A Festival of Jubilation     By Dave Ganton

    Following Passover and during the days of Unleavened Bread, the count to Feast of First fruits, or as it is more commonly called today, Pentecost, begins. Pentecost means “fiftieth” as it falls on the fiftieth day following the first weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. This count begins on the day the wave sheaf is offered of the first fruits of the grain harvest. You can read about this in LEV.23:9-21.

     The Wave Sheaf offering and the count to Pentecost ties in directly with the Sabbatical year of rest for the land and the year of Jubilee, celebrating release and restoration. These days also tie in directly to Yahshua, His death, resurrection and return. We will make these connections in a later study.

      The feast of Pentecost or First Fruits was very important to the people of Israel. If they did not have a bountiful grain harvest they would experience severe food shortages. Grain was the staple of the Israelites. Without it there would be no flour for bread and all of the other goods made with grain. However if they had a bountiful harvest they would have plenty of food for all.

      Since Yahweh controlled their agricultural blessings the festival revealed His blessings and curses on the nation. It showed whether they were living in obedience to the covenant they had made with Him. (DEUT...29:9 TO 30 :1-20) The bounty of their harvest depended on obedience.

YAHWEH’S HARVEST     

      This Feast of Weeks festival takes on much deeper meaning for us as followers of Yahweh in this age. It points to our true destiny, to be born into Yahweh’s Kingdom. It shows us what we must do to be part of the first harvest of mankind as members of Yahweh’s family.

       To understand that this festival indeed does signify that we are part of the first harvest, let’s turn to a parable of Yahshua. MATT.13:21-30 Notice in this parable Yahshua likens harvesting to our entering the Kingdom of Yahweh . He tells about the wheat and an enemy coming in the night planting tares. In the same chapter VERSES 1-23 Yahshua compares Yahweh’s Kingdom to planting and harvesting.

      As an aside here, notice that Yahshua said that an enemy planted tares among the wheat. The workers wanted to pull up the tares but were told not to just in case, while they were pulling up the tares, they might mistakenly pull up some of the wheat. They were told to let them grow together till harvest time and then they would be easier to separate. Have you ever wondered why the workers were not allowed to pull up the tares? Could they not tell the difference between wheat and tares?

      Many years ago I spent a summer on a grain farm on the prairies in Saskatchewan. When the wheat was planted and began to grow, weeds came up as well. They were called Darnel or imitation wheat. They are the same as tares in the scriptures. They looked very much like the wheat plants. One couldn’t tell the difference unless one was an expert at spotting them. This similarity remained until the wheat headed out and began to ripen. At that time the darnel or tares were much easier to recognize. By the time of harvest they would be readily recognized as impostors and much easier to separate. This holds a lesson for us. Yahweh’s assemblies will never be without impostors until the time of the spiritual harvest at the return of Yahshua. They will be with us until Yahshua weeds them out at the end of the age. Satan plants them and Yahshua will weed them out at the appropriate time.

Now, back to the subject. In  MAT. 9:37-38 Yahshua said, “The harvest is plentiful but the harvesters are few. Therefore pray the Master of the harvest to send out labourers into the harvest.” Yahshua is talking about the harvest of His people into the Kingdom of Yahweh, into the very family of Elohim, at His return.

      Lets now begin to understand the deeper meaning of this festival as it relates to us as followers of Yahweh in this age and our ultimate salvation. The day of the wave sheaf offering in the early spring begins the count of seven full Sabbaths to the day following the seventh Sabbath which is Pentecost. LEV. 23:9-16  The Wave Sheaf symbolizes Yahshua’s acceptance into the Melchizadek priesthood and to the throne of Yahweh in Heaven when He was resurrected from the dead. JOHN 20:16-17  This resurrection and His ascension into Heaven makes possible the resurrection or harvesting of Yahweh’s people at the return of Yahshua. For a clearer understanding read; HEB. 9:12-15, 1 COR.15:50-53, ROMANS 5:9-10  James says that we are a kind of first fruits of His creatures. How do we become first fruits of the harvest and what is required for us to enter the kingdom of Yahweh?

