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The Rich man and Lazarus #3


Free Chapter from Doctrines of Demons #3

 

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus has been used by many to inflict dreadful fear. It’s even insinuated that a person might be able to see people burning in hell and crying out for a drop of water. Certain ministers claim they have experienced this place of torture. I can’t imagine a loving Father allowing us to see our enemies in flames, let alone those we love and care about. Could you stand to watch your child, spouse, or family member screaming out in horror? For more on the topic click here Introductory Chapter on Hell

Jesus / Yeshua begins to speak multiple parables in the book of Luke. This word parable comes from the Hebrew word mashal, Strong’s concordance 4912 mashal, which means a proverb or taunt. “sentences constructed in parallelism, usually of Hebrew Wisdom, but occasionally of other types);”

Jewish writings and rabbinic thought are hidden in these parables that can cloud our mind to the meanings due to not living in that time among those people. It’s like the movie Back to the Future. When Marty McFly travels back in time, his mother thinks his name is Calvin Klein due to his underwear. He also goes into a soda shop and orders a “Pepsi Free” and they get a tad upset with him and assume he wants the soda free of charge, not free of calories. Not only is there this confusion but the very word McFly is an idiom (phrase) for a simpleton or stupid person. Unless you look deeply into symbolism and know about the history and the characteristics of the leaders of Jesus day, it can get tricky. I learn new things daily. Many believe that this story about the rich man and Lazarus is a true story and not a parable, but each chapter is labeled a parable and we also know from Scripture that this was Jesus/ Yeshua’s main method of teaching. Let’s look at that first.

He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.” Matthew 13:33-35 NASB.

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Matthew 13:10 NASB.”

We must continue to look at this topic of parables because we see over and over again that this is how he taught.

“With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.” Mark 4:33-34 NASB.

He told his disciples this: “These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.” John 16:25 KJB.

So as we begin to study the whole book of Luke and the parables and the order of them, the main topics and illustrations he used, we see a common theme connecting them.

He discusses a parable about two debtors in Luke seven and explains that the person who has been forgiven much loves much. He moves on from this short example to the parable of the sower. People say that Jesus/ Yeshua spoke in parables because they were easy to understand and that a child could even understand them, but this isn’t what Scripture would lead us to believe. “His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.  And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” Luke 8:9-10 NASB. Actually, his leading twelve were scratching their heads and wondering often, saying please explain the parable because we are not getting it!

Now, I am not going to go over each parable in the book of Luke because that would be rather lengthy. We want to cover the main one on the rich man and Lazarus, but we do want to look at a couple he spoke about earlier to get a general idea of his audience and who is listening and what if anything the parables may have in common. In Luke chapter ten, he tells them a parable about the Good Samaritan. Yeshua is speaking and the text says a lawyer stood up and presented a question to “trap” him. This man was a Torah expert but many translations say lawyer due to them being an expert in the Law of Moses (The Torah). He presented a question. “Rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?”  But Yeshua said to him, “What is written in the Torah (law)? How do you read it? He answered, “You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your understanding; and your neighbor as yourself.” “That’s the right answer,” Yeshua said. “Do this, and you will have life.”

 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Yeshua, “And who is my ‘neighbor’?” ” Luke 10:25 -29 CJB. Now, this gets deep because the Jews hated the Samaritans. They would walk many miles out of their way to not step foot in their territory. Jesus/ Yeshua gives this parable to the people and he uses a Priest and a Levite, the most cream of the crop to make his point. This was sure to rile their feathers and convict their hearts.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and [n]beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.  And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” Luke 10: 30-34 NASB.

By this point the High Priest, the Pharisees and Sadducees were probably getting close to livid.

In Luke chapter twelve the Pharisees, Sadducees, and leaders proclaim that he has a demon and that he heals and cast out demons by the prince of demons. In chapter 14 he begins to express a parable about a fig tree and then a mustard seed, a parable of the invited guest he found worthy and the dinner banquet. Luke fifteen expresses three parables about one lost sheep, a lost coin, and the prodigal son. All three of these are unified and about a similar topic and then we get to chapter sixteen. Yes, the Bible was divided into chapters for easier reading, but we still are able to see comparisons in thought and topics brought together. There is a parable right before Lazarus that is called “the unrighteous steward.” This parable angers those present and causes Yeshua to continue with another parable–the beggar and Lazarus. These two parables go together and although I am not going to go into great detail on the unrighteous steward, I am going to show you how much it angered a certain religious spirit that is still alive and well today.

Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and wealth.”

 

 Now some of the Pharisees and Sadducees, were lovers of money, and they were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.  And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.” Luke 16:13-15 NASB.

Many of these men were the elite. They were the priest and Rabbi’s/ teachers of the times, but how did they get in these positions of power? There’s nothing new under the sun.

“The Sadducees could not tolerate the raising of the Sages from the Pharisee camp to positions of power and control and sought ways to regain their lost power and influence. The Sadducees quickly realized that the office of High Priest held the best promise to achieve this aim. The Roman rulers followed Herod’s example of bestowing this sacred office upon the highest bidder. As the Sadducees had no lack of money, they offered huge personal bribes to the procurators, and a candidate of their choice became High Priest. The Roman officials soon realized that the office of High Priest was an infallible source of income. At frequent intervals, they would dismiss the current Kohen Gadol and auction off the position to the highest bidder. The prestige of the office thus suffered during this period as the Kohen Gadon came to be regarded as a petty politician who was appointed by the secular government and cared only about his own glory and enrichment. In the course of time, with their numbers growing, they became a domineering aristocracy and together with their relatives and friends, they abused the people and brougth about the Destruction of the Temple. (Pesachim 57a) [HOJP I, pp.149] 

They abused the people. They hurt Abba’s sheep that they had been entrusted with and now Yeshua is on the scene and He is convicting them. These men who sat in the best seats, and did everything for a show and the praises of men. However, some of the Pharisees were very righteous and actually trying hard to live right. Many of them were living better than most of us can even imagine.

Now, that Yeshua has struck a cord and wounded their egos he continues with the famous parable many claim is about an actual place called Abraham’s bosom, a place called heaven and a horrific place called hell. Let’s jump in and start looking at this with new glasses on. Pick up your Hebrew spectacles and let’s travel back to the time of Jesus/Yeshua’s day.

