Tag: Lawlessness

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Works Of Torah EXPOSED!

Mat 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you, for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Words spoken against Yahweh’s Torah and the work of His Spirit in and through true believers is no light matter. Mark 3:29;“but he who blasphemes against the Set-apart Spirit has no forgiveness forever, but is subject to everlasting judgment,”. May those who may be tempted to speak so carelessly…refrain.

Belief without works is dead. Works without belief is equally death. However, “good works” produced by His Spirit prove His presence and workmanship. This contrast of works is the issue of this study. Lets begin with defining “Torah.”

Torah: The word is first seen in Gen 26:5 “…because Abraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot.” (Torah plural) KJV; Laws.

Yahweh blesses Abraham’s son because of the testimony that he (Abraham) had. Abraham began his relationship with Yahweh through belief AND confirmed his belief through obedience to Yahweh’s Torah.

Torah (defined); “instruction, direction (human or divine), prophetic teaching, instruction in Messianic age, priestly direction or instruction, legal directives, law, codes.” Yahweh’s Torah; cannot be limited to Genesis – Deuteronomy, (as some teach), but must include all scripture! (Genesis – Revelation)

1 – Yahweh’s desire for His people;

Deut 30:6 “And Yahweh your Elohim shall circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might live…”

Yahweh’s desire has always been to have a heart relationship with His people. Yisrael’s unbelief resulted in the grafting in of believing gentiles among those of Yisrael who believed! As New Covenant believers we fulfill His heart’s desire!

Jer 31:33 “For this is the (new) covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, declares Yahweh: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”

Eze 36:27 “…and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.”

Rom 2:28-29 “For he is not a Yehudi who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But a Yehudi is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in Spirit, not literally, whose praise is not from men but from Elohim.”

2 – Messiah Exposing Works of Torah

Mat 23:27-28 “Because you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly indeed look well, but inside are filled with dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

As actors/imitators, in unbelief, they think that striving by human effort, to maintain the observance of Yahweh’s instruction is righteousness, but it has only an outward appearance of righteousness. Messiah sees their heart and pronounces them lawless!

This is an expression of unbelief, disguised in “works of Torah.” It is not to be confused with the workmanship of Yahweh in and through the believer!

3 – Paul Contrasts Belief and Works

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by favor you have been saved, through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, it is not by works, so that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yahshua unto good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Favor / GRK; charis is defined as “graciousness, gift, benefit, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.”

Yahweh’s Spirit Of Truth upon the heart of the believer, causes the believer to walk in Yahweh’s Torah/instruction. This is not by human effort where one could boast. It is the workmanship of Elohim, a new creation in Messiah, producing “good works” in and through the believer to walk in…

This is why Paul contrasts “works” (of human effort in the flesh), and “good works” (of divine effort in the heart). Consider these contrasts;

Yahweh’s Spirit of Truth through believers express “good works.”

Human effort through religious unbelievers express “Works of Torah.”

The Spirit Of Truth produces trust in Messiah’s righteousness.

Works of Torah religionists strive to appear righteous.

The Spirit Of Truth brings Yah’s blessings through believers to others.

Works of Torah religionists strive to attain Yahweh’s blessing for themselves.

The Spirit of Truth reveals His Torah/Word to believers.

Works of Torah religionists only repackage/reword and quote believers.

The Spirit of Truth causes believers to express Yahweh’s Love consistently.

Works of Torah religionists talk and act loving…in public.

The Spirit of Truth enables believers to bear Yahshua’s light and easy yoke.

Works of Torah religionists become spiritually bankrupt and worn out.

The Spirit of Truth leads believers in rightly applying His Torah/Word.

Works of Torah religionists resist rightly applying His Torah.

The Spirit of Truth equips believers to follow the true Messiah.

Works of Torah religionists eventually turn back to their lawlessness.

The Spirit of Truth empowers believers to contend for “the belief.” (The Truth)

Works of Torah religionists blaspheme and malign “the belief.”

You can see why it’s no wonder that the religionists, when they turn back to lawlessness, feel a burden lifted and begin to proclaim that they are free!

Sadly for them, they cannot discern between true freedom in the true Messiah and a false sense of freedom in unbelief! Consider;

2Pe 2:20 “For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahshua Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the first.”

4 – The Works That Matter In The End

Rev 22:14-15 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood. (Also see Rev 21:27, 2 Thess. 2:11.)

The Spirit of Truth causes believers to do His commands, bringing once again, access to the tree of life! These will dwell with Yahshua forever inside the New Yerushalayim! (Rev 21:2)

Those who continue in their religion of falsehood are outside…

1Jn 4:6 “We are of Elohim – the one knowing Elohim hears us. He who is not of Elohim does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of the Truth and the spirit of the delusion.”(fraudulence)

WHICH ARE YOU?

2Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves whether you are in the belief – prove yourselves. Or do you not know yourselves, that Yahshua Messiah is in you, unless you are disapproved.”

Related Articles: “Overcoming” series; 1-5, “The Parable of The Bride & The Whore”

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Overcoming #5 – The Facade of Some In Sardis – Revelation 3

Rev 3:1 The Scriptures 1998+ 1 “And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis write, ‘He who has the seven Spirits of Elohim and the seven stars, says this, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

In order to get a better understanding of this verse, it is necessary for us to go back a look at the verses having “seven” in them. Hopefully, by doing this we will get a clearer picture of what YAHWEH Elohim has given HIS messenger to reveal to Yohanan (John).

Revelation 1:4 “Yoḥanan, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Favour to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is coming, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne…”

Revelation 1:12 “And I turned to see the voice which spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands…”

Revelation 1:16 “And in His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was as the sun shining in its strength.”

Revelation 1:20 ““The secret of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are messengers of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands which you saw are seven assemblies.

Seven, as we understand number usage, signifies “complete, perfect, entire.”

So, from the above references, it appears that;

The seven assemblies are a type of the entirety, completed and perfect Body of Messiah.

The seven Spirits refer to The perfecting, completing work of The Set-Apart Spirit of YAHWEH in and through true believers.

The seven Stars are messengers (those entrusted with HIS Word) to the seven assembles (lampstands) throughout the world.

The seven golden lampstands refer to the entire assembly worldwide.

For further confirmation, consider these verses:

In Revelation 5:4 we see, “And out of the throne came lightnings, and thunders, and voices. And seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim.”

Luke 3:16 “Yoḥanan answered, saying to them all, “I indeed immerse you in water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to loosen. He shall immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and fire.”

And then in Revelation 5:6 “And I looked and saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing, as having been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim sent out into all the earth.”

