctuary is among them forever.” (Ezekiel 37:26-28)
That example is now, but will not be fully realized until the return of Messiah and the building of His Temple.
He who sanctifies and we who are sanctified are all of one family: “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that Yahweh, for Whom and through Whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the One Who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So YahShua is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.’ (Psalm 22:22) And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ (Isaiah 8:17) And again he says, ‘Here am I, and the children Yahweh has given me.’ (Isaiah 8:18)” (Hebrews 2:10-13)
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of King Messiah YahShua and by the Spirit of our Elohim.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Once we are sanctified we are ready for service: “to be a minister of Messiah YahShua to the nations with the priestly duty of proclaiming the full message of Yahweh, so that the nations might become an offering acceptable to Yahweh, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I glory in Messiah YahShua in my service to Yahweh.” (Romans 15:16, 17)
“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20, 21) “…and whatever touches them will be holy.”
Messiah did this by one sin offering once and for all, and forever perfected us that are sanctified: “The High Priest carries the blood of animals into the Holy of Holies as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so YahShua also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through YahShua, therefore, let us continually offer to Yahweh a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices Yahweh is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. May the Elohim of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our King YahShua, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Messiah YahShua, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amien.” (Hebrews 13:11-21)
The author of the Book of Hebrews is saying we should be convinced of the necessity of making a “sin offering” while having the full assurance that King Messiah’s “sin offering” satisfied “once and for all” the requirement of the Torah.
Our service and worship is to offer spiritual sacrifices and offerings, which are received on high by the Heavenly ministers as collective offerings: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Yahweh sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden censers full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for Yahweh from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our Elohim, and they will reign on the earth.’
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amien,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:6-14)
So, the process of sanctification of the Temple is no less important than the act of partaking of the Temple, because each person must render themselves fit in the Holy Spirit to partake of the body and blood of Messiah typified by the Passover meal. This is no mere meal. It is a Zaddokite ritual of worship done here on earth but assisted by the Heavenly ministers.
In reality, the 1-7 of Abib is just as integral to the Passover as are the Days of the Passover and Unleavened Bread themselves. “For I received from Adonai what I also passed on to you: King YahShua, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the King’s death until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of Adonai in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the King. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the King eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by Yahweh, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
As Zaddokite Priest it is our collective responsibility as the Temple of the Holy Spirit to participate in the active and collective worship of Yahweh. This holy practice of “sanctification” has been neglected too long. It is time for the restoration of the “cleansing of the Temple” to its proper importance in the structure of the Plan of Yahweh and His system of worship.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Watchmen

[This is the full article that was highlighted in the Temple Daily Telegram 4-1-09]
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring full message, who proclaim peace, who bring the full message, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your Elohim reigns!’
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When Yahweh returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for Yahweh has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 52:7-9)
In 1987 Alan Moore’s groundbreaking graphic novel “Watchmen” was unleashed on an unsuspecting comic book-reading public, irrevocably changing the comic book landscape. And now they’ve made it into a multi-million dollar movie released March 6th, 2009. The story follows a group of individuals who committed themselves to look out for society as “The Watchmen” against evil in any form. Ordinary citizens, not superhuman, with a strong sense of truth and justice. Ultimately society turned its back on these “Watchmen.” Passed laws to silence them and forbade their involvement in the affairs of men. They were no longer viewed as heroic. They were viewed with suspicion- “Who Watches the Watchmen?” They seemed preachy and out of date. Although the “Doomsday Clock” clicks every closer to midnight, they’re just a big, pushy, a nuisance and irrelevant. Sound familiar?
Blow the Trumpet!
We’ve been called to be “Watchmen” in these “Last Days.”
“The word of Yahweh came to me: ‘Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: “When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.
Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the House of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.”’” (Ezekiel 33:1-9)
It’s interesting to watch you as a congregation. When we have visitors come in to worship with us you are keenly aware that we must be on our best behavior. Then Rabbi Rob inadvertently begins preaching like a crazy man. Well whether we have any new people here or not – this is one of those nights.
Here, we see Yahweh speaking to Ezekiel a priest during the time when the House of Judah was removed by Yahweh from their homeland because of their sinfulness and idolatry, and were taken captive into the land of the Babylonians. Yahweh had called Ezekiel to a prophetic ministry in Babylon, and to the captive people of Judah during the dark time of their exile from their homeland. And Yahweh uses the figure of a “Watchman” to describe Ezekiel's role.
It was the task of the Watchman to position himself high on the city wall, watch carefully, see if an enemy or a band of thieves approached the land, and take up his trumpet and blow the warning to his people. This was a civil defense system. His service to his people was a matter of life-and-death importance! If he should fail to see the enemy approaching, or if he should--for whatever reason--fail to blow the warning signal, the blood of his people would be upon his hands. But if he was faithful, and if he succeeded in warning them, the lives of many of his people would be spared. The armies of his people would be able to prepare themselves in time, meet the enemy with a sufficient defensive attack, and perhaps save the city or the nation from destruction and annihilation.
The Watchman had to be a trustworthy person. He had to be faithful and alert --a person who understood the significance of his mission, and who gave himself fully to it. Yahweh calls Ezekiel to be a spiritual “Watchmen” to his people. He was called to “blow” a warning that the people didn't want to hear. The “sin of Jeroboam” – the sin of mixing the sacred with the profane – would no longer be tolerated!
“Judah kept not the commandments of Yahweh their Elohim, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight. (2 Kings 17:19-20)”
The 'House of Israel' played the 'harlot', with the false worship and so did the 'House of Judah'. Ezekiel 23 labels the two 'houses' of Israel as two-harlot sisters, one named Aholah (“she has her own tent” meaning her idolatrous sanctuary - ten tribes), and the other Aholibah (“my tent is in her” - house of Judah).
“And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto Me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Yahweh. And Yahweh said unto me, "The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. (Jeremiah 3:8)”
“And Yahweh said, I will remove Judah also out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, "My name shall be there." (II Kings 23:27)”
What is it that we as “Watchmen” are suppose to be crying against? We are to sound “the trumpet to warn the people!” Prophetically the danger is “Mystery Babylon.” It threatens to neutralize our “full Messianic message of the restored Kingdom.”