      There are four things that a crop needs to be successful, seeds, soil, light and water.

1 YAHWEH’S CALL - THE SEED

     There can be no crop without the sowing of the seed. Yahweh the Father calls those He wishes to follow Yahshua in this age. JOHN 6:4 Yahshua sows the seed, MATT.13:37.

       Without this calling and the planting of the seed of truth in our minds through the Holy Spirit we cannot begin to grow COL.1:9, 1 COR.2:9-13. Knowledge comes from study. Understanding and spiritual discernment come from Yahweh through the Holy Spirit.

      This calling in this age is limited to the minority. The majority are deceived by satan the devil REV.12:9.   Uncalled people without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit cannot understand the deep spiritual truths of Yahweh 1 COR.2:14-16.  Their calling will come, but not in this age.

The majority of the people of this world do not keep the feast of Pentecost and therefore miss this important aspect of Yahweh’s plan of salvation.

      The feast of First Fruits or Pentecost occurs at the beginning of the small, late spring early summer harvest. This first harvest of people for Yahweh is a small harvest. Yahshua said, “Many are called but few are chosen,”  MAT.22:14,  LUKE 12:32.  Yahshua says we are a little flock.

       The large general harvest of the whole world is later toward the fall. It is pictured in a festival called The Last Great Day which will be covered in a future study. The late harvest is a large diverse harvest of, fruit , vegetables, and late grains, etc. So the second calling after this age will be a large diverse calling of peoples all over the world. The first harvest is a specialised harvest of the early grains. We are that early harvest.

 2 AN OBEDIENT MIND - THE SOIL

     In order for seeds to grow and develop they need good soil with the nutrients they will require to reach maturity. People Yahweh calls are no different. The seeds that Yahshua plants must be in good soil. That soil is our minds. Fruitful soil is receptive to and utilises the nutrients that are in it or added to it. Yahweh’s law is the major nutrient that fertilises our mind. We must be receptive to it and obedient. An obedient mind is fruitful soil.

      MATT.19:17   Yahshua said, “If you would enter into life , keep the commandments.”

Another scripture that tells us that an obedient mind is required for spiritual growth is 1 JOHN 2:4, “He who says I know Him (Yahweh), and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.”  Just as seeds that sprout without the nutrients required for reaching maturity will wilt and die, so those who live in disobedience to Yahweh’s law will not attain spiritual maturity.

3 YAHSHUA - LIGHT

      In the absence of light, grain cannot grow. We are no different. Without the light in the person of Yahshua we are lost in darkness and cannot hope to come to spiritual maturity. We are immersed in sin and the darkness of deception that comes with it. In ACTS 4:12 we are told that there is no other name given under Heaven by which we may be saved. Yahshua says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life,” JOHN 8:12 . Yahshua provides for us access to Yahweh the Father, the forgiveness of our sins, and the true way of life through Yahweh’s law. Without these nutrients we can not grow to spiritual maturity.

4 THE HOLY SPIRIT - WATER

     Without water grain will not grow. Water is the mainstay of all life. Without water things dry out and die. Water is what keeps plants at the right temperature to grow as they absorb it and give off moisture in the hot sun. Life depends on water.

      For Yahweh’s people the Living Water of Yahweh’s Holy Spirit is what we depend on for life. JOHN 7:37-39 Yahshua said, “If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living waters.”

He went on in verse 39 to say that this living water would come through the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of Yahweh nourishes our mind with all the truth knowledge and understanding we need to reach spiritual maturity. ROM.8:1-17 It is Yahweh’s Spirit that gives life. Without it, as without water, life is not possible.

      Without the Holy Spirit one cannot obey Yahweh’s law. Paul said that the carnal mind (Without Yahweh’s Spirit) will not and cannot be subject to (be obedient to) Yahweh’s law. ROM.8:7 In fact they will be hostile towards it. Do we see that every day? Yahweh’s Spirit empowers us to keep the law of life.

It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that Yahweh will inaugurate us into His Kingdom.