I believe that within each of the seven assemblies, is contained a portion of The Body of Messiah. And all seven together will finally comprise the completion / perfection of the entirety of The Perfect Body of Messiah! In other words, in each assembly there are those who, through belief and the power of HIS Spirit, are doing The Father’s will.” There are also those, as represented among each assembly, who do not believe and are simply imitating those who are believers. The latter look act and sound like the former. The Master addressed this imitation in Matthew 13 regarding “wheat / tares.” (see article on “The Parable of The Bride & The Whore”)

To those in Sardis, The Master states that they “have a name” (notoriety, authority, reputation, etc), that they are alive…but HE sees them as “dead!”

The Master is addressing their facade. HE is saying that they are known as an entity that is supposed to possess authority, supposed to be walking in life, representing the ONE Who was dead and now is alive, but it’s all fake; a facade.

The Master’s intention is that those who profess belief should live under HIS authority and power being wide awake to HIS Purposes. They evidently see themselves as wide awake, but because they have stopped short HIS Spirit’s work of completion, Yahshua sees them as dead. Consider:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days hard times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, thankless, wrong-doers, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good, betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim, having a form (an appearance) of reverencebut denying its power. And turn away from these!”

Revelation 3:2 “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before Elohim. 3 “Remember, then, how you have received, and heard. And watch and repent. If, then, you do not wake up, I shall come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know at all what hour I come upon you.

The Master sees that their belief is eroding away through their preoccupation with the worldly approach to serving HIM. HE reminds them that they initially “received, and heard” by belief. They are told to wake up before it’s too late! Consider the words of Jude;

Jude 1:17-21 “But you, beloved ones, remember the words spoken before by the emissaries of our Master Yahshua Messiah, because they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own wicked lusts.

These are the ones who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved ones, building yourselves up on your most set-apart belief, praying in the Set-apart Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of Elohim, looking for the compassion of our Master Yahshua Messiah unto everlasting life.”

We are commanded to be perfect! Consider the words of The Master to the rich man who desired to enter into The Kingdom:

Matthew 19:21-22 “…יהושע (Yahshua) said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.” And when the young man heard the word, he went away sad, because he had many possessions.”

The love of possessions will hinder HIS Spirit from completing the process.

The Spirit of YAH IS YAH, The Spirit! Be filled with HIM / HIS Spirit!

Acts 13:52 “And the taught ones were filled with joy and the Set-apart Spirit.”

The presence of fear in one’s life is a clear indication that perfection is being hindered… Consider;

1 John 4:17-18 “By this love (YAH IS LOVE) has been perfected with us, in order that we might have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear holds punishment, and he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” In other words IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN YAH. (See article, “Cleaned Up – But Not Filled!)

Revelation 3:4-6 “Nevertheless, you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy. 5 “He who overcomes shall be dressed in white robes, and I shall by no means blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I shall confess his name before My Father and before His messengers. 6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” ’

YAHWEH always has a remnant. A trustworthy few in each assembly and in each generation who are consistent in the process of Overcoming! Pursuing the things of this world, is in the way of HIM completing HIS Work in us!

Again, there are those who have a “name”, but are dead while they live… In the final tally it matters not what we say about ourselves nor one another. What matters is what The Master says about us…

Some do not believe and only imitate those who do (believe) until they reach a point and cease to continue with their facade. Eventually proving their unbelief by returning to the lawless way from which they came…

1Jn 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have stayed with us – but in order that it might be made manifest that none of them were of us.”

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Overcoming #4 – Jezebel In Thyatira – Revelation 2

This is an article on the likenesses and the differences that exist between The True Messiah vs Anti-messiah AND The True Bride of Messiah vs Izebel, (pronounced Eezebel), also known as Jezebel, according to the scriptures.

In Rev 2:18-20 we find this; “And to the messenger of the assembly in Thyatira write, ‘This says the Son of Elohim, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished brass: I know your works, and love, and service, and belief, and your endurance. And as for your works, the last are more than the first. But I hold against you that you allow that woman Izebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and lead My servants astray to commit whoring and to eat food offered to idols.”

Let’s first look at some background on the historical person, Jezebel;

1Ki 16:31-32 “And it came to be, as though it had been a light matter for him (Ahab) to walk in the sins of Yarobam son of Nebat, that he took as wife Izebel the daughter of Ethbaʽal, sovereign of the Tsidonians. And he went and served Baʽal and bowed himself to it, and raised up an altar for Baʽal in the house of Baʽal, which he had built in Shomeron.”

Several points need to be considered pertaining to this introduction of Jezebel;

  1. The meaning of Jezebel, is “chaste.” She proves to be the opposite.
  2. The meaning of “Ethba’al” is “with Ba’al.” Jezebel is the daughter of one who is with Ba’al.
  3. The literal meaning of “Ba’al” is “worthlessness, however it is the sun-deity of Babylon.
  4. Ahab rejected YAH’S Commandments and worshiped Ba’al in sun worship. Not wise.

1Ki 18:19 (The Prophet of YAH, Eliyah says) “And now, send and gather all Yisra’ĕl to me on Mount Karmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baʽal, and the four hundred prophets of Ashĕrah, who eat at Izebel’s table.”

Several points to consider;

  1. The prophet of YAH, Eliyah challenges the prophets of Ba’al and Asherah.
  2. Asherah is a false deity of Sun worship / fertility. While maintaining it’s occultic attributes, it took on different names throughout time, (Ashtaroth, Ashtoreth, Astarte Euostra, etc) and in today’s vernacular is Easter, as sun worship continues in professingdom…
  3. These false prophets prove that they are in covenant with Jezebel as they eat / drink in dedication to their idols.

1Ki 19:1-2 “And when Ahab reported to Izebel all that Ěliyah had done, also how he slew all the prophets with the sword, Izebel sent a messenger to Ěliyah, saying, “So let the mighty ones do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them (dead) by tomorrow about this time.”

1Ki 21:2-10 “And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, and it shall be a vegetable garden for me, since it adjoins my house. And let me give you a better vineyard for it. If it is good in your eyes, let me give you its worth in silver. And Naboth said to Ahab, “Far be it from me, by יהוה, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you! And Ahaḇ went into his house embittered and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Yizreĕlite had spoken to him when he said, “I do not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and did not eat food. And Izebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so embittered that you are not eating food? And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Yizreĕlite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I give you another vineyard for it. But he answered, ‘I do not give you my vineyard.’ So Izebel his wife said to him, “Do you now rule over Yisra’ĕl? Rise up, eat food, and let your heart be glad. Let me give you the vineyard of Naboth the Yizreĕlite! Then she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the people, and seat two men, sons of Beliyaʽal before him to bear witness against him, saying, ‘You have blasphemed Elohim and the sovereign.’ Then you shall take him out, and stone him to death.” (This is exactly what they did)

Consider;

After some time, Jezebel is judged exactly as prophesied by Eliyah;

2Ki 9:36-37 “And they came back and informed him. And he said, “This is the word of יהוה, which He spoke by His servant Ěliyah the Tishbite, saying, ‘In the portion of Yizreʽĕl dogs are going to eat the flesh of Izebel, and the corpse of Izebel shall be as dung on the surface of the field, in the portion of Yizreʽĕl, so that they do not say, “This is Izebel.”