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.” Luke 16:19-21 NASB.

We first notice above, that during his parable about the unrighteous steward, that he tells them “You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now in this next parable it starts out with a rich man and we see that his clothes are purple and fine linen. What manner of a man would wear purple and fine linen? Exodus chapter twenty-eight explains clearly who these leaders are. “Make Aaron some beautiful clothes that are worthy of a high priest. Aaron is to be dedicated as my high priest, and his clothes must be made only by persons who possess skills that I have given them.  Here are the items that need to be made: a breast piece, a priestly vest, a robe, an embroidered shirt, a turban, and a sash. These sacred clothes are to be made for your brother Aaron and his sons who will be my priests.  Only gold and fine linen, woven with blue, purple, and red wool, are to be used for making these clothes.” Exodus 28:19-21 CEV.

These High Priest, these Levites, and leaders who walked right past the man beaten on the road in the parable of the Good Samaritan are still here being rebuked by Jesus/ Yeshua himself. Everyone knew what a Pepsi Free was in the 1990’s but when Marty McFly travelled back in time no one understood it or Calvin Klein underwear. They knew who Jesse James was but not Calvin. These men knew who Jesus/ Yeshua was calling out because they were the ones dressed like that. Let’s continue.

He labels this man Lazarus in this parable so he can use his sword to cut at their hearts deeper.

“There are two men named Lazarus mentioned in the New Testament, but note that the Greek name Lazarus is a Hellenized version of the popular name Eleazar.”

The two best-known Eleazar’s of the Hebrew Bible (Older Testament) are the son of Aaron, the arch-father of all priests, and the son of Abinadab, in whose house the Ark of the Covenant resided. Both these Eleazar’s had brothers whom God killed for their inappropriate handling of the Ark or the sanctuary it was deposited in. One name definition of Eleazar/ Lazarus means “God Has Helped.” The two named Lazarus in the Newer Testament/ Brit Chadashah are the man who was dead for four days that Jesus/ Yeshua raised from the dead and this humble beggar in the parable of Luke. This poor man named Lazarus is laid at a place where these High Priest and Torah scholars would have been very familiar with. At this rich man’s gate he was laid. We read over and over again in Scripture the many poor, blind, deaf, and lepers who were laid at the gate of the temple or the city gate. Let’s look at that before we delve further into our story.

“And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.” Acts 3:2 NASB. (He sat every day at the gate)

“Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die?” 2nd Kings 7:3 NASB.

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters.” John 5:2-3 NASB.

Now, in our story this poor man is laid at the rich man’s gate and we were given clues by the man’s attire who he represented. I may be wrong but I believe it was the wealthy elite priest of the day. Now let’s get back to the parable. We left off in verses twenty-one, but now we will read the portion many believe is depicting heaven and hell.

“Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’  But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.  And [r]besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’  And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’  But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:22-31 NASB.

We know Lazarus was who was brought forth out of the grave. Yes, and soon Yeshua/ Jesus, the First fruits, will be soon come forth out of the grave and gets the keys to death, hell and the grave. “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.” 1st Corinthians 15:20.   Yeshua is making a very good point here, and if we remember correctly another verse from the Gospels explains even more.

“The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.” John 12:9-11 NASB.

Now a few interesting items in the passage above is the way he labeled these men as poor and rich and also the fact that the rich man had five brothers.

According to Metzger & Coogan Oxford Companion to the Bible, “Joseph Caiaphas, known simply as Caiaphas in the Newer Testament, was the Jewish high priest who is said to have organized the plot to kill Jesus. Caiaphas is also said to have been involved in the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus.”

“The 1st-century Jewish historian Josephus is considered the most reliable literary source for Caiaphas. Josephus (Antiquitates Judaicae 18.33-35) relates that Caiaphas became a high priest during a turbulent period. He also states that the proconsul Vitellius deposed him (Antiquitates Judaicae 18.95-97). Josephus’ account is based on an older source in which incumbents of the high priesthood were listed chronologically.”

According to Josephus, Caiaphas was appointed in AD 18 by the Roman prefect who preceded Pontius Pilate, Valerius Gratus.[1]

Joseph was the son-in-law of Annas (also called Ananus) the son of Seth. Annas was deposed, but had five sons who served as high priest after him. The terms of Annas, Caiaphas, and the five brothers are

Ananus (or Annas) the son of Seth (6–15)

Eleazar the son of Ananus (16–17)

Caiaphas – properly called Joseph son of Caiaphas (18–36), who had married the daughter of Annas (John 18:13)

Jonathan the son of Ananus (36–37 and 44)

Theophilus ben Ananus (37–41)

Matthias ben Ananus (43)

Ananus ben Ananus (63).

The High Priest that year had five brothers and they are all listed above. These Chief priest were badgering Yeshua and trying their best to do away with him and as we know, they succeeded until the 3rd day. When Jesus/Yeshua is pointing out their wealth and their esteem and using the robes of royal purple and fine linen to describe them, they were sure to have felt slapped in the face. This parable was a warning about torment and wealth and the evil schemes of men who hoard up their riches and think that one day they will not be held accountable for the poor, but will we see the sinners sweltering in hell? I think not. For more on Hell click here. Part #2 Hell, the Lake of Fire & the 2nd Death

Jews believe that at their death, they go to a place called Paradise or Abraham’s bosom. Interesting that when Yeshua looked at the man on the cross, he said, “I tell you the truth this day (coma) you will be with me in Paradise. Notice, I have changed where the coma is placed for a reason. In the King James, the coma is placed after and leads one to believe that Yeshua went to Paradise that day. He was in the heart of the earth three days like Jonah and then he was walking among the twelve for forty days before he ascended. But what about Abrahams bosom? What did it mean to Jews at that time period? Did they understand, like Marty McFly the lingo of the day and the idioms in use?