“I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: ‘MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.’ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to YahShua.” (Revelation 17:3-6)
Uniquely this is speaking of the Netzarim Faith: “those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for YahShua and because of the Word of Yahweh. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.” (Revelation 20:4)
Judaism teaches “the Word of Yahweh” and Christianity teaches some version of the “testimony for YahShua” but uniquely the Netzarim teaches both the “testimony for YahShua and the Word of Yahweh.” The Prophet Isaiah proclaims: “To the Torah and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20)
“No light of dawn…” teaching only the Torah or only the story of YahShua – that evening has past. “Therefore, since we are the offspring of Yahweh, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance Yahweh overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising [YahShua] from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31) A new dawn has begun – a time of preaching the בַשֵּׂר “bäsār'” – the full message (sometimes mistranslated as “good news,” “glad tidings,” or the “gospel”) which is made up of “the Torah and to the Testimony.”
The “full message” is the message of the New Covenant of which King Messiah YahShua is the “Mediator.”
“‘The time is coming,’ declares Yahweh, ‘when I will make a New Covenant (Deuteronomy 29:1) with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares Yahweh.
‘This is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel after that time,’ declares Yahweh. ‘I will put My ה תּוֹרָ Tōräh in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “יָ דָ ע “yädäh'” (intimately know) Yahweh,” because they will all intimately know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares Yahweh. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
“For this reason Messiah is the mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the First Covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15)
This is the Age of Redemption!
“If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. If, however, a man has no one to redeem it for him but he himself prospers and acquires sufficient means to redeem it, he is to determine the value for the years since he sold it and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it; he can then go back to his own property. But if he does not acquire the means to repay him, what he sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and he can then go back to his property.” (Leviticus 25:25-28) Messiah YahShua is our “Kinsman Redeemer.” “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
“In those days יוֹחָנָן הַמְטַבֵּל Yochänän häMətäbāl (John the immerser or baptist – an A’aronic Priest) came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying ‘The voice of one crying: In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh; make His paths straight.’ (Isaiah 40:3)” (Matthew 3:1-3)
“Now after that Yochanan was put in prison, YahShua came into Galilee, preaching the full message of the Kingdom of Yahweh, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of Yahweh is at hand: repent, and believe the full message.” (Mark 1:14, 15)
“These twelve YahShua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans: but go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10:5-7)
“…this full Messianic message of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
After 2,000 years, most of which were difficult and bitter, our generation like no other generation merits to hear – truly hear – the words of the צֹפַיִךְ “tzōfä’ēch,” the “Watchman” Yochänän häMətäbāl, the prophet of the proclamation: “the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” This means, the time of redemption has arrived.
“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (Matthew 24:34)
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
This proclamation was made by the Watchman, Yochänän in no uncertain terms and was reiterated with particular enthusiasm by our Messiah YahShua at every opportunity. It became the central point around which all subsequent revelation revolved.
The announcement was very clear and unequivocal: “lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!” Look up – see it! The time of your redemption has arrived!
Every Believer – Watchman – who has discernment receives the revelation of this announcement given by Yochänän and understands by him saying this he means that this is the end of the “exile” and the beginning of the “Age of Redemption.” This proclamation is not a hope or a wish. It is quite simply a fact. It is reality! The Watchman Yochänän is informing all who are ready to hear it, that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” He is on the “Wall” and can see it coming! He is sounding the alarm! This means exile is over and redemption has begun.
If someone does not quite understand it, it doesn’t at all take away from the truth that the Kingdom is almost here. The alarm is real . He wants us to know this truth too. To live with it and do our part to sound the alarm to other, publicize this message to the nations where Israel has been scattered.
Wisdom Knowledge & Understanding
“For Yahweh gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)
The Proclamation has three parts:
1. דַּעַת “Dä’ät” - Knowledge- בַשֵּׂר “bäsār'” The “full message” - “the Torah and … the Testimony.”
2. בִינַ ה “Biynäh” - Understanding - The details expressing our understanding of it
3. חָכְמָה “Chäkmäh” - Wisdom - The laws and instructions – Torah – of it as taught to us by King Messiah YahShua
To the Believer, that has received the revelation of the proclamation, these three parts are expressed as follows:
1. אֱמוּנָה Emünäh – simple faith in the words of Messiah
2. Learning about the details of the full message of the Kingdom letting it penetrate with understanding so one can live the redemption.
3. Working the message – proclaiming, publishing, and preaching everywhere preparing oneself and the world to receive the coming King.
Faith is the foundation, simple childlike faith in the full message of the Kingdom. A Watchman that has received the revelation of the Messianic Kingdom, by his very nature believes and when he hears the proclamation: “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” – “lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” he believes it with absolute certainty, simplicity, without physical reason but by revelation of the “inner man.”
“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the Day of Yahweh will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For Yahweh did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our King Messiah YahShua. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
This strong belief of the Watchman is known as הַחַיָּה אֱמוּנָה “əmünäh hächäyäm” meaning “living faith” the act of “ameining!” This living faith is enough to excite the Watchman to go out and publicly and declare in a voice that is loud and proud: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh rises upon you!” (Isaiah 60:1) Wake up! “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” – “lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!”
The True Watchman is totally involved in:
1. Working to make the message penetrate the deepest parts of himself, in his awareness and emotions, living the full message of the kingdom practically and in a tangible way.
2. Publicizing the full message of the kingdom and its meaning into every possible place.
בַשֵּׂר “Bäsār'” – The Herald of Messiah’s Coming
“Rabbi Yitzchak said: ‘In the year the King Messiah will be revealed, the kings of all the nations of the world will struggle with each other: the king of Persia will provoke the Arabian king; the Arabian king will go to Aram for advice. All the nations of the world will be in turmoil and terror; they will fall on their faces, seized by pains like the pangs of childbirth. Israel will also be in turmoil and terror, saying, ‘where shall we come and where shall we go, where shall we come and where shall we go?’ [Yahweh] will say to them, ‘My children, do not be afraid, all that I have done I have done only for your sake. Why are you afraid? Do not fear, the time for your Redemption has arrived. It will not be like the earlier Redemptions, this final Redemption, because suffering and subjection to other nations followed the earlier Redemptions. But the final Redemption will not be followed by any suffering and subjection to other nations.’