Perfectly and exacting, they could not find enough of her to bury, so her remains were left on the surface of the field…in Yizre’el…

An interesting fact to consider as we proceed to the Jezebel in Revelation is that Ahab, the husband of the literal Jezebel of 1-2 Kings is the EIGHTH Sovereign of Yisrael! Keep that tucked away until the end of this article and consider why that is significant…

Now that we have some background, let’s turn again to our text in Revelation 2:18-20

“And to the messenger of the assembly in Thyatira write, ‘This says the Son of Elohim, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished brass: I know your works, and love, and service, and belief, and your endurance. And as for your works, the last are more than the first. But I hold against you that you allow that woman Izebel, (Jezebel) who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and lead My servants astray to commit whoring and to eat food offered to idols.”

I believe that it is safe to assume that Yahshua is not referring to the same Jezebel in 1-2 Kings. Yahshua is using the example of Jezebel as seen in 1-2 Kings to exhort professing believers to know and discern the traits of Jezebel…

Consider:

The True Messiah is established as The True King / Priest.(according to the scriptures)

Heb 6:20 “…where Yahshua has entered as a forerunner for us, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Malkitsedeq.

Rev 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh. He has a name written: SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS AND MASTER OF MASTERS.”

The anti-messiah is being established as the king / priest. (according to lawlessness)

2Th 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you in any way, because the falling away is to come first, and the man of lawlessness1 is to be revealed, the son of destruction, (Footnote: 1Some texts read sin instead of lawlessness. This man might be the same one we read of in the prophecy in Isa. 14:12 – 14 (“Heileil”), meaning “the shining one,” the sovereign of Babylon) 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Elohim in the Dwelling Place of Elohim, showing himself that he is Elohim.”

The anti-messiah seeks to replace the True Messiah as King. He also sets himself up in the place of worship, proclaiming himself to be supreme in authority as a king, and as the high priest in worship!

The True Messiah / King / Priest has a Bride (HIS People) who is without spot or blemish. She proves her faithfulness by being submitted to Messiah, The Word.

Eph 5:24-27 “But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every respect.” Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it, 26 in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, 27 in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless.

The anti-messiah / king / priest has “a woman” (his people) who rides on a scarlet beast, (him) and describes herself as a queen.

Rev 17:3 “And he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”

Rev 18:7 “As much as she esteemed herself and lived riotously, so much torture and grief give to her, because in her heart she says, ‘I sit as sovereigness, and I am not a widow, and I do not see mourning at all.’

The Bride (the people) of The True Messiah / King / Priest is comprised of believers in The True Messiah / King / Priest according to the scriptures, who do not twist HIS Word to fit their traditions.

1Jn 3:24 And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us. (also see John 14:23-24, Acts 5:32, Rom. 8:7-11, 1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:13.)

Rev 14:12 Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of Yahshua.

The woman (the people) of the anti-messiah / king / priest is comprised of those who have rejected The True Messiah / King / Priest according to the scriptures and concoct a messiah, who is approving of their non-scriptural beliefs and observances.

2Th 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood, in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness.”(lawlessness)

The Bride (the people) of The True Messiah / King / Priest is dressed in White.

Rev 19:7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife prepared herself. And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousness (belief) of the set-apart ones.”

The woman (the people) of the anti-messiah is dressed in purple, scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stones.

Purple / scarlet / gold / precious stones represent a worldly appearance of harlotry.

Rev 17:4 “And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup filled with abominations and the filthiness of her whoring…”

The Bride (the people) of The True Messiah is described as the “set-apart city.”

Rev 21:2 (And I, Yohan (John) saw the set-apart city, new Yerushalayim, coming down out of the heaven from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Jezebel, the woman (the people) of the anti-messiah is also described as a “city.”

Rev 17:18 “And the woman whom you saw is that great city having sovereignty over the sovereigns of the earth.”

Rev 18:19 “And they threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and mourning, and saying, ‘Woe! Woe, the great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she was laid waste.’

The Bride (the people) of The True Messiah drinks the “cup of blessing.”

1Co 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Messiah? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Messiah?”

Jezebel, the woman (the people) of the anti-messiah also has a cup!

Rev 18:3 because all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her whoring, and the sovereigns of the earth have committed whoring with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the power of her riotous living.”

Jer 51:7 “Babel was a golden cup in the hand of Yahwah making drunk all the earth. The nations drank her wine, that is why the nations went mad!”

The Bride (the people) of The True Messiah is sealed / marked on the forehead.

Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Set-apart Spirit of Elohim, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Rev 22:4 “And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads.” (See also Revelation 7)

Jezebel, the woman (the people) of the anti-messiah is sealed on the forehead / hand.

Rev 13:16 “And he causes all, both small and great, and rich and poor, and free and slave, to be given a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads…”

Rev 14:9-11 And a third messenger followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark upon his forehead or upon his hand, 10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Elohim, which is poured out undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he shall be tortured with fire and sulphur before the set-apart messengers and before the Lamb. 11 “And the smoke of their torture goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those worshipping the beast and his image, also if anyone receives the mark of his name.”

The Bride (the people) of The True Messiah receives a secret Name.

Rev 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I shall give him a white stone, and on the stone a renewed (new) Name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

Jezebel, the woman (the people) of the anti-messiah also receives a secret name.

Rev 17:5 “…and upon her forehead a name written, a secret: BABEL THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE WHORES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Rev 17:11 “And the beast (the anti-messiah / king / priest) that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes to destruction. Remember that Ahab was the EIGHTH king and that Jezebel was his queen…

Rev 18:2-5 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Babel the great (the city of anti-messiah and the woman, comprised of people rejecting the True Messiah) is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, and a haunt for every unclean and hated bird, 3 because all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her whoring, and the sovereigns of the earth have committed whoring with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the power of her riotous living.” 4 And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Because her sins have piled up to reach the heaven, and Elohim has remembered her unrighteousnesses.”

1John 3:4 Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Mat 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name? And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’

At one time we too were “sons (and daughters) of disobedience”, and were a part of “the woman”, Jezebel who is riding the beast / the man of lawlessness.

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in trespasses and sins,in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest.”

We heard HIS Voice calling! May you hear HIS Voice and “Come Out Of Her…” before it’s too late!

Also see related article on “The Bride and The Whore“

All Scripture References are from “The Scriptures 1998+”

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#3 – The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees – Matthew 23

Mat 23:1-4 Then Yahshua spoke to the crowds and to His taught ones, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Mosheh. Therefore, whatever they say to you to guard, guard and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do.”