“The word found in the Greek text for “bosom” is kolpos, meaning “lap” “bay”.[2] This relates to the Second Temple period practice of reclining and eating meals in proximity to other guests, the closest of whom physically was said to lie on the bosom (chest) of the host.” The Septuagint Greek version of Isaiah 40:11 uses another Greek word: γαστρι

 

Now, we know that the poor man was so close to the rich man’s table he was hoping for just a crumb to fall that a dog might find underneath. This seems to go hand and hand with the story and when we research further we grasp more understanding.

“According to Maldonatus (1583),[6] whose theory has since been accepted by many scholars, the metaphor “to be in Abraham’s Bosom” is derived from the custom of reclining on couches at the table, which prevailed among the Jews during and before the time of Jesus. As at a feast each guest leaned on his left elbow so as to leave his right arm at liberty, and as two or more lay on the same couch, the head of one man was near the breast of the man who lay behind, and he was therefore said “to lie in the bosom” of the other.”

It was also considered by the Jews of old a mark of special honor and favor for one to be allowed to lie in the bosom of the master of the feast (cf. John 13:23), and it is by this illustration that they pictured the next world. They conceived of the reward of the righteous dead as a sharing in a banquet given by Abraham, “the father of the faithful” (cf. Matthew 8:11 sqq.), and of the highest form of that reward as lying in “Abraham’s Bosom.”

When we read all the parables in the Bible we notice a common mixture of using an allegory, this metaphoric language to describe something larger than a simpleton like Marty McFly would be able to decipher. Let me show you some examples. In Revelations chapter one we read about seven stars and seven golden lampstands. Once we continue reading the vision John had, we are given the hidden meaning to both items in verse twenty. “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” NASB. Once we dig deeper we learn there are seven Spirits of Adonai and seven Feast.

Matthew 5:3 says that we are the salt of the earth, but are we really salt? He is the Potter and we are the clay. Are we actually a slab of clay? Other verses proclaim that the Father is our rock, our Shepherd and even states Yeshua/Jesus is a lamb, the bread of life, a vine, but we all know these are just metaphors for a deeper hidden spiritual truth. So let’s get back to the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar. If Christians really want to believe this is about heaven and hell, we have not even an ounce of proof because neither word is mentioned, not even metaphorically. What we do know is the righteous man was not wealthy and prosperous and healed in the name of Jesus. No, that sounds more like the prideful church in this hour, and forgive me because I do believe Yeshua came to heal and save and give us life more abundantly, but sometimes that looks more like Job’s trials on this earth. So, we have a righteous man who is so poor he is wishing for a crumb and dogs are licking his soars. The rich man is not like the Good Samaritan. Yeshua used that parable to show these wealthy pious priest, and the arrogant Pharisees just how they acted. They acted as if they didn’t see the poor, the blind, the beggars laid up at their church/ temple doors. They walked past in their highfalutin robes with their boxes strapped to their foreheads and prayed loudly and tithed loudly so they could receive all the glory and honor of this world, not the world to come. All these parables are about the rich and poor.

The rich man begged for a drop of water to be placed on his tongue, but he couldn’t even give a crumb to the beggar while he lived in his wealth on earth. Now he is in torment. Our understanding of heaven and hell are mixed with Hellenism and Plato’s teachings along with many other men. Nowhere in the gospels do we see us floating up to heaven, but we do read about a new heaven and a new earth and the Son of Yah coming here.

“and that He may send Jesus, the [i]Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the [j]period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:20-21 NASB.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will [a]dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them. “ Revelation 20:2-3 NASB.

This word new does not mean something brand new. When the Father sent a flood he kept eight people and all the animals. He did not say I am destroying everything and starting over. He baptized the earth and cleansed it, but it was still the same work of His hands. Yes, there is a Day of Judgment, but He also tells us that He will wipe every tear from our eyes. Will we see our loved ones burning in torment? Would that be a place of no more crying and perfect peace? No. I want to cover all the bases here so that no stones are left unturned. In order to do that I need to cover the Transfiguration and the souls under the alter. Afterwards we will move from the heavenly abode to hell, sheol, and the grave.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Strong’s concordance

McFly: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/McFly

Back to the Future: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future

Pepsi Free: Caffeine-Free Pepsi-Cola was introduced, under the brand name Pepsi Free, in 1982 by PepsiCo as the first major-brand caffeine-free cola in years. (The Canada Dry Company had marketed “Sport Cola,” which was also caffeine-free, in the 1960s, but that brand of cola was not a success

Parable: http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11898-parable

Purple robes: COLOR – …2).Purples. (a) The purple dyes were obtained from the “ḥallazon,” a species of shell-fish called Murex brandaris and Murex …trunculis, on which see Rieger (l.c. p. 21). It yielded purple-red (Hebrew “argaman” = Aramaic “argewan”) and purple-blue or violet (Hebrew “tekelet” = Aramaic “tikla”). Both colors figure largely in the decoration of …the Tabernacle and the priestly robes. In Jer. x. 9 both are mentioned as contributing to the splendor of heathen worship. In Judges viii. 26 the Midianitish chiefs are said to have worn robes of purple-red…Jewish Encyclopedia.

Abarim Publications: Lazarus

Joseph Caiaphas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas

Metzger & Coogan Oxford Companion to the Bible, 1993. p 97

Josephus’ source is mentioned in Antiquitates Judaicae 20.224-51 and Against Apion 1.36; see Bond, Caiaphas, p. 163, n. 2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas

http://jewishencyclopedia.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=Caiaphas&commit=search

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosom_of_Abraham

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/362-abraham-s-bosom

http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php?title=Historical_Overview

 

 

 

 

 