The Yalkut then continues: ‘Our Sages taught that when the King Messiah comes he will stand on the roof of the Bet HaMikdash [Holy Temple] and will proclaim to Israel, ‘Humble ones, the time for your Redemption has arrived!’ So will it be for us. From the outset there is nothing to fear, since we already have the promise, ‘Do not fear, the time of your Redemption has arrived!’ [The words "Do not fear" are an assurance that there is no reason to fear.] And so will it be for us…’” (From the talk of Rabbi Manachem Schneerson given Sabbath, August 18, 1990 on Parshas Re'eh)
“Do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from Yahweh? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
The Messiah has come to you – the Temple of the Holy Spirit – and is knocking on your door to tell you “the time for your Redemption has arrived!”
Immediately, with the beginning of the proclamation of the full message of the kingdom, begins the revelation of the existence of King Messiah by the Believer sensing in the spirit the παρουσία “pärüsē'ä” –"the arrival of the personal presence" of Messiah referred to as דָּמָּשִׁיחַ עִקְּבֵ שְׂ “Ikväsə dä'Mäshēchä”, or on the “Heels of Messiah.”
Simply put, there is no redemption without a Redeemer and that Redeemer is Messiah, the Melchizedek – the High Priest of the Zaddokite Priesthood. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by Yahweh and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Yahweh through Messiah YahShua. …For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, [Yahweh’s] own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of Yahweh, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:4,5, 9, 10) Even the stages of preparation for Redemption had to be done by Messiah Himself in the Heavenlies as the Melchizedek.
First we have the revelation of the existence of Messiah and the publicizing that YahShua is THE Messiah. This revelation comes out the Heavenly Tabernacle “above, downwards” and only after Messiah’s offering had been accepted by Yahweh who is sitting in the Holy of Holies. After the offering was accepted as sacrifice for the sins of the world and only then could the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth be dispatched to earth bringing the revelation and after this and as a continuation of Messiah’s activities in the Heavenlies could the reality of the Redemption be preached into all the world.
The Meaning of the Revelation
The preaching of the full message of the kingdom is not merely an announcement. Aside from being based on the clearly understood words of Messiah this message must come through the “wisdom, knowledge and understanding” of the Holy Spirit – causing an inward thoroughness letting the revelation permeate in the soul of man.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” (John 14:15-21)
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me. And you also must testify, for you have been with Me from the beginning.” (John 15:26, 27)
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” (John 16:12-14)
The Spirit of Truth is in direct flow with the ministry of Messiah YahShua, the Melchizedek that is operating in the Heavenly Tabernacle.
We are living in an age like no other. In Matthew 24, Messiah our Melchizedek, revealed to us the meaning of this age we live in. He made real how the revelation of redemption influences our daily physical lives. In our age we have seen the USSR crumble in one week in a most miraculous way. This didn’t happen because Yahweh favored democracy over communism. It happened to set free 1/3 of Judah from oppression to freedom and to allow them to return to the Land of Israel. What’s amazing is that most people don’t even pay attention to such things.
Now suddenly and just as miraculously, Ephraim is waking up to his identity. People that formally thought they were Gentiles are suddenly having their hearts turned toward the Holy Land and calling it home. This is a foretaste of the “ingathering of the outcast of Israel.”
One can see in a tangible way that our preaching of the kingdom message is not merely an announcement but it is the הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֹׁפָר “Shōfär häMäshēäch”, the sounding of the Messianic trumpet! Since the day of departure of Messiah, the Believer should have been using every opportunity to reiterate the message “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” – “lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!” Messiah has commanded us to publicize and preach the full message of the kingdom. To live the message of the kingdom in our daily lives – to live with Messiah.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom is our Reasonable Service
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Yahweh, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Yahweh, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Yahweh.” (Romans 12:1, 2)
The announcement of redemption was not made solely to energize us with joyous tidings. Rather, its purpose is primarily to direct us in our service as Watchmen in preaching the full message of the kingdom which since the first century takes on a more urgent meaning.
“For this is what the Sovereign Yahweh says: ‘At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria (Iraq) has oppressed them. And now what do I have here?’ declares Yahweh. ‘For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,’ declares Yahweh. ‘And all day long My name is constantly blasphemed. Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I Who foretold it. Yes, it is I."
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring full message, who proclaim peace, who bring the full message, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your Elohim reigns!’
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When Yahweh returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for Yahweh has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 52:7-9)
The entire service of our generation is to go into all the world and “sift Israel from the nations” (Amos 9:9), before it’s too late, from the last of the exile to the first so that they might receive the “redemption.” Therefore, “preaching the full message of the kingdom” (Matthew 24:14) takes on a special meaning as it relates to the job and ministry of every Watchmen. “I, Yahweh, will hasten it in its time.” (Isaiah 60:22)
What a mystery! “I, Yahweh, will hasten it in its time.” What does it mean? And what does it have to do with me? The meaning of this scripture has to do with our service. It is the difference between service for redemption in the manner of “in its time” and service for redemption in the matter of “I…will hasten it.”
“I…will hasten it” speaks of redemption coming miraculously, all of the sudden, supernaturally. Nature is not quite ready for it. That’s why, in order to accomplish it, extraordinary conditions are needed and an unusual sort of service is required. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)
“In its time” speaks of redemption that comes in a natural way when everything is prepared and complete. This type of redemption doe not demand special conditions in order to be realized. Rather it is a byproduct of preaching the full message. “And this full message of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
In other words if we do our part as Watchmen preaching the full message of the kingdom redemption will come “in its time” but if we neglect our mission “Yahweh, will hasten it.”
In contrast, we now find ourselves in the Age of Redemption, where the main service of our generation ion bringing Messiah takes on a whole new and different meaning.
We no longer need the type of service whose purpose is to bring redemption as something new. All components of redemption are here in the world, ready and complete and they simply await our revealing them.
The presence of Messiah is here. Our job is to receive Him. We are to await His physical coming everyday – especially today!
It is this Age of Redemption that a curious thing happened. The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed forcing us to depend on the ministry of the Heavenly Tabernacle. The Levitical Priesthood could not officiate without an earthly Temple so we had to rely on the Zaddokite Priesthood. And without an A’aronic Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) we had to rely on the Melchizedek (High Priest of the Zaddokite Priesthood) – Who is Messiah YahShua – in the Heavenly Tabernacle. At the same time the Torah is being ready for an eternal ministry.
“‘The time is coming,’ declares Yahweh, ‘when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares Yahweh.