The Master is explaining that as long as the scribes and Pharisees are instructing strictly from what is written in The Torah, guard and do it. But do not follow their example. Their hypocrisy (acting) reveals who they really are.

Mat 23:4 “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but with their finger they do not wish to move them.”

The Master categorizes what these burden consist of throughout the remainder of the chapter. Some today would try and convince folks that the “burden” referred to here is The Torah / Commandments of Yahweh. But John has a different understanding. Consider;

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy,”

Mat 23:5-8 “And they do all their works to be seen by men, and they make their t’fillen wide and lengthen the tzitzit of their garments, and they love the best place at feasts, and the best seats in the congregations, and the greetings in the market-places, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers.”

Those who are already wrapped up in the outward appearance (in the world), will easily transition into the (religious) mindset of the scribes and Pharisees. They are all about drawing attention to themselves, their appearance, perks, notoriety, position, etc…They especially loved being revered as the teaching authority on The Scriptures. But those who receive The Spirit in the New Covenant will shy away from these outward expressions, being more conscious of “the inner man”, the “hidden man” reflective of Messiah’s presence in and through them. (also see Eph 3:16, 6:6, 1Pet 3:4)

Mat 23:9-12 “And do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in the heavens. Neither be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

The Master is not forbidding us to refer to our earthly parents as father or mother. Torah teaches that we are to “honor” our parents. The context of the verse dictates that He is forbidding HIS followers to specifically revere another as their highest spiritual “Rabbi, teacher, father, leader.” Ephesians 4:11-12 confirms ministry gifts given by The Master “for the perfecting of the set-apart ones…” However, Revelation 2:6, 2:15 condemns“the deeds” and “the doctrine” of the Nicolaites.” These are leaders / teachers that are continuing the error of Balaam in putting stumbling blocks before professing believers by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols as well as committing (literal & spiritual) fornication. (See articles: “The Parable of The Bride & The Whore” and “Christian Holi-Days”)

Mat 23:11-12“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Contrary to the prideful, lofty, me first mindset of the scribes and the Pharisees, The Master establishes the proper expression of those who will gain entrance into HIS Kingdom; Humility:The attitude of “others first.”

Php 2:3 “…doing none at all through selfishness or self-conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

Mat 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the reign of the heavens before men, for you do not go in, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”

The following 2 verses explains The Master’s meaning.

Luk 11:52 “Woe to you learned in the Torah, because you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”

Joh 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Yehudi for the Yehudi had already agreed that if anyone confessed that He was Messiah, he should be put out of the congregation.”

These same two indictments apply today. Those who are learned (in the Scriptures), but not learned in Messiah, are teaching what they do not understand and have taken away knowledge and understanding from their hearers. And those same teachers forbid their hearers to consider the truths of the True Messiah; That HE was not Greek and does not have a Greek name. HE did not come to start a new religious movement but came to complete what began with the First Covenant. HE did not put an end to The Commandments for HIS followers. HIS Favor (grace) is not a license for his supposed followers to live in sin…and so on.

Mat 23:14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you eat up widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers. Because of this you shall receive greater judgment.”

An interesting article on Religious Televangelists some years back stated that their “target audience in America is comprised of older, female rural women.” The article went on to say that most of these older women are generous financial donors. I’m left wondering how many of these older women were also widows…

2Ti 3:6 For among them are those who creep into households and captivate silly women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts…

Mat 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you go about the land and the sea to win one convert, and when he is won, you make him a son of Gehenna twofold more than yourselves.”

The Master doesn’t seem too pleased with their missionary efforts. Why? How can HE be pleased with the efforts of people who are rejecting HIM for who HE truly is? They may have zeal but any effort based on misconceptions will not have HIS blessing nor can it convey a valid eternal message. Again, the problem today is no different. This is why The Master says they were making people “twofold more than themselves.”

Mat 23:16-22 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the Dwelling Place, it does not matter, but whoever swears by the gold of the Dwelling Place, is bound by oath. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the Dwelling Place that sets the gold apart? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it does not matter, but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, is bound by oath. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sets the gift apart? He, then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all that is upon it. And he who swears by the Dwelling Place, swears by it and by Him who is dwelling in it. And he who swears by the heaven, swears by the throne of Elohim and by Him who is sitting upon it.”

The blind guides had their emphasis upon the earthly, the temporal. The Master uses the contrast between the eternal; “Dwelling Place” and the temporal; “the gold” to illustrate their blindness. Consider;

Rom 8:5-6 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.”

Little did they know, but their fleshly mindset caused such blindness that it kept them from seeing the very “Dwelling Place” of Yahweh standing right in front of them! The same is the case for those who encounter the Dwelling Place of Yah today as HE lives in and through those who have received HIS Spirit! (also see 1Cor 3:16, 2Cor 6:16)

Mat 23:23-24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and the anise and the cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah: the right-ruling and the compassion and the belief. These need to have been done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides – straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”

The scribes and Pharisees placed great emphasis on one aspect of Torah (tithing), while they neglected the other important aspects reflecting the true spirit of Torah (right-ruling, compassion and belief). Their rigidity reflects “dotting every I and crossing every T” even at the expense of the living. This type of lopsided rigidity results in volumes of man-made dogma containing commentary, commandments, rules, regulations, ordinances, traditions, etc…

Mat 23:25-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are filled with plunder and unrighteousness. Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside of them becomes clean too. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly indeed look well, but inside are filled with dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. For a detail look; See Article “Cleaned Up – But Not Filled”

Mat 23:29-33 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in the blood of the prophets.” Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who did murder the prophets – and you fill up the measure of your fathers! Serpents, brood of adders! How would you escape the judgment of Gehenna?”

The Master knows that these actors are of the same murderous spirit (the devil – John 8) that put the prophets to death in previous generations. HE also knows that they will be instrumental in putting HIM to death. Because they are blind to the truth they try to convince themselves (and one another) that they would NEVER do such evil deeds to the righteous by building tombs and decorating their monuments. I have witnessed for years the same outward show from the guilty and unrepentant, as they give money and get behind church building programs to try and convince themselves (and others) of their supposed piety… Yahshua is not fooled by their folly…we shouldn’t be either.

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The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees – Matthew 12

Mat 12:1-2 At that time Yahshua went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His taught ones were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain, to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your taught ones are doing what is not right to do on the Sabbath!”

The Pharisees were a very rigid sect of Judaism. The Messiah Yahshua warned His followers to beware of them. Consider His words later in Matthew;

Mat 23:4 “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but with their finger they do not wish to move them.”

In the text from Matt. 12, the Pharisees are accusing Yahshua of being lawless by accusing Him of breaking the Commandments through their misapplication of the Commandment to not harvest on the Sabbath;

Exo 34:21 “Six days you work, but on the seventh day you rest – in plowing time and in harvest you rest.