      We can receive this life giving water of the Holy Spirit through repentance and immersion into the name of Yahshua the Messiah. ACTS 2:38 We are promised it as a gift from Yahweh once we meet those two requirements. (You can read about these steps by asking for our free mini study, Baptisms Deeper Meaning).

      On the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Yahshua, Yahweh sent the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire to indwell His assembly who were gathered together. This is the same Spirit promised as a gift to us. Without this Spirit we cannot become members of the spiritual body of Messiah. If we don’t have the Holy Spirit we don’t belong to Yahshua. ROM.8:9

THE PURPOSE OF THE FIRST FRUITS

      At the return of Yahshua we will enter into Yahweh’s Kingdom. For what purpose? What will we be doing there? Are we just called for our own personal salvation with no other purpose? The answers are crucial to the understanding of this festival of First Fruits and why we are a part of it.

      Yahweh centred His Holy Days around the harvest seasons in Israel. This was not by accident. Yahweh does nothing without a reason and a plan. Yahshua told many parables likening the Kingdom of Yahweh to the harvest seasons. This was no accident either.

       Since we are called the first fruits and they are of the early grain harvest let us follow Yahshua’s lead and use that to help us understand our purpose once we are harvested. Is the grain planted and tended and harvested for its own benefit? Is it left in barns and granaries to serve no further purpose? No, it is harvested to provide food for the people who depend on it for sustenance. It serves a very great purpose.

      We as the first fruits harvested into Yahweh’s Kingdom also serve a far greater purpose than just serving ourselves. We will be serving all of mankind. We are to be a kingdom of priests. REV.5:10  A royal priesthood. 1 PETER 2:9 Notice what this royal priesthood will be doing.

We are to declare the wonderful deeds that Yahweh did when He called us out of darkness into the light. We are to bring praise and honour to the harvester by teaching the world about Him and His Son. Yahshua is the King of Kings. To be a King of Kings there must of a necessity be other kings under Him. We will be those kings, a ruling priesthood. Yahshua will be king over us and the whole world. 

       Kings rule and priests teach. MAL. 2:7 We will be teachers of Yahweh’s truth and loving rulers for the benefit of the people as Yahshua is of us. A kingdom ruled by Yahweh’s standards is not a democracy. It is a government by the King for the people. Mankind has never been able to do this, but Yahweh can and as members of His Kingdom we will too.

      There will be people who survive the great tribulation and still inhabit this earth as human beings after the return of Messiah. They will be called by Yahweh to follow Yahshua as we were in this age. We will be their teachers. We will be teaching them the way of Yahweh. We will be leading them to obey as Yahshua led us to obey. But we will be teaching them something else during the thousand years after the return of Yahshua.

      REV.20:1-6   NOTE VERSE 5 “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” Picture this. Billions of people suddenly coming to life as flesh and blood humans once again. EZ.37 :1-28  Where will all of these people live? What will they wear? What will they eat?  Preparations must be made. They will be made during the thousand years preceding their resurrection. We in this first fruits small harvest will be preparing for those who come up in the last great general harvest of mankind when all will finally have the chance to know accept and live by the truth of Yahweh’s word.

       Is this festival of First Fruits important to understanding Yahweh’s plan for mankind? We will have a part in proving the word of Yahweh as delivered by Yahshua in the words of the bible. 1 JOHN 2:1-2 Yahshua is the expiation for not just our sins but the sins of the whole world.

      The god of the religions of this world leave the vast majority of mankind out of the salvation plan. According to his plan most will be relegated to an ever burning, torturous hellfire as they have never even heard of the saviour and never will in this age. They will never have a chance for salvation.

      The true Elohim’s plan is far superior as it includes salvation for all of mankind who eve lived. No one is left out. How awesomely wonderful is the truth!!!

      This is why our calling is so very important. We must truly and deeply with great gratitude to Yahweh and Yahshua, appreciate our calling. We must be deeply committed to obeying the word of Yahweh at all cost and be a part of the First Fruit harvest. The whole of mankind depends on us.

       As we keep this festival of First Fruits let us meditate on its many meanings and celebrate it with jubilation as we remember our release from the bondage of sin and death that Yahweh provided through Yahshua the Messiah by including us in this first small harvest.