‘This is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel after that time,’ declares Yahweh. ‘I will put My Torah in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be My people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know Yahweh,” because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares Yahweh. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
The heavenly Zaddokite priesthood never changed neither did the earthly priesthood which was the reflection on earth. They just could no longer minister for there is no earthly Temple. The heavenly priesthood cannot change – the Heavenly Temple always stands – it will always be in the hands of Messiah YahShua the Firstborn of Creation, the Only Begotten Son, the Melchizedek and when He comes to earth he will incorporate both priesthoods into ONE.
As there is a renewal in the priesthood there is also a renewal in the Torah. Here the author of the Book of Hebrews equates the “oath” which makes the Melchizedek “a priest forever” with the New or more correctly Renewed Covenant of Deuteronomy 29 & 30; and Jeremiah 31:31-34. The word translated “new” is א פָּ לָ וּ חְ שׁ “shüchəläpä” from the root ף שְׁ לָ “shəläq” which means to “change, transform or renew,” in this context I believe it means to renew.
“For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our King arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more clear if a different kind of priest, in the likeness of Melchizedek, arises, one Who became a priest not by virtue of law in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life. For it is stated:’ ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ For on the one hand there is a carrying away of the former commandment because of its weakness and inefficacy, for the Torah made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to Yahweh.” (Hebrews 7:14-19)
King Messiah YahShua was from the Tribe of Judah which is not the priestly tribe but the royal tribe. So, from an earthly perspective He does not qualify for the Levitical Priesthood. So, we must go to the Zaddokite Priesthood to qualify Him as “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” The Levitical Priesthood was established by Torah, the Zaddokite Priesthood is established by an oath. The Priesthood of A’aron passed from one person to the next but ended by death and destruction, while the Zaddokite Priesthood is more Heavenly and abides forever because its High Priest – the Melchizedek - Messiah YahShua – abides forever in a Temple not manmade that it can see destruction. He does not have to transmit His Priesthood to another, thus He atones completely and to the end for those that come to Yahweh by Him, seeing that He ever lives to intercedes for them.
“What is more Yahweh swore an oath. For no oath was sworn in connection with those who become priests now (68 CE); but YahShua became a priest by the oath which Yahweh swore when He said to Him: “Yahweh has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ This shows how much better is the Covenant of which YahShua has become the guarantor. For there are many that have become priest that could not continue in office because of death. But because He lives forever, His position as priest does not pass on to someone else, and consequently He is totally able to deliver those who approach Yahweh through Him; since He is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
This is the kind of priest that meets our needs – holy, without evil, without stain, set apart from sinners and raised higher than the Heavens; one who does not have the daily necessity, like other High Priests, of offering up sacrifices first for their own sins and only afterwards those for the people ; because He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, by offering up Himself. For the Torah appoints as High Priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the Torah, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” (Hebrews 7:20-28)
Messiah YahShua is about to take off the priestly garments and put on the clothes of a warrior as His Watchmen sound the alarm!
“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near -- a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.” (Joel 2:1, 2)
Today would rather do evil when righteousness would better suit them: “Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your Watchmen has come, the day Yahweh visits you. Now is the time of their perplexity.” (Micah 7:3, 4)
“The days of visitation are come, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. The prophet, along with my Elohim, is the Watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the House of his Elohim.” (Hosea 9:6-8)
“But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.
Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by. See, Yahweh is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the bloodshed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.” (Isaiah 26:19-21)
“I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in Bozrah, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.” (Micah 2:12)
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn…For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man…They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24: 30, 27, 31)
“Who is this coming from Edom, from (Petra), with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.
Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
“Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness! Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:13, 14)
"I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.” (Isaiah 63:1-4)
“I turned around to see…one ‘like a son of man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” (Revelation 1:12-16)
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of Yahweh [TORAH!]. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ () He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of El Shaddai. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’ [YAHWEH!]” (Revelation 19:11-16)
“… ‘See, Adonai is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1:14, 15)
“A day of Yahweh is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then Yahweh my Elohim will come, and all the holy ones with him.” (Zechariah 14:1-5)
“How beautiful is king Messiah who is to arise from among those of the house of Judah. He girds his loins and goes forth to battle against those that hate him; and he kills kings with rulers, and makes the mountains red from the blood of their slain and makes the valleys white from the fat of their warriors. His garments are rolled in blood; he is like a presser of grapes.” (Targum Neofiti Genesis 49.10-12)
“The priests shall blow the trumpets of massacre, and the Levites and all the blowers of the ram's horn shall sound a battle alarm, and the foot soldiers shall stretch out their hands against the host...and at the sound of the alarm they shall begin to bring down the slain. All the people shall cease their clamor, but the priests shall continue to blow the trumpets of massacre.” (Dead Sea Scrolls – The War Scroll)
“Behold, the Day of Yahweh is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then Yahweh will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.” (Zechariah 14:1-3)
“Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!
Yahweh is angry with all nations; His wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter. Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood.” (Isaiah 34:1-3)
“But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief… For Yahweh did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our King Messiah YahShua. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 9-10)
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from Yahweh’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9)
“Adonai’s message rang out from you …your faith in Yahweh has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to Yahweh from idols to serve the living and true Elohim, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—YahShua, Who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
“For Adonai himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of Yahweh, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet Adonai in the air. And so we will be with Adonai forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your King will come…So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him…No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 24:42, 44, 36 & 25:13)
As Watchmen, we should celebrate the saving grace of Yahweh through Messiah. Let the joy that fills your soul at the mention of His return show in your life. Let it be an example that draws others in. Then sound the alarm, tell everyone you know the reason for the hope that is within you so that they too may look to the future with excitement, hope and confidence, and you will see them in your Father’s house at that great time of reunion and rejoicing. "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?" (Isaiah 21:11) Watchman what time is it? Wake up! “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” – “lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!” A new day is dawning !

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Secret

“The Elohim of peace will soon crush haSatan under your feet. The grace of our King YahShua be with you…Now to Him (Yahweh) Who is able to establish you by my full message and the proclamation of Messiah YahShua, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal Elohim, so that all nations might believe and obey Him— to the only wise Elohim be glory forever through Messiah YahShua! Amien.” (Romans 16:20, 25-27)
The secret has traveled through space, dimension and time – literally centuries to get to you. Particles of this secret have been weaved together like a golden fabric through the lives, teachings, and writings of all the prophets, seers, sages, rabbis, preachers and apostles of Israelite history, and through the lives of all truly great men and women that dared to leave their races, tribes, cultures, nationalities, and denominations to become Israelites. To say like Ruth the Moabitess: “Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your Elohim my Elohim.” (Ruth 1:16) Fragments of the Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, philosophies and religion of the Hebrews throughout the centuries. They are the Priesthood of all mankind (Exodus 19:6). It is really the story of the Scriptures – all the books of the Torah, Prophets Psalmists, and Apostles are speaking of the same thing.