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The Cost of a Garment


A Seasoned Coat

I had a dream last week right after Passover. In my dream, there were two men with their backs to me. They each had on a Jewish prayer shawl with the tzitzit or tassels that are specially knotted representing the 613 Torah commandments. This is the very shawl Jesus/Yeshua was wearing when the lady with the issue of blood crawled through the crowd and touched the hem of his garment. She touched the Word in more ways than one. This was a commandment from Deuteronomy and Numbers. Let’s look at that real quick before we go farther.
“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.” Leviticus 15:37-39 NIV.
The first man’s shawl in my dream was older, darker as in aged—seasoned, and I remember this man had his head bowed (humble). The man behind him was larger and dressed in a sparkling new prayer shawl. It was bright and white and unseasoned. I walked behind this man in my dream with the bright white one and yanked off his prayer shawl.
When I woke up I said, Father, what are you trying to tell me? A friend called that day and explained that this was an exposing of the men who wear the tallit but do not know what it represents. The coat has a deeper significance. Jesus/Yeshua said that if we love him we will keep his commandments. “For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1st John 5:3 NASB.
This seems simple enough but I never really knew the amount of grace I was under before my eyes were opened to many passages in my Bible.
A few days later I saw a man wearing this type of garment who is in leadership. He was preaching an Easter service on a Sunday morning. This man does a lot of good works for the poor, the homeless, and the addicts, but I wondered if he was aware that among those tassel threads hanging down is a thread that says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8 KJB. This was never changed to Sun-day. The words from Paul about “one man considers a day more sacred” has nothing to do with a day that is our wedding day– A day the Father blessed and set apart. A day our Father says is a sign to us. Why? Because that day of rest represents our rest forever in the Kingdom. It’s the millennial reign. Men who wear that type of shawl with those holy marriage vows hanging off keep the Sabbath. They obey those tassels—even after Yeshua’s death and resurrection they obeyed the commandments.

 

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change.”
Those who cloak their head in humbleness under that tent like shawl keep the Sabbath and the Feast. Our next Feast is written about in the book of Acts Chapter two. They were in one accord for a feast that was mandatory. They didn’t just decide to get together in unity in an upper room and wait for no reason. When Jesus/Yeshua told them to wait they knew what that meant. They were counting the omer.
“Even unto the day after the seventh sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new grain offering unto the LORD” Leviticus 23:16 KJV.
“Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” He said they were His Feast, not a Jewish Feast but even if they were a “Jewish” Feast weren’t we engrafted into a Hebraic faith before Constantine and others polluted it?
Wasn’t Paul and all the others in the New portion of the book still keeping all the Feast which were and are all about Jesus/Yeshua. Paul said, “Therefore let us keep the feast” 1st Corinthians 5:8 NASB.
Many times we wear things that are not congruent with who we are yet. I know many times in my past I wanted to own one of those shawls but I really did not know what that meant. I just thought it was “cool.” I wasn’t aware that the very Word of Yah—the Torah was wrapped in this garment. The dead are wrapped in it. It is often translated as wings in the King James and yes, even a tent. This is the shadow of His Wings because it is golden instructions to keep us holy and safe. Protection.
We often wear many things that misrepresent who we are.
One of the items we wear is “titles.”
Have you ever had an experience with someone you didn’t know personally that was unfavorable? A person who wears the same titles as you? Titles like Nurse—teacher—Pastor—Rabbi–Political titles and so forth. Yes, “those people.” Ever met someone on social media and had some dialogue that went Due South? Perhaps you had a fluctuating opinion over a passage of the Bible, an elected official, a political topic, or something else and then found out that the person you are conversing with is the author and producer of? The director and CEO of? Your mother-n-law’s cousin? Your Rabbi’s son? Your Pastors niece? Oh, yes this happened to me last week–not once, not twice,–well you get the picture.
After my second rebuttal with the first person, I went to their Facebook page and found out they were friends with someone I really admire and also they held an important title. I sort of thought hmm, perhaps I shouldn’t have said what I said. Although I tried to be graceful in my words, my belief was clearly different on the matter due to my life experiences and passages I had studied. I heard the Father say, “Would you make a difference in my Word for a person of man’s esteem?
Do you treat people differently?”
Ouch.
And that’s when conviction set in. “No, I don’t think so Father but you know my heart.”
“The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 ISR.
If I would have known what title the person had would I have treated them differently? Have you ever been guilty of this? I think if we were honest we all would say yes. Do we treat people differently that we know our friends or family would not possibly approve of their views?
Paul walked into an area littered with men, in the midst of the Areopagus, these men were Greek scholars who put on airs at times. They stood conversing and ogling in his direction but he with great gusto said, “Men of Athens: I see how very religious you are in every way!  For as I was walking around, looking at your shrines, I even found an altar which had been inscribed, ‘To An Unknown God.’ So, the one whom you are already worshipping in ignorance-this is the one I proclaim to you.
“The God who made the universe and everything in it, and who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in man-made temples; nor is he served by human hands, as if he lacked something; since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.” Acts 17:22-25 CJB.
All of us are guilty of ignorance but once we are presented with truth we can do better.
Lately, I have started noticing how men and women interact in a large group. How people talk to leaders. How people ignore certain ones. We often dismiss others instead of digging in and looking at conflicting opinions with a heart that says, “Abba show me anything I am missing that you may have shown them?” We also refrain from correcting those who are in leadership. This same Paul had to correct Peter in front of many. That’s tough. He couldn’t just do it in private.  “But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.” Galatians 2:11 TLV.
We also often get hung up in the knowledge and miss the Spirit. Clothing the naked—feeding the poor—visiting the sick, the widow–those in prison and so forth. Jesus/Yeshua said “I never knew you,” to a group who had not done these deeds.
Broken people don’t care if we have our Feast calendar exactly right or pronounce the Name correctly. Half the people in the streets would not even know who Yahushua or Yahweh or even Yeshua is.
So in order for Abba to make His point clearer, this happened again and again, and I even watched it happen to my husband. I think his phone conversation may have influenced his clothing. Perhaps his level of nervousness was effected at meeting someone of importance. Only his situation was the opposite. Yes, they were important but not packaged as he was expecting.
I’m going to end with an example.
Once while working at a restaurant I watched a couple come into the lounge area. The man had on overhauls and his wife weighed about 90 pounds and was wearing his gigantic t-shirt and sweat pants. My co-workers took off to the back laughing saying, “Bonnie that’s all YOU!” I pleasantly greeted them and the man asked me if he could see our wine list. He then proceeded to order a bottle even I, an employee with a key could not fetch for them. I had to get the manager to unlock the case and climb up to a hidden spot. After getting their wine they said we just will be having some soup and salad and the wine. They drank the bottle and ate the small meal and then gave me a hundred dollar tip. From that night on, they always requested me as their server and shared much of their life with me. I was blessed. If you would have seen them on the street you might have wondered if they could afford to buy a soda pop. However, after my fellow co-workers found out the tip they had left me, now when this couple came in they tried to knock me down to get to them. Ah, the heart, who can know it? Yahweh searches the hearts. He goes to and fro throughout the earth. He knows you and me. He knows our hearts.
“My brothers, do not hold the belief of our Master יהושע Messiah, the Master of esteem, with partiality. For if there should come into your meeting a man with gold rings, in a splendid robe, and there should also come in a poor one dressed in rags, and you pay attention to the one wearing the splendid robe and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor one, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with wicked thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers: Has Elohim not chosen the poor of this world, rich in belief and heirs of the reign which He promised to those who love Him? “James 2:1-4 ISR.
Two men in my dream wore SPLENDID ROBES, one was seasoned and one was new. Awe, Abba cleanse our garments and our hearts to be transparent and led by YOU no matter what it cost us for our life to look like that garment. “And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:8 KJV.