             May Yahweh bless your studies.   HalleluYah  Elder David Ganton

Articles INDEX

The following article was taken off of an Internet site entitled firstborn.com. No links, identity of the author, email address, etc., was available. The site is replete with pertinent information. We would suggest that if you are in the Internet, that you would visit this site in order to learn a great deal concerning the Scriptures. JH

Why “Firstborn”? What is “Firstborn”? Is the birthright still relevant in our day? What does Scripture say about the “Firstborn”? What do the “Firstborn” have to do with the priesthood, with redemption, and with the Kingdom of [Elohim], in the past, present and future?

The importance of this concept and its relationship to the above questions, as well as its relevance to the present, is what inspired the name of this site.

Let us depict a few features of the “Firstborn” and also examine first fruit.

The first reference to firstborn is in Genesis 4:4, when Abel brought to the Creator the firstborn and choicest of his flock, while his brother Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, but not first fruit. Cain’s offering was not accepted, as it was not in accordance with the requirements of the Creator. Somehow, even at that early stage of human existence an understanding regarding the importance of this concept was established. Subsequent to disobedience and unbelief, Cain lost his rights as a firstborn to his brother Abel.

What Does it Mean to be a Firstborn or a First Fruit?

The firstborn son in the family was assigned several important functions. He was the kinsman-redeemer of family members who were captured, abducted, or taken in slavery. The stories of Judah and Tamar, and Boaz and Ruth depict the role of the firstborn head of the family as one who “raised” the name and seed of the dead, which was tantamount to the act of resurrection. The firstborn was also the blood avenger, if any family member had lost his life at the hand of another. He was responsible to restore family property that had been lost, taken or seized. In order to be able to respond to all these contingencies the father bestowed upon his firstborn, before death, a ‘double portion’ of his material wealth. With the death of the father, the firstborn son became the head of the family. Up until then he was more like a regent or a prince. In taking full responsibility for all matters in his family, he became to his kin like a king or ruler and a servant of YHVH, as well as a judge and a guardian of Torah. Abraham, for example, was instructed to command his children in the ways of righteousness (see Genesis 18:19) Also, the Levites, who were given the priesthood of the firstborn, were to bestow, inspire, and be an example of “life and peace” (Malachi 2:5)

But, in order to meet the standards required for this all-important role, the firstborn had to fulfill several prerequisites. He had to prove his faithfulness to his father and to the Torah of Elohim. Had he violated these requirements he stood a good chance of losing this position to a younger brother (as did Esau and Rueben) He also had to be willing to forfeit his own life for the sake of his family members. In other words he had to be his “brothers’ (plural) keeper”.

In mankind’s early days, those who were the natural firstborn (and thus designated for spiritual leadership also), held the position of king-priest within their immediate and extended families (e.g. Noah), which constituted all of humanity at that time. This position was passed on from one firstborn to another (as we can observe in the genealogies of Genesis), but because of longevity it was not always from father to son. Eber, for example, lived all the way to Jacob’s day. Around that time mankind had increased into many goyim (nations), therefore the Creator conferred the position of firstborn (the kingly-priestly role) upon a nation whose progenitor was also a firstborn. This was a nation of His choice, through whom He intended to manifest His presence, in contrast to the other families/nations/ goyim who came under the rebellious rule of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-9) Since Abraham was that firstborn, YHVH cut a covenant with him: “Now YHVH said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation [goy]; I will bless you and make your name great.” (Genesis 12:1-2) The covenanted promise and birthright were passed on to Isaac and then to Jacob, who was the first one to epitomize that chosen nation. Thus, when Jacob was still in the womb of his mother Rebecca, it was said to Her: “There are two nations in your womb and two peoples shall be separated from your bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23) It seems that only after Eber and Isaac died could the ‘new order’, of a firstborn nation versus an individual, come into effect and it was for this reason that Jacob was called a “nation”. This nation would bear the name of its forefather Eber – hence Hebrews (i.e. ‘Eberites’)