The Secret has existed throughout the history of humankind. However, it was not revealed in its totality until 2,000 years ago. Since then, it has been discovered, coveted, reinterpreted, suppressed, hidden, lost, and recovered. Its teachings have been stolen, burned and bought for vast sums of money. Its emissaries were hunted down, tortured, stoned, executed, and burned at the steak, beheaded or banished all in an attempt in keeping this “secret” hidden from you.
Now the sweet glimmer of truth can be revealed. No matter who you are. No matter where you are. You can have that peace you want. Do you want to know a secret? This is a new dawn of an era for mankind. What I’m about to share with you truly is the secret of life.
“Praise be to the Elohim and Father of our King Messiah YahShua, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Messiah. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be transformed into His sons through Messiah YahShua, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Yahweh’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Messiah, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Messiah.
In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Messiah, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Messiah when you heard the Word of Truth, the full message of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are Yahweh’s possession—to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:3-14)
בְּרֵאשִׁית – In the Beginning
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Yahweh, and the Word was Yahweh. He was in the beginning with Yahweh. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness could not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from Yahweh, whose name was Yochanan. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His idea, and His idea could not contain Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of Yahweh, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of Yahweh.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Yochanan bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, “He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”’
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the Torah was revealed through Moses, but grace and truth came through Messiah YahShua. No one has seen Yahweh at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed Him.” (John 1:18)
Two thousand years ago, the Levitical Priests that would not go along with the Herodian occupation happening in Israel, were exiled to the Wilderness of En Gedi. They began to preach to those they came out to hear them that the time had come for the One that would lead Israel back to holiness and cause the Redemption. Yochanan ben Zakki was just such a man. He was that “Voice crying in the Wilderness.”
“In those days יוֹחָנָן הַמְטַבֵּל Yochänän häMətäbāl (John the immerser or baptist) came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying ‘The voice of one crying: In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh; make His paths straight.’ (Isaiah 40:3)” (Matthew 3:1-3)
Elijah had a talit (2 Kings 1:8 prayer garment) that he wore, and Elisha picked up the mantle after Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot. That the talit was eventually placed inside the Altar of Incense, when no one was found worthy to wear it, to be saved for Elijah when he returned:
“And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Yahweh, Elohim of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” (2 Kings 2:14)
Zachirya ben Abiya, who ministered at the Altar of Incense, when his son, Yochanan ben Zakki, was born, took the talit out of the Altar of Incense and gave it to his son Yochanan ben Zakki. Zachirya and Elizabeth, the parents of Yochanan ben Zakki, were of the house and lineage of A’aron. Here’s a secret, Yochanan ben Zakki, supernaturally brought forth from the barren womb of Elizabeth, was a true Priest of the lineage of his forefather A’aron. It was an Angel of Yahweh that had visited Zachirya that had given Yochanan his name as his fathered ministered at the Golden Incense Altar a curtain away from the Holy of holies and the Ark of the Covenant. in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary in the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem.
Yochanan ben Zakki wearing the camel haired “talit” (Matthew 3:4) of Elijah and that he came in the “Spirit of Elijah” was causing the people to listen to what he said and did.
“Then YahShua came from Galilee to Yochanan at the Jordan to be immersed by him. And Yochanan tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be immersed by You, and are You coming to me?’
But YahShua answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.
When He had been immersed, YahShua came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of Yahweh descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:13-17)
This was seen by the people as Yochanan ben Zakki, a man that should have been High Priest, which had the Spirit of Elijah, ordaining and anointing the man that should be King – the Crown Prince of David – Messiah YahShua.
Shortly afterward, Yochanan ben Zakki was arrested and beheaded.
“Now after that Yochanan was put in prison, YahShua came into Galilee, preaching the full message of the Kingdom of Yahweh, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of Yahweh is at hand: repent, and believe the full message.” (Mark 1:14, 15)
What was this “full message” that Yochanan ben Zakki was willing to die for? The message that Messiah YahShua immediately picked up, without a delay of time, began preaching. A secret that the apostles said could not be fully revealed until now.
“In the beginning Elohim… (Genesis 1:1)” “Ayn Sof,” the Incomprehensible One, Eternal, Almighty, All Gracious, and All Wise Yahweh: Abba Father is the sole Master Designer of all creation. He is the source of all power and authority, and all thanks and reverence is to be directed to Him, Matthew 4:10; 6:9; Colossians 1:12; James 1:17; 1Peter 2:5. Yahweh is spirit, John 4:24; and all worship centers on Him.
Yahweh, by virtue of creating is the Father. “And [Messiah] said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. (Mark 14:36)” As Creator He is the "I AM WHO I AM,” Cause of all causes; the Root of all roots. “And Elohim said…, "I AM WHO I AM." (Exodus 3:14)” What Yahweh did at creation was step from concealment into manifestation. The “Ayn Sof” or Infinite One, that exists without end; He who has no beginning and has no end, moved from the incompressible into something the can be grasped – Father. “Have we not all one Father? Hath not one Elohim created us? (Malachi 2:10)”
It was out of His bosom came His “only begotten Son.” The first emanation - the Adam Kadmon, the pre-incarnate Messiah. It was from the Adam Kadmon that tremendous light shown forth and aligned itself into creation. It was through “the image of the invisible Elohim,” the Messiah, that Yahweh made all things. The Adam Kadmon is the expression of Yahweh’s complete Word.
The “First born of creation,” is “the image of the invisible Elohim,” the Son of Yahweh “He is the image (Adam Kadmon) of the invisible Elohim (Ayn Sof), the firstborn over all creation (Son of Yahweh). For through Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Messiah). (Colossians 1:15-18)”
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? (Proverbs 30:4)”
“[Yahweh] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:2-4)”
“In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Through Messiah – Yahweh’s “Express Image” – Yahweh created Heaven, the Universe, and uniquely the Earth. It was at this time that Yahweh created beings known as “Angels.” Yahweh created the earth and populated it with angels. They built cities and in those cities were “sanctuaries” designed after the pattern in Heaven of the True Sanctuary. They had nations and rulers. The head of the angels was someone named “יֻלֵל הֵילֵל בֶּן-שָׁחַר HāyLāl' bĕn Shäkh'är Yülāl.” He was High Priest of the angelic host until he apostate by trying to usurp Yahweh.