There is no Scripture to support the Pharisees. The followers of Yahshua were not harvesting. They were simply gleaning that which was intentionally left by the owner of the field for those in need as stated in the following;

Lev 23:22 ‘And when you reap the harvest of your land do not completely reap the corners of your field when you reap, and do not gather any gleaning from your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am Yahweh your Elohim.’ ”
The Pharisees were one of the sects of Yehudism guilty of adding to / subtracting from Yahweh’s Commandments. Much like Christianity today.

Mat 12:3-4 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he went into the House of Elohim and ate the showbread which was not right for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

The Master legitimizes the eating of the showbread rather than letting King David and his men go hungry. The priests had a better understanding of the Spirit of the Commandment than the Pharisees did. I personally believe this to be in support of the “Sovereignty & Priesthood” pronounced upon the true believers in Messiah Yahshua. (Rev. 5:10, Rev. 20:6; Exo. 19:6; Isa. 61:6; Rom. 12:1; 1Pet. 2:5-9)

Mat 12:5 “Or did you not read in the Torah that on the Sabbath the priests in the Set-apart Place profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?”

Priests continue to work on the Sabbath through offering sacrifice, offerings and circumcision. The Pharisaical mindset would prohibit such “work”

Consider;

John 7:22 “Because of this Mosheh has given you the circumcision – though it is not from Mosheh, but from the fathers – and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.”

The Master addresses the issue of “doing good on the Sabbath” later in Matthew 12:12.

Mat 12:6-8 “But I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the Set-apart Place. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion and not offering, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Adam is Master of the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees would say that they honor the Set-apart Place, but their hypocrisy betrays them. Yahshua clearly states that HE, the One that the earthly Set-apart Place was constructed to represent, is greater than the copy of the Heavenly Set-Apart Place. HE points out the Pharisees’ lack of understanding pertaining to Yah’s reason and purpose for offering, which is the expression of HIS compassion through providing a means for sinful man to be restored to a relationship with Yah. It was never meant to be a means of exclusion, but inclusion! The Pharisees and those guilty of lawlessness cannot understand the true heart of Yahweh. But David did.

Consider;

Psa The slaughterings of Elohim are a broken spirit, A heart broken and crushed, O Elohim, These You do not despise.”

Consider these verses as references to sacrifice and offering acceptable to Yahweh in The New Covenant;

Rom 12:1-2 “I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”

( Also; Rom. 15:16, Psa. 19:14, Eph. 5:10, Php. 4:18, 1Tim. 2:3; 5:4, Heb. 13:15-16, 1Pe. 2:5, 2:20)

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Blasphemy of The SPIRIT?

Mat 12:22-23 Then they brought to Him one who was demon-possessed, blind and dumb. And He healed him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw. And all the crowds were amazed and said, “Is this the Son of David?”

The crowds were catching a glimpse of Truth! They were beginning to get it! But then, the “birds of the air” swooped down upon them! (See article “Unbelief – The Reasons Behind it“)

Mat 12:24-27 But when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This one does not cast out demons except by Be’elzebul, the ruler of the demons.”And Yahshua knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Every reign divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. “And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then does his reign stand? And if I, by Be’elzebul do cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Because of this they shall be your judges.

Yahshua informs them that if Satan were to actually cast out the very demons that he is using to control people he would be contradicting his own efforts and thus be self defeating. We have a principle established by Yahshua; any kingdom, any city, any family and even any individual that is divided against itself cannot stand and will crumble. In other words; Countries, Communities, Churches, Marriages, Households and even Individuals who are at odds within themselves, are in confusion and will not stand. Look around you. Its happening even as I write this… Government is in complete chaos! Communities are rioting and burning! Churches closing! Heterosexual monogamous marriage is looked at as old fashioned! Family has been re-defined! Individuals, not able to cope, are taking medications at a record pace! Is there any question in your mind that Satan is using those living in their fleshly mindset to accomplish all of this? And yet, he is actually being used to destroy his own kingdom! How perfectly ironic…

Mat. 12:28-32 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of Elohim, then the reign of Elohim has come upon you. Or how is one able to enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he shall plunder his house. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. “Because of this I say to you, all sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Adam it shall be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Set-apart Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”

The Master then gives the very serious warning regarding the Pharisees and all those who ascribe the works of HIS Spirit to the devil… a very serious unforgivable offense! The Pharisees of our time are making the same accusations against those who observe the Seventh Day Sabbath, the Torah and the Feasts of Yahweh, saying that those who observe these scriptural precepts have fallen from HIS favor and have cut themselves off from Messiah! Some have even suggested that we who believe that the gifts of The Set-Apart Spirit are for today, are being inspired by the devil! Those in opposition to HIS Word are truly those being inspired by demons.

Consider;

1Ti 1:8-11 And we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately, knowing this: that Torah is not laid down for a righteous being, but for the lawless and unruly, for the wicked and for sinners, for the wrong-doers and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for those who whore, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else that is contrary to sound teaching, according to the esteemed Good News of the blessed Elohim which was entrusted to me.

The ruling Pharisees of today’s Christianity have practically abolished the instruction in the Torah, claiming that it is not relevant for believers today! And in so doing, they have loosed upon themselves the very sinful behavior that collapses countries, communities, churches, marriage, families and individuals…

2Ti 4:3-4 For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear, and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.

That time is upon us…

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Measuring Belief Systems By The Commandments

 

Prior to Yahweh giving HIS people HIS Commandments through Mosheh(Moses) in Exodus 20, they found themselves in bondage to a nation of idolators. Egypt worshipped many gods. Yahweh delivered HIS people from Egypt’s gods and then gave HIS Commandments with HIS promise to put HIS Commands in their hearts and cause them to walk in them. It is on that basis, that I present the following. HIS Commands are an excellent measuring stick of whether or not a belief system is in submission to HIM and walking in the New Covenant. (Also see article, “Comparing The Old and New Covenant.”)

Eze 36:26-27 “And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh, and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.”(All Scriptures are from the ISR 98, unless otherwise noted)

Commandment #1

Exo 20:2 “I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. You have no other mighty ones against My face.”

Even though this was spoken to the people of Yisrael, it is clearly understood by those who study the Scriptures (Genesis – Revelation), Who this “Elohim”(Hebrew) meaning “mighty one” is. HE identifies HIMSELF by NAME. My studies on HIS Name at the time of this writing have brought me to believe that HIS Name is Yahweh, THE Supreme Mighty ONE. You must understand that there has been and still is an aggressive movement to hide the true Names of The Father, Yahweh and HIS Son, Yahshua. I am not dogmatic that the Names that we currently use are accurate, but I do know this, HE will continue to confirm exactly who HE is to those coming to understand what The Father’s and The Son’s Names are NOT! All who believe The Scriptures from Genesis – Revelation are to call upon HIM by NAME and are not to have ANY other mighty one (real or fabricated) in HIS Place. Any belief system that forsakes HIS Truth and settles for a name and character that is simply not HIM, is a false belief system and will not know or understand The New Covenant.