However, when the time came for Jacob to transfer the birthright to his firstborn, the situation was different. Jacob was the father of twelve sons, all of whom were destined to be the founders of the Hebrew nation. Jacob, however, denied his firstborn Reuben the birthright, because he did not find him worthy. (The second and third, Simeon and Levi, were likewise found to be undeserving; Genesis 49:5-7) Jacob favored and groomed one of his sons (Joseph) more than the others, but because he was not the firstborn of the first wife, he could not grant him full firstborn rights: "If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn. But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.” (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)

Jacob did, however, find a way around this Torah principle, later to be recorded by Moses. He adopted Joseph’s two sons, “as Reuben and Simeon” (Genesis 48:5), into Leah’s (the unloved wife) side of the family. In this way Jacob could legally give Joseph, through his son Ephraim, his right hand blessing and the double portion of the birthright. So, we read in 1st Chronicles 5:1: “…Reuben the firstborn of Israel, for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.” Jeremiah 31:9 says, “For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.” At the same time, Judah was the one who would take the position of leader and teacher of Torah (Genesis 49:8-12)

Thus Jacob chose not to accord any one of his sons the full priestly-kingly position according to the “order of Melchizedec” (who is a proto-type of a king-priest, and is therefore like Yeshua) Rather, Jacob divided the position into two parts. The ruler’s staff went to Judah (ref. Genesis 49:9,10), while the priestly role went to none other than… Joseph/Ephraim, “the one who was [to become] a nazarite to his brothers”, (Genesis 49: 26 literal translation), denoting a priestly position, albeit unlike the Levitical one. In Hosea 4:6, within text addressed specifically (see also Hosea 4:15) to the northern house of Israel (which was headed by Joseph’s tribes), YHVH says: “Because you have rejected knowledge I will also reject you from officiating as a priest to me.” (literal translation) Since the ruling status, which was designated for the People of Israel, was divided up, it was only natural that the nation would split into two distinct groups, (after the death of King Solomon) The physical reunification of the two peoples (Israel/Ephraim and Judah), which has not taken place yet, will only come about by Divine intervention (ref. Ezekiel 37)

Because of the division of the birthright there was no firstborn in the full sense of the position in the family of Israel, even though several hundred years later YHVH did declare that the Israelite People, as a whole, was His firstborn (Exodus 4:22) But in saying that, the nation as such has never taken up that position, nor was it ever (actively) “a holy nation and a royal priesthood,” even though it was, and still is, destined for that position. Jacob’s act was also connected to the fact that since there was no one who was without sin (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:23), none could actually qualify for a joint office of king and priest in YHVH’s kingdom. This could only take place upon the removal of sin from those called to kingship and to the priesthood. Thus, when Yeshua came on the scene of Israel’s history He fulfilled all the righteous requirements of a firstborn. Then, in His sinless perfection, he became the sacrifice for sin and atoned for the two nations (Israel and Judah) “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH… And He shall build the temple of YHVH. Yes, He shall build the temple of YHVH. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both [the two positions/”thrones” of priesthood and kingship]." (Zechariah 6:12, 13)

First Fruit and Firstborn Do Not Belong to Themselves

In Exodus we find the first mention of the ordinance of first fruit: "The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of YHVH your God.” (Exodus 23:19) In today’s world, there is very little significance attached to first fruit or to firstborn. However, in the eyes of YHVH and in His plan of redemption the principle of firstborn, or first fruit, is of paramount importance. In his epistle, after addressing the twelve tribes, James writes: “Of His own will He brought us [Israel] forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruit of His creatures.” (James 1:18) Paul also says, that if we are in the Messiah we are a new creation, having the first fruit of the Spirit (ref. 2nd Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:23) James’ mention of the twelve tribes is not a mere coincidence; for they were the ones who had been designated as first fruit – firstborn (as we saw above), even before Messiah’s redemptive work had been executed.