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I Hear the Rain


Here in Kentucky, we have many caves and even one named Mammoth Cave that is an attraction site. I’ve never lived in a cave in the natural but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in fear of your life. I cannot imagine the sanitary conditions or the animals, bats, and types of creatures living in that type of habitation. In the book of 1st Kings we find a hundred prophets of Yah hiding in caves for their lives.

These prophets were being fed and given water by a man who worked for the king. Obadiah in Hebrew means slave of Yah (God) Oh what an amazing name! These men, were no doubt, often in prayer. There was a drought for three and a half years and then Elijah shows up on the scene and slaughters all the false prophets. This I believe is where we are at right now in the spirit. The prophets who have been in hiding during this season of drought are going to come forth. These men and women will not fear man. These prophets in these caves are not named. They have no status or big name television network—no mega church or #1 bestselling book, but they have been humbled and they have a voice.

Elijah told the people this: “How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If ADONAI is God, follow him; but if it’s Ba‘al, follow him!” 1 Kings 18:21. The spirit of Baal has entered the churches but the Father is raising up men like Elijah and Moses to sound the alarm and release the people from bondage and a mixed up form of worship. The Christians and the Torah-obedient congregations are going to have to come together and become one. The Christians are going to have to come out of traditions of men and the Torah-obedient are going to have to work on adding to their truth– yes, adding love, and the Spirit behind the Torah. Obadiah was a man who was a slave to His Father. What does that mean? He was a servant and servants obey their Masters.

This cave dwelling does something—two things actually. It separates and prepares the prophet. After the prophets voices have been silenced for years in the caves, when they come forth their voices will be as TRUMPETS. They will blast and when they do men and women will have to choose between two opinions. Jeremiah Johnson said it like this, “People will hit the floor or they will hit the door.” This will be a testing and time of throwing off the world, the traditions of the world, and everything the world has to offer. This will be a time of sanctification. These prophets will not only sound the alarm but they will be as Daniel and Ezra, they will weep with the people over their own sins and the sins of the nation.

Now, I am going to wrap this up. Here is what I see. ““Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of (an abundance of RAIN) the ROAR of a heavy shower.” 1 Kings 18:41.

rain

 

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The Radicals


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Under attack? Every time my husband and I send out a newsletter we can cut the tension in the room with a knife, but is that even worthy of mentioning?

This week we elected a new leader over our great nation America, and he is already under attack. Many have even taken to the streets in violence and anger, others more peaceful, but still not in support.

This message is about radical men and women who are arriving on the scene. These folks won’t even blink in the face of hatred, rejection, Cancer, fear, demons, and death. They’ve been training for this season their whole lives. They’re tired of their voices being duct taped. They are tired of being politically correct. They are tired in general of being lied to.

Have you ever said something that caused pain that you regretted saying? Paul says the opposite. He says he is glad it caused pain. Let’s look at that.

I opened up to a passage from 2nd Corinthians 7, where Paul begins by saying in verse 8 “if I caused you pain by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it before — for I do see that that letter did distress you, though only for a short time — now I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to turn back to God.”

These men back then, and women would go out and preach knowing that the crowds would get in fights–riots even.  The police and guards would show up and beat them with rods, stripe their backs and stone them to death. Paul saw the 3rd heaven after they stoned him to death. This didn’t stop him from preaching. Stephen died by stoning while preaching the truth to the people. They placed their fingers in their ears to try and drown out the truth. This violence was not happening over a man named Donald Trump. This rioting and violence was not over a fleshly man placed in office. No, this was over King Jesus/ Yeshua. He and His disciples exposed their crooked leadership, turned over their money tables, and spoke parables where the crooked leaders were the main characters.

These men in the Bible were pierced with the sword. They were sawn in half, crucified, and boiled in pots. One man told the king he shouldn’t be sleeping with his brother’s wife and his head ended up on a silver platter. These men would get beat half to death for casting out demons and land in prison and on one occasion they (Paul and Silas) got the jailers and their families to become believers and baptized them. They said things like, “I’m ready to die. I’m ready to be poured out like a drink offering.” A prophet named Agabus warns Paul that if he goes on his trip, he’ll be bound and put in prison. Yes, the voice of the prophet didn’t end when Yeshua/ Jesus came, nor after he ascended. Let’s look at what he tells Paul and Paul’s answer.

“As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:10-13.

Paul is not upset that his letter made people mad! He was not going to stop preaching the Word if the folks didn’t agree with him. He did not stop writing letters, these letters that you and I read — letters birthed from his prison cell. He did not cry and say “woe is me.” I’ll just quit. I’ll quit the assembly and hide in my cell. The people are against my message. They’ve already stoned me and placed me in stocks–beat me. I’ll just give up.’

NO! These men were radical and they had spines of steel and an anointing that came from being crushed.

Oh, how many of us have the guts to pray to be crushed like an  olive or a rose to get the oil out and the sweet perfume?

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10 Things You May not Know About the Ten Commandments


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The Ten Commandments, Writings, or Statements, come straight out of the Torah (Law) Jesus/Yeshua said: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.