Zec 10:2 “For the household idols spoke emptiness, the diviners saw falsehood, and relate dreams of deceit, they comfort in vain. Therefore they have wandered about like sheep. They are afflicted, for there is no shepherd.”

Mat 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”

Commandment #2

Exo 20:4-6 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, Yahweh your Elohim am a jealous Elohim, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.”

Will man choose The Living Elohim? Or will he continue in lifeless images resembling created beings “in heaven above, in earth beneath, or in the water under the earth?”

Any belief system that expresses a propensity for idolatry through it’s propagation of images/pictures/likenesses of messengers (angels), man / woman, animals (or any combination of the aforementioned), is in opposition to HIS Commandments and is a false belief system not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant and will find itself devoid of protection from the powers of darkness.

1Ki 18:21 “And (Elijah) came to all the people, and said, “How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If Yahweh is Elohim, follow Him; and if Ba’al follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”

Rom 1:20-23 “For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse, because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the esteem of the incorruptible Elohim into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds and of four-footed beasts and of reptiles.”

Commandment #3

Exo 20:7 “You do not bring the Name of Yahweh, your Elohim to naught, for Yahweh does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.”

This commandment addresses the seriousness of not rightly discerning the proper attitude in regards to HIS NAME. Of necessity, we must consider the meaning of the word translated “vain”. It is the Hebrew word “shav”. From the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, and from the Brown / Driver / Briggs Dictionary, #H7723 we can conclude that any misuse of (desolating, ruining), any overuse of (selfishly, idolatrous), and/or any nonuse of (rendering useless, using deceptively, falsely, making nothing, empty, worthless) HIS NAME is taking HIS NAME in vain. This is a serious issue!

Isa 52:5-7 “And now, what have I here,” declares Yahweh, “that My people are taken away for naught? Those who rule over them make them wail,” declares Yahweh “and My Name is despised all day continually. “Therefore My people shall know My Name, in that day, for I am the One who is speaking. See, it is I.” How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Tsiyon, “Your Elohim reigns!”

The Father wants HIS Name Known! (Jer.16:19-21)

The Master, Yahshua gave HIS taught ones HIS Father’s Name! (John 17:6,11,12,26)

There is not another name that can deliver! (Acts 4:12)

Believers will have HIS True Name upon them! (Rev. 3:12, 22:4)

Any person and / or belief system that is rendering HIS NAME (or the knowledge of HIS NAME) as worthless, not important, etc., will not be held guiltless and is not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant! (Also see article, “Six Reasons Why The Greek – Roman – Latin Jesus Cannot be The Messiah“)

Commandment #4

Exo 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahweh your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.”

Any belief system that rejects the 7th day as the Sabbath and does not set it apart as Yahweh has set it apart, ie. resting from work that is done the other six days of the week, is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Mat 15:9 “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.”

(See article “Catholic Quotes on who changed The Sabbath”)

Commandment #5

Exo 20:12 “Respect your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged upon the soil which Yahweh your Elohim is giving you.”

The Master repeats it in HIS answer to the man asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, saying in Mar 10:19 “You know the commands, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not rob,’ ‘Respect your father and your mother.’ ” “Respect” here means to “prize, revere, place great value upon”…

HE then says in Mar 10:29-30 “Yahshua said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for the sake of Me and the Good News, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life.”

Who should take precedent in your life? Gen.12:1, Matt.12:46-50, Lk.9:59-60, Lk.14:26…

Any belief system that contradicts the words of The Master is a false belief system that is not knowing nor understanding in The New Covenant.

Commandment #6

Exo 20:13 “You do not murder.”

Consider;

Exo 21:12-15 “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall certainly be put to death.

But, if he did not lie in wait but Elohim delivered him into his hand, then I shall appoint for you a place where he is to flee. But when a man acts presumptuously against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him even from My altar to die. And he who smites his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

Psa 106:37-38“And they slaughtered their sons And their daughters to demons, And they shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they offered to the idols of the land was defiled with blood.

Mat 23:34-35 “Because of this, see, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scholars of Scripture. Some of them you shall kill and impale, and some of them you shall flog in your congregations and persecute from city to city, so that on you should come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Dwelling Place and the altar.”

Any belief system that propagates a false messiah and / or condones the premeditated murder of the innocent is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #7

Exo 20:14 “You do not commit adultery.”

Lev 20:10 ‘And a man who commits adultery with the wife of another man, who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor: the adulterer and the adulteress shall certainly be put to death.”

Mat 19:4-6 And He answering, said to them, “Did you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined together, let man not separate.”

Heb 13:4 “Let marriage be respected by all, and the bed be undefiled. But Elohim shall judge those who whore, and adulterers.”

Any belief system that condones sexual practices that are forbidden in the Scriptures is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #8

Exo 20:15 “You do not steal.”

Lev 19:11-12 ‘Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another. And do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your Elohim. I am Yahweh.”
Joh 10:10 “The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure.”

Joh 12:4-6 (Judas, a thief helped himself to the money bag)

Rev 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their part is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”

Any belief system where theft, misuse of ministry money, profaning the Name of Yahweh, defrauding and / or swindling one another are common, is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #9

Exo 20:16 “You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.”

Exo 23:1 “Do not bring a false report. Do not put your hand with the wrong to be a malicious witness.”

Lev 19:16 ‘Do not go slandering among your people. Do not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.”

Joh 8:43-45“Why do you not know what I say? Because you are unable to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.”

1Jn 2:22 “Who is the liar, except the one denying that Yahshua is the Messiah? This is the anti-messiah, the one denying the Father and the Son.”

Any belief system that condones lying, slander, gossip and a fabricated identity of The Messiah is a false belief system that is under the sway of the wicked one, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #10

Exo 20:17 “You do not covet your neighbor’s house, you do not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbor.”
Psa 10:3 “For the wrongdoer boasted of his cravings; And the greedy one cursed and despised Yahweh.”

Jer 5:8 “They were like well-fed horses, every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.”

Col 3:5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry.”

Any belief system that encourages greed, material wealth, and selfishness rather than contentment and others-centeredness is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

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Matthew 5:17

Matthew 5:17 – 18 ” “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete. Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures.
For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.”

Why did YAHSHUA have to address false assumptions? Evidently there were rumors that HE was discontinuing the Law…and possibly even the Prophets of the Scriptures. Why do we have to address this question? Because the same false assumptions exist today!

Verse 17a “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets”

“destroy”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries

G2647 “kataluo”

From G2596 and G3089; to loosen down (disintegrate), that is, (by
implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specifically (compare G2646)
to halt for the night:—destroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought,
overthrow, throw down.