The Hebrew word for firstborn, in Exodus 13:12, is “peh’ter”, meaning to separate, or first to open. Other meanings for the same root are: remove, set free, depart, split, and break through. Interestingly, the injunction to “set apart” or to “dedicate” (as translated in English), in the above verse (12) is derived from the same root as the noun for “Hebrew”. (Note: generally, the root for “to set apart”, or “to consecrate” is k.d.sh, and for “firstborn” it is b.ch.r.) This unusual choice of words in Exodus 13:12 seems to draw attention to the ones who are the first to break through and pass over, while at the same time also acknowledging them as belonging to YHVH. This emphasizes the fact that the Hebrew People, whose name originates, as mentioned above, from their forefather Eber, who himself was of the genealogy of the firstborn, are a firstborn nation dedicated and set apart unto YHVH their Elohim.

According to the Torah statute, being a firstborn or a first fruit, means that one does not belong to oneself, and neither to anyone or anything else except to YHVH. Those who are His are identified as His property by being stamped (literally, or figuratively), or marked out through circumcision (flesh and/or heart) This principle of possession is articulated in the oft-occurring expression: “for My namesake”. The notion of ownership and possession, commonplace in the world, applies no less to YHVH’s relationship with His people. Moses, for example, who was commissioned by YHVH to bring His people out of Egypt, was sent to Pharaoh with this message: “Israel is My son, my firstborn.” (Exodus 4:22) Later, after killing all the firstborn of Egypt, YHVH announced to Israel: "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine." (Exodus 13:2) And, "You shall set apart to YHVH all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be YHVH’s.” (Exodus 13:12) Before entering the land, Moses was told to remind them (the next generation) again of who they were: "But YHVH has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day.” (Deuteronomy 4:20) “For YHVH'S portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 32:9)

In YHVH’s instruction to Moshe, which included an explanation of the Israelites’ identity and His plan for them, it is evident that as a firstborn nation they also had the priestly calling: “You are My first born Son, My precious possession; you shall be My treasured inheritance among all the peoples of the earth and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19: 5-6) As a nation of priests, the call of Israel was to be a light to other nations of the world by revealing YHVH to them through the teachings and practice of YHVH’s Torah. In this way, other nations would want to know more about YHVH and seek to follow His ways also. But, as we have already noted, because of sin the people could not live up to the requirements of becoming that nation of priests. As a result, YHVH rejected Israel from being His priests, in words expressed by the prophet Hosea: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of the Torah, whose precepts they failed to practice]. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6) This finally became reality when He caused at least one part of the nation (the Northern Kingdom which was separated from Judah and later exiled by the Assyrians) to become “Not My People.” (Hosea 1:9)

Because of sin in Israel’s camp (ref. Exodus 32:1-6, 21-29) YHVH ‘borrowed’ the Levites temporarily to replace the firstborn. "Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine.” (Numbers 3:12) Aside from meaning accompaniment, Levi also comes from the root “to borrow”, which denotes a transitory state. Please note the connection between first-born and priesthood, as neither BELONG TO THEMSELVES. Their purpose was to be of service to YHVH.

Moses understood this Torah ordinance of possession or ownership; for when YHVH was about to judge Israel, he reminded Him concerning His own inheritance: "O Adonai YHVH, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand…. Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm.” (Deuteronomy 9:26,29)

It is not only the ‘possession’ that is marked for the sake of identity, but the ‘possessor’ too is stamped for the sake of His beloved. In Isaiah, YHVH points out that Zion is engraved on the palms of His hand: “See, I have inscribed, [engraved, etched] you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) Is there a more direct and poignant illustration of this than Yeshua’s “burrowed through” hands, described so graphically by King David? “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced [lit. quarried] My hands and My feet.” (Psalm 22:15-16)

Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation “After the Order of Melchizedec”

Moses announced the provisions for the new covenant even before our forefathers entered the land (see Deuteronomy 30:1-7), later to be reiterated by the prophets (e. g. Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36). However, after the manifestation of the new covenant, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Israel’s kinsman Redeemer, the suffering Messiah, everything was put in order and set in place so that the Israelite nation could take its Elohim-given priestly position among all the nations. Sin had been atoned for, and the charge sheet with the penalty for disobedience was nailed to the execution tree in the body of the Redeemer (Colossians 2:14). His blood, unlike that of bulls and goats, is able to sanctify the believer, so that the promised priesthood “after the order of Melchizedec” (Hebrews 5:1-10) can potentially be reestablished in the redeemed Israelite nation. However, only after its reunification will this nation be able to enter into its full position.