  1. These ten are part of the 613 laws given to the children of Israel.
  2. They are about our thoughts, speech, and actions towards G-d, others and our parents.
  3. Several Biblical translations says “Thou shalt not kill,” this is not a reflection of the truer meaning which is better translated as murder. Murdering someone and killing someone is two different things. As Rabbi Dovid Bendory put it, “killing” itself need not have a moral context — a soldier kills in battle, an intended murder victim kills in self-defense, a drug dealer kills his competition, and a doctor kills a patient. Whether “killing” carries criminal culpability (the drug dealer), civil culpability (the doctor), or is righteous (the intended murder victim) depends on the context and circumstances.”

Murder is something premeditated upon or something evil, where killing could happen by means of your car striking another car. In the Bible, they had a place called a city of refuge where a person who had accidently killed someone could flee for protection. In the Commandments concerning this topic of murder and killings, it says that a person who murders someone intentionally with hatred and evil in their heart must be killed. This is righteous killing according to the Torah.

  1. The commandment to not bear false witness against your neighbor is one that we see happening in the case of wicked Jezebel who swore Naboth had lied against the King and Yahweh. This caused an innocent man to die. Bearing false witness and lying can be two different things. Let me explain. If you tell your 80-year-old grandmother you like her curtains after she questions you about them, but secretly find them too flashy for your taste, this is not bearing false witness, and this is making your grandmother feel good in a matter that causes no one harm. When we translate these into our own beliefs we take away from the seriousness of them. If you are speaking about a person in a negative light and it causes them to be isolated or treated differently in your assembly or your own family, you are causing harm. Also, in the manner of bearing false witness, you can be guilty of not saying anything to defend a righteous person while listening to others bear falsely or paint the person in a negative light. This too is a sin.
  2. This next Commandment on Sabbath keeping is one that makes a person shake their head at what has happened concerning it. If you have studied the Feast at any length you realize that this set apart day cannot be changed and Paul’s words from Galatians have been misconstrued by ignorant men. I could spend all day here but most already believe that Jesus/ Yeshua arose on Sunday and therefore we now worship on Sunday or they believe getting caught up with a day is bondage and a ritual. The Father said to remember it and keep it holy. Did He change His mind? No.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it Kadosh (Holy). Kadosh means something set aside and separated for a certain time. The same meaning of this word is what is spoken at a wedding when the groom says to the bride, “You are betrothed to me.” The Sabbath was made for man and it was never changed to Sun-day. No one in the Bible had church on Sunday. The Creator picked one day and set it aside and called it holy. After Jesus arose from the grave and ascended, the apostles and men and women of G-d kept the Sabbath. In the new kingdom, all will keep the Sabbath. It is a rehearsal for our wedding day. A rehearsal for the real deal. The earth and everything in it requires rest. I want you to look at a word we read over and over again and that word is “Custom.” According to Strong’s, this is something fixed forever. Appointed (1), customs (5), due (1), fixed order (1), fixed patterns (1).

Let’s look at a few verses concerning this.

 

“As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,” Acts 17:2. “Every Sabbath he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4. Never do we read the men of G-d telling the Greeks or Jews that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday, nor do we read of any of them starting a Sunday “church” and giving it a man-made name.

“After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”… Acts 13:13-15. It was their “custom” and we see Jesus/ Yeshua kept it perfectly. “Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath.” Luke 4:16.

Acts 13:42 (NKJV) “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”

Acts 13:44 “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of Yahweh.”

Now let’s look at the New Kingdom.

 

“For just as the new heavens and the new earth

Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the LORD,

“So your offspring and your name will endure.

“And it shall be from new moon to new moon

And from sabbath to sabbath,

All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:22-23.

  1. The word Law or Torah means to teach or to instruct. We are G-d’s children and we need instructions. If you saw your child eating trash or playing in the street, you would instruct them.
  2. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalms 119:105. This WORD mentioned that lights the way is none other than the Torah. Yeshua/ Jesus was the Word made flesh. If you quote this scripture and were made to memorize it years ago, I beg you to ponder all the verses in Psalms 119. This is where you will learn much wisdom and knowledge about the instructions for life, marriage and yes, eternity.

 

  1. Many religious groups have been at war over the law (Torah) and some claim it was done away with, while others claim we should be Torah observant and keep it all– others wish to exclude sacrifices. This causes arguments and people get very unbalanced. Some venture towards a hyper-grace belief and basically live however they want with a belief that they will be forgiven. (Once saved always saved) Others run to keep all the Torah and begin to wear headscarf’s, tallit’s, grow beards and not even drive their cars after sundown. Often, Christians who proclaim that the law was done away with, or that they no longer need to keep it, end up in jail over keeping a portion of it or even quoting it–never realizing that they were.
  2. Once we engrave it on our hearts we have a fear of breaking it because we love our Father and His Son who died for us. “He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me …” (John 14:21)

“Now by this, we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (I John 2:3-6). If you are married and love your husband, you want to please him. If you are intimate with him and honor him, you will not want to break his trust. Some people marry for lust, money, or for what they can get out of it. They may go through the motions of obeying and honoring, but their hearts may be far from their husbands. The Father told his people that they honored him with lip service but their hearts were far away. Some only marry for material wealth, fame, attention, a way out of a bad home life, and so on. However, the wife who loves her husband will be faithful and true because she does not want to be given a certificate of divorce and sent away in shame. And that is exactly what HaShem did with His people, but He is merciful.

“The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” Hosea 3:1.

We just read how we can know if we love our husband or not. “He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me …” (John 14:21)

“Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness without which no one shall see the Master.” Hebrews 12:14 ISR.

Apartness. Separating from the world and the things of the world in order to live for eternity with our Father and His Son. Ponder the Ten this week. See if you can recite them without looking at your Bibles.

Blessings!

 

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Five daughters and the KING


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Such delicacies and hidden mysteries are hidden in the Words of an ancient book called the Tanakh or Old Testament.  Sometimes it causes me to need a napkin to soak up the juice of a fresh pomegranate, and other times a kerchief to dry my eyes. The Words can bring me to my knees and strike wonder in my heart. His Word can bring fear and cause one to think about the great flood and also the day of Jacobs trouble.