Notice the context: It appears that HE is referring to BOTH the Law AND the Prophets. The context seems to suggest that whatever HIS intention is for EITHER, is HIS intention for BOTH. Has HE done away with the Prophets?

Verse 17b “I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

“fulfill”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries

G4137 “pleroo” play roo o

From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a
hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute
(an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:—
accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full
(come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

The following verses use the same Greek word “pleroo”;
Matthew 3:15 “But Yahshua answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.”
– Is YAHSHuA saying here “to do away with or discontinue all righteousness?”
Philippians 2:2 “…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, one in being and of purpose…”
– Is Paul saying here “to do away with or discontinue his joy?”
Colossians 1:25 “…of which I became a servant according to the administration of Elohim which was given to me for you, to fill the word of Elohim…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue the Word of YAH?”
2Thess 1:11 “To this end we always pray for you that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and complete all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of belief with power…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue HIS good pleasure?”

Proponents of the belief that YAHSHUA “fulfilled” the law from this point on in this chapter, thus “discontinuing” or “doing away with law altogether”, also say that HE intends to now introduce a “new standard or set of laws” state that HE now proceeds to negate the “Old Testament Law” throughout the remainder of this chapter. These people became known as “Antinomianists” during the 2nd / 3rd centuries. This word came from the Greek word for “lawlessness” found throughout the New Testament. (See References on page 2)

Here is what the Holman’s Bible Dictionary says about this early movement:

ANTINOMIANISM (an tih noh’ mih an ihsm) The false teaching that since faith alone is necessary for salvation, one is free from the moral obligations of the law. The word antinomianism is not used in the Bible, but the idea is spoken of. Paul appears to have been accused of being an antinomian (see Rom. 3:8; 6:1, 15). While it is true that obedience to the law will never earn salvation for anyone (Eph. 2:8-9), it is equally true that those who are saved are expected to live a life full of good works (see, for example, Matt. 7:16-20; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jas. 2:14-26). Since we have been freed from the dominion of sin through belief in YAHSHUA, we have also been freed to practice the righteousness demanded by YAH (Rom. 6:12-22).

In Legge’s “Forerunner’s and Rivals of Christianity” a work on the history of the Early Church, he states”

(in the late 2nd to early 3rd centuries) “Some well-known Church Fathers who came from Gnosticism were Epiphanius, who had been a Nicolaitan, Ambrose of Milan, who had been a Valentinian, and Augustine, who had been a Manichean for 9 years before joining the Catholic Church. All these Gnostic sects were distinguished by their rejection of the Old Testament Law, some of them even rejecting the Mighty One of the Old Testament, and some of them even equated the Mighty One of the Old Testament with the Evil One! In their rejection of the Old Testament Law, the Valentinian Gnostics even rejected all moral laws, leading to scandalous living.

The Marcionites were later on refuted, but they also contributed toward the aversion to, and even rejection of, the Old Testament. Manes and his followers, the Manicheans, from among whom Augustine came, “looked on Judaism with horror, rejected the Old Testament entirely…”

“LAWLESSNESS”

G458

From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness:—
iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

References to “lawlessness” in the New Testament:

Matthew 7:23 – And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 13:41-42 – ““The Son of Aḏam shall send out His messengers, and they shall gather out of His reign all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness, and shall throw them into the furnace of fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 23:38 – ““So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Matthew 24:12 – ““And because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold.” 

Romans 6:19 – ” I speak as a man, because of the weakness of your flesh. For even as you did present your members as servants of uncleanness, and of lawlessness resulting in lawlessness, so now present your members as servants of righteousness resulting in set-apartness.”

2Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;

Hebrews 1:9 – (quoting from numerous Psalms & Prophets)You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness

1John 3:4 – Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Please notice that the consistent use of this word “lawlessness” in these verses, contextually is describing some very serious consequences!

  • In light of these verses is it safe for anyone to say that YAHSHUA is saying in Matthew 5, that HE has “done away with ALL Old Testament Law?”
  • When does YAHSHUA say that this will be accomplished?

Matthew 5:18 – “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

When is that going to happen? Sometime in the future according to these verses:
2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Master will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Rev 20:11 – Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev 21:1 – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Again, in light of what the Scriptures say, is it wise to say that YAHSHUA in Matthew 5:17 is suggesting that The LAW of YAH is NOT relevant any longer?

You decide. I pray that you make your decision based on what the Scriptures are saying instead of what lawless men are saying…

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The Law of The Spirit

THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT

The following paragraph from a typical commentary is supposed to help the reader understand and rightly apply Romans 8:1-8. The perspective seen in this commentary reflects that perspective held by much of today’s traditional Christianity regarding The Law (Torah or Instruction) of YAHWEH. Unfortunately an unspiritual approach has enabled this perspective to be propagated. May you see the contradictions and inconsistencies of this commentary and today’s un-scriptural view of  the Words of YAHWEH!

The commentary states;

“How does the Christian live a righteous life without a constant struggle to keep God’s Law? Paul introduced another universal principle: the law of life lived in the power of the Spirit (8:1-2). Old Testament Law failed to produce righteousness. So in Messiah God condemned “sin in sinful man’’ and provided His Spirit, who enables believers to fully meet the Law’s requirements without “trying” (vv. 3-4). We focus on responding to God’s Spirit rather than on trying to keep laws (vv. 5-8). If we’re controlled by the Spirit who brought life to Messiah’s dead body, He will bring life to us who are spiritually dead (vv. 9-12). Our obligation is not to the Law, but to respond to the Spirit’s promptings (vv. 13-16).

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah YAHSHUA.”

Some would have us believe that Paul is making a distinction between the The Law of YAHWEH and Messiah YAHSHUA. However, if we are to stay with the context of the previous chapter we realize that Paul addresses the condemnation that comes upon those who “add to and/or subtract from” (Dt. 4:2 & 12:32) HIS Word and as the result are guilty of creating their own (or another) law! This, the Pharisees were guilty of. This also, today’s Christianity is guilty of.

Paul expresses this in Romans 7:22-23,

“For I joyfully concur with the Law of YAHWEH in the inner man, but I see a DIFFERENT law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind (the Law of YAH), and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”

An All Knowing ELOHIM would know that men would eventually replace HIS Law with their own law. The other law that Paul refers to in Romans 7 is that law that his sect had taught him to walk in prior to his coming to the unadulterated Law of YAH through his conversion in MESSIAH YAHSHUA! These two laws are in opposition to each other and cannot be reconciled. Paul describes the struggle that he has as he commits to the Law of YAHWEH through the renewal of his mind as a recipient of HIS SPIRIT, while at the same time his flesh wars against YAH’S Law at every turn. But YAH ALSO foreseeing this, promises the remedy to HIS own in Ezekiel 36:26-27;

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put MY SPIRIT within you and cause you to walk in MY Statutes, and you will be careful to observe MY Ordinances!”