Now that sin has been dealt with through Yeshua’s priesthood and sacrifice (see Hebrews 7:26-28; Hebrews 9:26-28), the Aaronic (i.e. Levitical) priesthood, which was only chosen to hold that position temporarily, came to an end on the day the sinner died (with Yeshua), for it is written that He, Himself, became the guilt offering and did bear the iniquities of us all, and the sin of the transgressors was permanently removed as far as the east is from the west (ref. Isaiah 53; Ps. 103: 12).

The apostle Peter, addressing the elect seed of Israel’s race, those who were living alongside the heathens (aliens) out in the nations, those whom he compared to “Not My People”, and to “She Who Obtained No Mercy” (ref. Hosea 1:6,9), says that they “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; a precious possession, who are to proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1st Peter 2:9) Yes, those who were once “Not My People” (Hosea 1:9) have been transferred to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, to become that which they were originally called to: a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Again, through Hosea, YHVH says that He will raise Israel up on the second day, and on the third day they will live before Him (ref. Hosea 6:2). Living (or walking) before Him denotes a priestly position and calling. We are the recipients of the grace and mercy of a loving Father, who in the place where He called us “Not My People” declares that we are the “sons of the living Elohim.” (ref. Hosea 1:10) We are “the precious sons of Zion weighed against fine gold” (ref. Lamentations 4:1-2), mined from the rock of Abraham (ref. Isaiah 51:1-2), smelted in the fires of the Holy Spirit, and poured into the mold of a precious priesthood.

YHVH cannot lie; we, therefore, dare not bear false witness against His unalterable love and faithfulness to His covenants, His mercies and truthfulness, as seen in the redemptive work of the Messiah. The Body of the redeemed of Israel must come to an understanding of what it means to be a firstborn, a single restored Israelite nation, with a kingdom government, and one Head or King. The “one new man,” or the “new creation life” that now makes up our innermost being, is the life and nature of the Father (the Spirit of Holiness) that we have received through His Son Yeshua, who is the Father’s firstborn.

Yeshua came “to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel may be gathered to Him, and to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel.” (Isaiah 49:5,6) Thus, those who receive His atonement are being gathered by YHVH of Hosts (ref. Zechariah 9:13 – 10:12; John 11 49- 54, 10:14 –16) for the purpose of becoming a kingdom of priests and a holy nation – to be the “sons of the living Elohim” (Hosea 1:10); yes, “the sons of Elohim” for whom all of creation waits and groans (ref. Romans 8:19). And since redemption, as we saw in the beginning, has a significant ‘resurrectional’ feature, the accepting of those who were cast away is not only “reconciliation to the world,” it is also “life from the dead” (ref. Romans 11:15), and the “dwelling of brothers in unity… is life for ever more.” (Psalm 133:1,3) And when He completes His work with this “Israel of Elohim” they will go up as “saviors on Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom will be YHVH’s.” (Obadiah 21) “So in Messiah all shall be made alive, but each one in his own order: Messiah’s first fruit… Then the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, [and] when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power… [and] when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that YHVH may be all in all.” (1st Corinthians 15:22-24, 28)

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Q&A

Q. Why do you use the title “Elohim” to call Yahweh since Elohim is a plural form for God? Yahweh is His only Name, not many names. The rest are titles like: heavenly Father, Creator, Most High, etc. NOTE: Elohim, Adonay, God, Lord, etc. are titles for Satan. Yahweh our Creator never called Himself as Elohim in the Holy Scriptures.

A. I would like to know from whence you got your information. Do you have a different version of Hebrew Scriptures that don’t have the titles el, eloah, elohim, etc.? If so, where did you get them from? Are they authentic? How do you know if you say they are authentic? Who declared them to be authentic? Or have you fallen for the “J” and Elohim Scripture gaff? I happen to have a copy of The Book of J and I can truthfully say that they are not anywhere near being inspired qodesh (holy) Scriptures.