This morning I was reading about the daughters of Zelophehad. Have you heard of these strong women? Possibly not. There is only one man named Zelophehad in the whole Bible. His five daughters rose up and were heard. “Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah.” Numbers 27:1.

Something I found very interesting is the father’s name may mean “Shadow of the fear.” According to Jewish encyclopedia, “The etymology of the name is very doubtful; some scholars think that the root is Syriac and means “first rupture,” indicating that he was a first-born son (comp. Zelophehad in Rabbinical Literature). But the Septuagint Σαλπαάδ or Σαλφαάδ (B in Chron., Σαπφαάδ) shows that the Hebrew was vocalized (=“the shadow [or “protection”] of terror“). NOBSE Study Bible translates the name as Shadow Of The Fear.

Strangely enough, he named one of his daughters Noah, but all his daughters’ names have a shadow of the end of days in my opinion. Let’s look deeper into this.

Zelophehad’s name also means to break or wound and also to join and become one. “Become One.” Yes, that’s what we long for. That’s what Jesus/ Yeshua prayed in John chapter 17, that we would become one as He and His Father are one. Again,  Zelophehad’s name means to break, wound, and yes, the shadow of fear. Zelophehad’s  father had a very curious name as well. His name was Hepher and could have meant “shame.” There were three men and one city named Hepher in the Bible.

“Hepher, a noun derived from חפר I (hapar) and read Well, Pit.

If the name Hepher comes from חפר I (hapar), it would mean Dig, but it may also come from חפר II (haper) and mean Shame. ”

These are descendants of Joseph’s son Manasseh. As we go through the names of these women don’t lose heart. I will be expounding on their great faith, power, and how they used their voice to change the Torah for all women, but first let’s dig deeper.

The first daughter, Mahlah means sickness and disease and the root of the word means “profane,” the opposite of holy. “Both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Disease.”  You may be thinking why would someone name their daughter that, but names back then meant something. If this has to do with what the earth will look like before the return of the Messiah, then these names are more than a personal label. Let’s see if we can connect the names. The earth was corrupt before the flood came. The sickness was a matter of their hearts. The Bible says,

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:5-8 NASB.  The Bible says that just as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be when the Son of man returns.

Why would a man name his daughter Noah? He knew who Noah was. He knew Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Adonai. The female form of Noah means to shake, to rattle. The feminine name Noah (נעה) means Shaky Girl or Lady Wanderer.

According to Abarim publications, “The root-verb נוע (nua’) means to shake, stagger, quiver, tremble, etcetera. It’s used for trees that sway in the breeze (Judges 9:9), of lips that stammer (1 Samuel 1:13), of drunks who stagger (psalm 107:27). “

Hoglah means to hobble or hop. The name Hoglah is ascribed to an unused root חגל, which occurs in Arabic with the meaning of to hobble or hop. The Arabic derived noun means partridge, so scholars conclude that the Hebrew name Hoglah does the same. There’s nothing in the vocabulary of the Bible that comes close to the name Hoglah. Was she disabled and sick? Did she hop like a bird? When we look at sickness, a shaking and rattling and now to hobble and hop, we have a message that seems to be saying more.

“The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again.” Isaiah 24:20 NASB. “Men will go into caves of the rocks And into holes of the ground Before the terror of the LORD And the splendor of His majesty When He arises to make the earth tremble.” Isaiah 2:19 NASB. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” Hebrews 12:26 NASB.

The Father will shake the earth. We know this from passages concerning the end. An earthquake is coming that will split the earth and His Son Yeshua will stand on the mount of Olives in that day. “You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!” Zechariah 14:5 NASB.

We have a story here in the names of these daughters. There is one man named Noah and one woman named Noah in the whole Bible. These five daughters are orphans and have no mother or father. The children of Israel had been marching around in the desert and now they have finally come to the Promise Land. We too wait for the day we will enter the glorious Kingdom of Yahweh. These daughters all have “Yah” in their names and they are determined to enter the promised land even though they are not men. Even though they had no inheritance. Even though their father may have acted shameful. They were going to pull up their boot straps and face the Man who God spoke to face to face. And they were going to ask so they could receive.

“They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” (Give us property they said Give us salvation.)

“So Moses brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord said to him,“What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.” Numbers 27:2-7 NIV.

These women had a father who died for his own sin. Possibly for breaking the Sabbath, but he was not part of the group attached to Korah. These women were bold as lions! Their case was brought before the Creator of the universe! So can yours.

Once we get to the last two daughter’s names we see what happens on that day we are reunited with our Messiah. We have the daughter Milkah or Milcah and according to Abrium publications the noun for that name means king.  “The noun מלך (melek) is usually translated as king.” Kingship and royalty are attached to her name. The verb מלך (malak), to be or become king.

The King is coming and so is the promised land. The last daughter’s name suggest what we will be doing at that time. The last name is Tizrah and means to be accepted, favored and the root means to enjoy rest like a sabbath and also to delight.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there.   Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.   I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-5 CJB.

Sources: http://www.abarim-publications.com/

 

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Lift up your heads, O YOU GATES!


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“Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and IT WAS SHUT. The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. IT MUST NOT BE OPENED; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. Ezekiel 44:1-2 NIV.

Did you know prophecy is coming forth very swiftly? I am amazed at how fast it is coming forth. HaShem will even use Obama to bring it to pass just like He used Nebuchadnezzar IF He sees fit to… I want to talk to you about THE MOON and also A GATE… Not blood red moons, but just the BIG OLE moon itself. And not just a gate, but the Eastern gate, the one the Messiah, Jesus/ Yeshua, will return and victoriously come through. Did you know that gate hasn’t been opened in over 1,000 years? A THOUSAND YEARS!

If you have never studied why the NEW MOON or this gate is so important or what The Lord Adonai has to say about it in scripture, I hope this blog opens your eyes. The full moon is not the new moon.

The Solar system is an amazing thing. Only a creator could make such brilliance and hang THE EARTH ON NOTHING. According to Scientist, from earth, we only see around 60% of the moon’s surface. The SUN illuminates the moon and even though we do not see the dark side of the moon, it’s not really dark but also illuminated by the Sun’s rays.