“You were in Eden, the garden of Elohim; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
You were anointed as a guardian Karuv, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy Mount of Elohim; you walked with the faceted stones in the middle of you.
You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the Mount of Elohim, and I expelled you, O guardian Karuv, with the faceted stones in the middle of you.
Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.” (Ezekiel 28:13-19)
“How are you fallen from heaven, HāyLāl' bĕn Shäkh'är Yülāl! How are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven I will exalt my throne above the stars of Elohim: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon you, and consider you, saying, Is this the person that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That make the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isaiah 14:12-17)
“[Then] The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2)
“I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; and the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed there was no one, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of Yahweh, by His fierce anger.” (Jeremiah 4:23-26)
Then Yahweh committed the first act of “Tikkün” (repair). He re-created. “And the Spirit of Elohim was hovering over the face of the waters. Then Elohim said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And Elohim saw the light, that it was good.” (Genesis 1:2, 3)
On the sixth day of creation, Yahweh made the crowning achievement of creation, mankind.
“Then Elohim said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So Elohim created man in His own image; in the image of Elohim He created him; male and female He created them. Then Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:26, 28)
Adam as “first born” was “blessed” by Yahweh which ordained him to be a Zaddokite Priest over creation.
Yahweh placed man and woman in Eden. HaSatan entered Eden as “…that OLD SERPENT, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world…” (Revelation 12:9).
Eve was tempted by a serpent, a manifestation of the Devil, to eat the fruit of the tree (“you will not die, you will be just like Elohim”). After she did, she convinced Adam to eat of it as well and mankind fell from grace. Yahweh knew what Satan was going to do to Adam and Eve. Yahweh did not try to prevent it. It is all part of Yahweh’s ultimate plan of Tikkün.
Yahweh committed another act of Tikkün, the promise of the coming Redeemer, “I will put enmity between you (Devil) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He (Messiah) shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (עָקֵב äkāv' the root word for יַעֲקֹב Yakkov. Commentators explain that Yakkov was trying to hold Esau back by the heel from being the firstborn, and in that way claim the Abrahamic legacy for himself. Jacob’s name was renamed Israel a name that foreshadowed the complete Redemption of all Israel).” (Genesis 3:15)
“Then you shall call, and Yahweh will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. Yahweh will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the ‘Repairer of the Breach,’ ‘The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.’” (Isaiah 58:9-12) HaSatan can never operate beyond Yahweh’s parameters.
Mankind forsook Yahweh and “changed the truth of Yahweh into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amien.” (Romans 1:25) Only a remnant – one family – stayed true to Yahweh: Adam to Seth to Enosh to Kenan to Mahalalel to Jared to Enoch to Methuselah to Lamech to Noah. “Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh…Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with Elohim. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.” (Genesis 6:8-10)
Yahweh sent a worldwide flood and exterminated all mankind except this one righteous family, whom he kept safe on the Ark. The waters receded and Yahweh started over with the family of Noah. As “first born” Shem became the earthly Melchizedek – High Priest of the Zaddokite Priesthood. He settled in a place known as Salem (Jerusalem).
Again mankind under the leadership of Nimrod began to backslide. They met in Shinar and built a city called Babel (Babylon). There they tried to intimidate Yahweh by building a Ziggurat into the heavens. Yahweh knocked it down and confused and scattered mankind.
The Covenant
There in the valley of Shinar was the city of Ur. In Ur lived Tarah, a captain in Nimrod’s army, who had a son Abram. Abram married the young princess, Sarai. Abram really wanted to know truth. “Yahweh spoke to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” (Genesis 12:1-3)
That’s the way it’s been traditionally translated. However, here’s a “secret” Genesis 12:3 literally reads: וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ, כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה “Ve'nivrechu bekah kol mishpachot ha-adamah” which literally means: “and in you all nations will be born through grafting or mixing.” So, Genesis 12:3 should read: “[Yahweh] will make of [Abram] a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing (בְּרָכָה bracha): and I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all family of the earth be mixed or grafted in. ”
The covenant was ratified when Shem, the Melchizedek, blessed him: “After Abram returned… Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was priest of El Elyon, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by El Elyon, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be El Elyon, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:17-20)
“After this, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your sovereign; your reward will be very great …a son coming from your own body will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed Yahweh, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:1, 4-6)
Yahweh gave Abram a new name: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to him and said, ‘I am El Shadai; walk before Me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.’
Abram fell facedown, and Elohim said to him, ‘As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your Elohim and the Elohim of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their Elohim… As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’” (Genesis 17:1-8, 15, 16)
This Covenant Child was Isaac. “Now Yahweh was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and Yahweh did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time Elohim had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as Elohim commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, ‘Elohim has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’” (Genesis 21:1-6)
“Some time later Elohim tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’
‘Here I am,’ he replied.
Then Elohim said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’” (Genesis 22:1, 2)
“By faith Abraham hath offered up Isaac, being tried, and the only begotten he did offer up who did receive the promises, of whom it was said -- `In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee (Hebrews 11:17,18)”
Twice in one verse it states that “Abraham hath offered up Isaac.” However in the Greek text they are not the same words. In the first part of Hebrews 11:17 the words translated as “offered” is prosenhnocen “pros-enan-ochen” meaning to make a sacrifice, not simply to bind up. The second word in Hebrews 11:17 translated as “did offer up” is the Greek word proseferen “pros-eferan.” To fully understand this word we will break it down: feren “eferan” comes from the Hebrew word אֵפֶר “afer” which means ashes. Even our English word “offer” is based on this Hebrew word. pros “Pros” means to bow down or worship. Putting these two words together you get your definition: “Pros” to worship, “eferan” to cremate or in this case “to make a burnt offering.”
“…considering that Yahweh was able to raise [Isaac] up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a perfect type. (Hebrews 11:19)”
The word translated as “perfect type” is the Greek word παραβολή “parabolia.” παρα “Para” means along side, βολή “bola” means to cast. So “parabolia” means “to cast along side of the original.” From which we get our English word “parable” which is a story that figuratively explains a true original thought.