In Messiah, one has the capacity to walk in obedience to HIS Law, by the power of HIS SPIRIT.

So again, we see Paul stating in Romans 8:1 that the condemnation of walking in law according to man is overcome by those who allow the SPIRIT to accomplish HIS work of causing HIS people to walk in HIS STATUTES and ORDINANCES. (HIS Law) Paul further clarifies this as we move on…

Romans 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Some (in their lawlessness) would have us to believe that this “law of the Spirit” is a law that is completely disconnected from and in contradiction to the already established Law of YAH! How can that be? We must ask ourselves; Has the Spirit of YAH somehow established HIS own set of laws? Has the Spirit of YAH decided to act on his own accord? Consider what YAHSHUA says concerning the character/nature and ministry of HIS Spirit:

John 16:13

“But when HE, the SPIRIT of Truth comes, HE will guide you into all the truth; for HE will not speak on HIS own initiative, but whatever HE hears, HE will speak; and HE will disclose to you what is to come”

John 14:15-17

“If you love me, keep MY Commandments. And I will pray the Father , and HE shall give you another Comforter (HIS SPIRIT), that HE may abide with you for ever; the SPIRIT of TRUTH whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth HIM not, neither knoweth HIM: but you know HIM; for HE dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

John 14:26

“But the HELPER, the Set-Apart SPIRIT whom the FATHER will send in MY name, HE will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

From these verses it is apparent that the only Law/Commandments that The SPIRIT of TRUTH is to have anything to do with is The Word, the  Commandments uttered by YAHWEH HIMSELF!

Some even attempt to take their argument further and would have us to believe that the Commandments that YAHSHUA is referring to in John are only those which HE established during HIS earthly ministry! Lets keep in mind what John the apostle says in regards to who YAHSHUA is! According to his gospel in chapter 1, verse 1;

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with YAH and the Word was YAH. HE was in the beginning with YAH.”

John says that YAHSHUA came as The Word / YAH incarnate. So, if YAHSHUA is both The Word & ONE with YAH, when did HE begin to speak the things that the SPIRIT is to “bring to our remembrance?” Some would have us to believe that YAHSHUA began to speak beginning in the New Testament. How can that be if HE is described in the New Testament as YAH The Word??? If YAH does not change and YAH’S Word does not change, how do we scripturally rationalize having TWO opposing sets of YAH’S Law in existence? (i.e. one set of laws in the Old Testament and another set in the New Testament)

So, since HE is The Living Word of YAH, when YAHSHUA states that the Set-Apart SPIRIT will “bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” HE is referring to the process of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 with HIS Statutes, HIS Ordinances being now on the hearts and in our minds of those who receive HIM! Those who would rather have a New Testament (ONLY) YAHSHUA with a New Testament set of commandments are perverting the Scriptures and have fallen into what the New Testament refers to as “lawlessness” (anti-law) or the attitude and actions of rejecting the Law of YAHWEH. For that they will have to stand before The Living Law of YAH and give an account. I fear that it will not be a pleasant experience for them…

Many who reject this truth cite verse 3 in Romans 8 to somehow try and establish a case for YAH’S Law being “weak and beggarly”. But notice where the real weakness lies…

Romans 8:3

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, YAH did; sending HIS own SON in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, HE condemned sin in the flesh,”

There are two possible applications to what Paul refers to here.

  1. Paul is saying that the Law of YAH was rendered weak “through the flesh”, being written on stone it was not capable of empowering anyone to obey it.

  2. Paul is saying that men have taken YAH’S perfect Law and polluted it by “adding to it and/or subtracting from it” making it weak and fleshly.

In either case, or even the combination of these two possibilities, it makes no difference, YAH sent HIS SON, The Living Word to inaugurate the New Covenant through HIS sinless life (as witnessed by HIS Law), proving HIMSELF to be the atoning sacrifice for OUR sins as The LAMB of YAH!

Romans 8:4

“that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Look at how perfectly this all fits together in context! Because Messiah YAHSHUA, (being YAH / Word incarnate) walked according to The Law of YAH, exposing the law of man (lawlessness in unbelief), and lived sinless so that HE would be an acceptable sacrifice on the for our sins, as proven by HIM being victorious over sin and death, we now by having HIS Law upon our hearts & minds are empowered by HIS SPIRIT to walk in obedience to HIS Law and experience victory over the flesh! Blessed be HIS Name!

Romans 8:5

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Simply put; “If your religion is based on what man (Adamic flesh) establishes, (unbelief, disobedience, additions to / subtractions from HIS Law), that is where your allegiance will be. If your religion is based on what YAH establishes, (Belief, Truth, HIS Law in your heart & mind) being quickened by HIS SPIRIT , then consequently your allegiance will be to HIM/HIS Word!” Paul states it this way so that you and I can objectively determine exactly where our own allegiance lies!

(See article, “Measuring Belief Systems By The Commandments“)

Romans 8:6

“For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Being fleshly minded in unbelief, (having your allegiance to what man establishes) will result in death. This is what Paul referred to earlier in verse 2, as “the law of sin and of death.”

Being spiritually minded in belief, (having your allegiance to what YAH establishes) will result in life! This is what Paul referred to earlier in verse 2, as “the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua…”

Romans 8:7

“Because the carnal(fleshly) mind is enmity against YAH; for it is not subject to the Law of YAH, nor indeed can be”


Notice which mind cannot be subject to The Law of YAH! It’s the Adamic/carnal/fleshly mind who is not experiencing The New Covenant as prophesied in Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36 and witnessed on The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! It’s the carnal/fleshly mind who rejects YAH’S Law, written on the heart/mind, empowered by HIS SPIRIT causing obedience to HIM! But today’s Christianity is being taught that it is the spiritual minded believer who is to reject YAH’S Law, saying that obedience to YAH’s Law is “legalism, bondage, etc.” and is irrelevant to him/her today!!! That is diametrically opposed to what we have just read in The Scriptures!

Romans 8:8

“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please YAH.”

Those with their allegiance to what man establishes cannot please YAH because they have their minds set on a man made standard that either pollutes YAH’S Law by adding to it and/or subtracting from it OR they reject YAH’S Law altogether. Both cases are examples of “lawlessness” (anti-law). According to YAH’S Word “without belief it is impossible to please YAH.” True scriptural belief can only be experienced by hearing, (understanding, perceiving) believing YAH’S commentary by HIS Spirit of HIS Word, producing obedience in and through the life! True scriptural belief cannot be experienced in believing and obeying man’s law; his traditions and practices… One Law is of belief; “the law of the SPIRIT of life in Messiah YAHSHUA.” The other law is of unbelief; “the law of sin and death.” I encourage you to choose wisely…

(See article, “Works of Torah EXPOSED!“)