A lunar conjunction is when the sun, earth and moon line up in a straight line. The sun is behind the moon and no sunlight is reflected from the face. The moon is blacked out during a conjunction. Your kitchen wall calendar usually will have a black dot that says “new moon,” but this is really a “no moon.” It’s the first sliver of light we see.

Let me explain, the word moon in the Bible is the same word we get MONTH from. The Gregorian calendars display the black dots all over the 12 calendar months. But The Father called for TWO WITNESSES to watch the sky until they seen the first sliver of the moon and then the trumpet would sound and the new month would begin. “Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast day.” Psalm 81:3 NASB.  “Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their starting places.  They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month (Full moon); on the [next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians,  while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the Lord had struck down among them.” Numbers 33:2-4.

Something else happened on these Full Moons and that is Feast days like Passover. Something even more amazing will happen when THE MESSIAH returns to set up His kingdom and strangely enough if you still feel like this is all Jewish and doesn’t pertain to you and your Christian congregation, then you are sadly mistaken. I hope you will finish reading this blog and meditate on the verses I quote and allow Him to open your eyes.

Did you know that many Christians from all denominations and backgrounds, are consumed with making it to heaven but they never discuss the 1,000-year millennial reign (Longest Sabbath day ever) or the new earth Jesus/ Yeshua talked about (His Kingdom)… We will not be living on clouds, floating along aimlessly as some envision but on EARTH.

Let’s look at this big night light (Moon) we have been given and see what it’s about. And let’s also unravel this prophetic gate in scripture and look at the mind-blowing historical facts that back it up! Shall we begin?

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years.” Genesis 1:14 NIV.

He tells us in Isaiah 66 That this New Moon is something more important than we may have thought. It’s something NEW. Let’s look at those verses.

“As the NEW heavens and the NEW EARTH that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon (1st of the month) to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:22-23 NIV.

Ezekiel also taught in chapter 46 that this would be something sacred in the NEW KINGDOM.

“Then the man brought me to the GATE FACING EAST, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. The GLORY of the Lord entered the temple through THE GATE FACING EAST”. Ezekiel 43:1, 4 NIV.

Now when we continue reading and come to chapter 46, it says this…

‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon.” Ezekiel 46:1 NASB.

WHY? So The Messiah can go through on His return and Yes, it just might fall on a  Sabbath. Now let’s finish the verse. . .

And in the DAY OF THE NEW MOON (Day one) it shall be opened.”

This gate has not been opened for over a 1000 years, but it could open on the day of His Feast. This gate is one of many that lead into the city and is also called the golden gate. The Messiah entered this gate riding on a lowly donkey and the people cried HOSANNA! He entered it as Ezekiel and Daniel said he would and He will enter it again. We have to look at the Old to understand the New.

“The people of the land shall also worship at the doorway of that gate before the LORD on the sabbaths and on the new moons.” Ezekiel 46:3 NASB.

There is much exciting news about this gate which Jesus/ Yeshua will enter. I found the italic notes below from a source called beforeitsnews.com and there is many prophecies on the website to behold.

“The Eastern Gate is the oldest of all the gates to the city and was the only one not rebuilt by Suleiman the Magnificent in AD 1539-42. Monolithic stones in the wall just above ground have been identified as 6th Century BC masonry from the time of Nehemiah, (Biblical Archeological Review [BAR], Mar/Apr 1992, p40).

 

 ATTEMPTS TO OPEN

In the Six Day War, some members of the Jewish military suggested catching the Jordanian defenders of the city off guard by blowing open the sealed Eastern Gate. But the leader of the group, an Orthodox Jew, had vehemently protested the idea, stating that “THE EASTERN GATE CAN BE OPENED ONLY WHEN THE MESSIAH COMES.”

  In 1917 Muslim leaders in control of Jerusalem tried and failed to break the prophecy and open the gate. On the exact day, the workmen were preparing to demolish the ancient stone, the hand of God intervened and the city of Jerusalem passed out of Muslim control into the hands of the British.

 Jewish rabbis describe the Messiah as a great military leader who would be sent by God from the east. He would enter the Eastern Gate and liberate the city from foreign control.

To prevent this, the Muslims sealed the gate and put a Muslim cemetery in front of it believing that a holy man would not defile himself by walking through a Muslim cemetery. Little did they know, they were fulfilling prophecy by doing this”…

Now I hope that you are still with me because we are going to open this up even more. Let’s look at this Messiah and let’s look at what is going to happen that will OPEN THIS Eastern GATE.

Zechariah 14:1-9 NIV says,

“A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

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 the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a 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.”

Now I want to stop right there for a moment and I want you to notice two things, one, HaShem is the one gathering all the nations and also did you know the Mount of Olives is right by this EASTERN GATE, only yards away.

Remember the angels appeared in Acts chapter 1 and said why MEN do you look up in the sky? The same Jesus/ Yeshua who ascended up, will return in the same way. And apparently the same place! This earthquake is going to come and split the ground wide open. Let’s read the rest of that chapter.

“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 the Lord my God will come, and ALL the holy ones with Him. On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day—A DAY KNOWN ONLY TO THE LORD Adonai—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and HIS NAME THE ONLY NAME.” 14:5-9 NIV.

My dad’s generation used to sing a song that went like this, “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time will be no more. Trumpets sound on NEW MOONS (Chadash-1st of light) and on Feast like the Feast of Trumpets. Jesus has fulfilled 4 of the feast but there are more we are waiting for to come to pass. No one blows trumpets on Easter or Christmas. Let’s look at Colossians 2 and see what these Feast mean to The Church.

Colossians 2:16-17 says, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are A SHADOW of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” NIV. When Paul began to teach the Colossian people who were Gentiles and had been caught up in pagan worship and goddess worship, with its many festivals and feast, he told them that when they kept the Yahweh’s Feast not to let the pagans there judge them. He also told them that these very days were PROPHETIC SHADOWS of what is to come to pass.

Did you know Jesus/ Yeshua and the complete Bible story and ending unfolds during these Feast? I hope you enjoyed this teaching.

http://beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2013/06/jerusalems-eastern-gate-has-been-closed-messiah-to-come-and-open-it-2450730.html

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/eclipse-information.html