The first type, Isaac’s death, burial, and resurrection had to be fulfilled by the second type, YahShua’s death, burial, and resurrection, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke. 24:46, 47)” If Isaac had not had a death, burial, and resurrection as a first type, he could not have been the “perfect type” of YahShua. Hebrews 11:19 demands the parabolia, the Isaac/YahShua type, the like figure of the death, burial, and resurrection. If Isaac was only bound and almost offered, there is no “perfect type.”
Couple this with Genesis 28:14, “And your seed (זַרְעֲ zera) shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall break out abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be mixed.”
Yahweh needed a father and a son to seal the destiny of Israel, and the circumstances had to be the same. Both Isaac and YahShua were about thirty-three years of age; both carried their own sacrificial wood; both were willing to lay down their lives. Although the similarities are many, there is one great difference: the sacrificing of Isaac destroyed the whole world, for the world cannot exist without Israel and all the promises died when Isaac died. The death of YahShua, on the other hand, saved the whole world, for the world could not exist without his redemption of Israel that YahShua bought and paid for by His blood.
“Against the faith (kata pistin Kata Pistein) all these promises died (pantes pantes) when Isaac died!” (Hebrews 11:13)
The promise that Abraham’s seed would be anariqmhtos “anarythmatos,” “over arithmetic” or beyond number –died when Isaac died!
The promise that Abraham’s family would be like the sands of the seashore or the stars in the heavens; that Israel would be a great nation, all died when Isaac died!
The promise of the reconciliation of the Gentiles, the strangers and pilgrims from afar off (Ephesians 2:17) all died when Isaac died!
The promise of a country and a city, “unto a land that [Yahweh] will show thee” the Promised Land of Ertz Yisrael changing the name to בְּעוּלָה Ba’alulah, “the land of my husband” all died when Isaac died!
The promise of “return,” the aliyah of the Jews along with Ephraim and their companions to their land, in the “time of the end” all died when Isaac died!
The promise of the “heavenly city” the “New Jerusalem” coming down as a bride adorned for her Husband Messiah King (Rev. 22:21), that promised died when Isaac died!
And the promise that Israel would be the majority of people on this earth died when Isaac died!
Turning over to Genesis 24:62-65: “Now Isaac had come from בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי Beer Lachai Roi (meaning “the well of life of Him who sees me”), and Isaac goes out to meditate in the field, at the turning of the evening, and he lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, camels are coming. And Rebekah lifteth up her eyes, and seeth Isaac, and alighteth from off the camel; and she saith unto the servant, `What [is] this man who is walking in the field to meet us?' and the servant saith, `It [is] my lord;' and she taketh the veil, and covereth herself.” In the Hebrew Text it does not say he went to the field to meditate, pray, or dream. It says he went to the field to change.
The once dead now living Isaac was ascending from פַּרְדֵּס Pardes in the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:49) reuniting with his spirit. As he ascends through the well of light that many people see at the point of death, from Be’re LaCHoi Roi, he begins to step through the stages of physical restoration.
“… if the Spirit of him who raised YahShua from the dead is living in you, he who raised Messiah from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)”
First, he becomes visible. Then the soul’s transparent form begins to formulate. His shadow casts before his body is actually seen. Slowly, objects behind him become a haze faded and vanishing away. Isaac proceeds through the full metamorphic transition as He who is faithful had promised in Genesis 22:16-18 that in Isaac shall thy seed be called. The Mighty One of Abraham restored Isaac from the dead returning to you and me our hopes dreams and desires of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Abraham believed this and it was “credited it to him as righteousness.” "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1Timothy 6:6) and "the fruit of the Righteous is a Tree of Life" (Proverbs 11:30). Therefore, if your Family Tree is a "Tree of Life" then there will be a lineage of "great gain", for "he that wins souls is wise" (11:30). "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth Righteousness is Righteous, even as He is Righteous" (1John 3:7). "The Secret of Yahweh is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His Covenant" (Psalm 25:14). Those who will not accept Covenant are not Israel, and cannot join in the promise of the Majority. Those who will not keep "His Covenant," cannot remain members in the Majority. "His Secret (or Mystery) is with the Righteous" (Proverbs 3:32)
This covenant was reiterated with Isaac: “[Isaac] Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my requirements, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (Genesis 26:3-5)”
And again with Jacob: “And Yahweh Shaddai bless thee [Jacob], and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which Yahweh gave unto Abraham. (Genesis 28:3,4)”
“[Jacob reminded Yahweh] You said, I will surely do you good and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. (Genesis 32:12)”
“And Jacob said unto Joseph, Yahweh Shaddai appeared unto me at Luz (the place of the Great Almond Tree {Tree of Life} – ancient name for Jerusalem) in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuven and Shimon, they shall be mine. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. (Genesis 48:3-6)”
Moses reminded Yahweh: “[Moses said to Yahweh] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. Then Yahweh relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. (Exodus 32:13,14)”
“Yahweh your Elohim hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. (Deuteronomy 1:10)”
“For you are a holy people to Yahweh your Elohim; Yahweh your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. Yahweh did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples (Deuteronomy 7:5-7).”`
And the Psalmist sang: “O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones. (Psalm 105:6)”
When you look up into the Heavens what is the majority of the things you see – the stars. This panoramic image painted by Yahweh across the star-studded night sky. Billions of stars were visible to Abraham; and Yahweh promised that just as the universe contained such an uncountable number of stars, so would be numbered the descendants of Abraham.
The other familiar picture that Yahweh painted was the sands of the seashore. The oceans cover approximately 70% of the earth's surface, and the land the remaining 30%. That means the majority of the soil of the earth is the sands of the seashore. In fact the word “multitude” used by Yahweh to describe the Covenant offspring in Hebrew is רֹב “rōb” meaning multitude, abundance, greatness, numerous from the root word רָבַּבּ “rabab” to be or become many, be or become much, be or become a majority. In other words, the Father is promising the Covenant Family that their descendants will be a majority of the people of this earth… and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be mixed! In other words, the majority of the people you meet are Israelites and they don’t even know it nor the blessing given to them as heirs.
If you will not accept your place in the “bloodline” then “…you [are] without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Yahweh in the world. (But if you will accept the Kingdom and its King you will receive salvation through the shed blood of our Messiah) But now in Messiah YahShua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (Ephesians 2:1-13)” Through this acts of “blessing” of the blood, the unbelievers "have been grafted (וְנִבְרְכוּ ve'nivrechu) in among [Israel] and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches (that fell off through unbelief). If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if Yahweh did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” (Romans 11:17-21)
HaSatan has tried to suppress, hide and destroy this secret. He doesn’t want you to know who you are! He has injected Giants into the gene pool. He has split the Kingdom in two. He has done everything to destroy the “Promise”!
While the full message – the Secret – was hidden in its fullness in the pages of the Tanach (Old Testament) in the case of Churchianity rejected entirely for a redefined message.
“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’
He replied, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” (Isaiah 6:9,10) But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.’” (Matthew 13:10-18)
This is the secret that the Church has tried to keep hidden since its inception. This was done by carefully redefining words, misapplying Scripture and stealing covenant through a theological vehicle called “Replacement Theology.”
“Replacement Theology,” is the heretical teaching that Yahweh, Who cannot lie and Who never changes, has arbitrarily cancelled the “everlasting covenants” that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with “their descendants forever,” and has transferred those promises to the predominately Gentile “Church.” The promise in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of the Commonwealth of Israel are "spiritualized" or “allegorized” into the promises and blessing for the Church.
This is the false mystery – “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” – “drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to YahShua…Come out of her, my people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of Yahweh…Babylon must fall because of Israel's slain, just as the slain in all the earth have fallen because of Babylon.” (Jeremiah 51:345, 46, 49) “"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit…Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and Yahweh has remembered her crimes.” (Revelation 17:5, 6; 18:2, 4, 5)
The Commission
YahShua is the paradoxical Messiah. He performs miracles as evidence that He is the Messiah, then he commanded no one to speak of them. When demons see him, they proclaim His as the Messiah, and He commands them to be silenced. If YahShua is Messiah, why was He so contradictory about the matter? Why did he bother with proving himself as Messiah, if he was only going to hide it?
Following Rabbi Shimon Kepha’s (Peter) proclamation of faith the Disciples still did not understand that He was the suffering Saviour. After He healed the sick, worked miracles, drove out evil spirits and Kepha made the proclamation of faith (Mark 1:25-44;5:43;7:36;8:26-30), Messiah YahShua commanded them to keep the fact that he is the Messiah a secret. He knows that people are drawn to an “enigma!” They will search out a mystery.
He, therefore, did not want the fact that he was the Messiah, to be revealed fully, right at the beginning of his public ministry. It would be dangerous to reveal his identity before the fullness of time had come.
The mission given to Messiah YahShua by the Heavenly Father was completed only through the shedding of His blood and his resurrection at just the nick of time. Until that glorious time, no man fully could acknowledge that YahShua is the Messiah. Until the sacrifice of Golgotha took place, the Evangelists kept the fact of YahShua being the Messiah, a secret. King Messiah YahShua came to ratify in His blood the covenants being all absorbed into the New Covenant of restoration (Deuteronomy 29, 30; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37; Hebrews 8, 9). “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
After He offered Himself up as the “Lamb of Yahweh, Who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) He ascended into the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly Tabernacle to place His blood before the Throne. When His offering was accepted as a sacrifice the Spirit of Truth – the Holy Spirit – was sent to the disciples.
The Spirit is that which gives us disciples power to fulfill the Great Commission: “These twelve YahShua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans: but go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10:5-7)
“…He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Sovereign, help me.” (Matthew 15:24, 25)
“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will hear to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
“…you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“…Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, by authority of the Son through the inspiration of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:19)
“…this full Messianic message of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)
This is the “secret:” now being manifested, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
Let no foreigner who has bound himself to Yahweh say, “Yahweh will surely exclude me from His people.”
And let not any eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”
For this is what Yahweh says: To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to my covenant- to them I will give within My Temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. (“No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Chephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh will take delight in you, and your land will be married.” - Isaiah 62:4)
And foreigners who bind themselves to Yahweh to serve Him, to love the name of Yahweh, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant- these I will bring to My Holy Mountain (Mount Moriah) and give them joy in My House of Prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a ‘House of Prayer for All Nations.’
The Sovereign Yahweh declares— He who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.’” (Isaiah 56:1-8)
What is the “Secret” putting it plainly? Here’s how I’ve come to understand it by searching it out in the Word. Ayn Sof – the Incomprehensible One – we know as Yahweh is infinite. He has no semblance or form. Out of Himself He brought forth a manifestation of Himself – the only begotten Son – the Adam Kadmon – the Express Image of His person – Messiah YahShua. Through Him all things were made. He was foreordained as the Saviour of the World – the Lamb of Yahweh – before there was even a need. It was also foreordained that Israel would be Yahweh’s unique belonging and that Yahweh would do anything to make sure He will spend eternity with His people.
At the same time there is a “rogue” group of creation made up of angels and men led by the Devil bent on making sure this doesn’t happen. Hence, the reality of the Great Cosmic War.
Yahweh, being too large to into His creation, sent His only begotten Son into creation to redeem His people to Himself. It is by the shed blood of Messiah – the Supreme Sacrifice for sin – that we are returned to at-one-ment with the Heavenly Father. Now by freedom of choice we may enter into His Kingdom – the Commonwealth of Re-united Israel. King Messiah YahShua is coming to His Kingdom that will never again be divided. Through His choice, we are joint-heirs with Him to be Yahweh’s inheritance.
“I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Yahweh, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a secret: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52)
We have been predestined to be the “Children of Yahweh” before the very foundations of this earth. We have been foreordained to be part of the “Commonwealth of Israel.” It has only been in these “Last Days” that all the words of the prophets, seers, sages, rabbis and apostles of Israel have come together. “The Elohim of peace will soon crush haSatan under your feet. The grace of our King YahShua be with you…Now to Him (Yahweh) Who is able to establish you by my full message and the proclamation of Messiah YahShua, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal Elohim, so that all nations might believe and obey Him— to the only wise Elohim be glory forever through Messiah YahShua! Amien.” (Romans 16:20, 25-27) The sign that we are His is that we keep the Sabbaths, proclaim His Name and hold fast to the Covenant as ministered to us by our King, Saviour and High Priest – Messiah YahShua – Whose Kingdom is just about here. This is a message only you can share!