El, eloah, elohim, etc. are exactly what you called them, titles, common nouns. So what if some societies have taken Hebrew words like el, eloah, elohim, adonay, amen, etc. converting them to proper nouns for their kings and deities? Yahweh was before all else. His language was, is and always will be the heavenly language of Hebrew. Therefore, those words existed in the Hebrew language long before other nations took them and applied them to their deities.

As for the word God, it is actually the equivalent of the Hebrew word Gad. It has to do with a troop or deity of fortune. One of the sons of Jacob was given that name which is also the name of the tribe that he sired, but that is not an acceptable name for Yahweh. Nor do we like to utilize it as a title for Him as does the world.

You say that the words elohim, adonay, god, lord, etc. are titles for Satan. So? And just who is Satan? Isn’t he Yahweh’s adversary who wants to be worshipped as an elohim above Yahweh? Here is the way that we look at it and you can accept this or reject it, that is your business, Yahweh caused the Scriptures to be inspired with the titles el, eloah, elohim, adonay, etc. to be applied to Himself, to other deities, and even to men. Therefore if you reject these words in their application to Him, which He has inspired to be utilized, if you take away these words from His honor and glory as well as His Scriptures, then you are taking away from that which is originally inspired. You have been misled to commit error.

However, if you can produce true documentation and authentic original Hebrew Scriptures (remember they must be authentic and original) which don’t have these titles in them, we will be more than happy to repent and admit your correctness. We do not attempt to substitute these words for Yahweh’s name, but we do utilize them where they have been inspired in Scripture in obedience to His command to not take away from nor add to His word.

As for the common nouns el, eloah and elohim, they declare what He is just like I have a proper name Jerry Healan, but I am a man. Yahweh is Elohim, Jerry Healan is man. Doesn’t that make sense? It does to us.

We encourage you to submit to the Hebrew titles that were inspired to be utilized by Yahweh Himself.

Q.  How is it that we are both the bride of Yahshua and his brothren? I understand that both mean that we are part of Yahweh's family, but there is a vast distinction between being a brother/sister and a bride.

A.  Things in the Spirit world are much more magnified than that in the physical. Yahshua is called both a lamb and a lion. We all know that in the physical world the lion will slay the lamb and eat it for lunch. Thus, in this sense, the lion and the lamb are enemies, yet, in Yahshua, such is not the case. The Holy Spirit is likened to water by Yahshua in the book of John in chapter 7. In other places it is likened to olive oil and fire. In the physical world fire burns or consumes olive oil, oil and water don’t mix and water quenches fire. But in the Spirit world all three items are brought together in order to perform the powerful work of Yahweh.

Let’s also look at Israel. Israel was Yahweh’s wife. Yet, in other places they were His children. In certain places Israel was likened to a man, in other places to a woman, in other places to children. Sometimes they were sheep. Other times they were cattle and goats. It’s the situation that the Spirit is working with at the moment. The same situation applies to Yahshua and us. We are His bride, but we are also His brethren. It just happens to be whatever situation the Spirit is working with at the moment.

Q. Please read: 2 Chron. 6:20-21, “That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. 21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.”

26, “When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them.”

34, “If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name.”

38. “If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name.”

It seems to say 5 times we must pray towards Jerusalem. Please give me your understanding on this matter. Must we pray toward Jerusalem?

A. You are right. It does say that if they pray toward Jerusalem, but even more specifically, as we search through these five verses they are to pray toward their land, the city and the house or temple.

But let’s analyze this a little further. It says that they are to pray toward the house, which Solomon had built for Yahweh’s name. Is that house there any longer? No!

It also says that they are to turn to Yahweh with all their heart and all their soul in the land of their captivity. Have they done this? No!

Many still exhibit a faith in Yahweh’s word. The overall preponderance of the Jewish people still uphold the Tanakh, which contains the first five books of Moses (Torah), the Prophets and Psalms, but they have rejected the Anointed One that Yahweh sent to deliver them from their distresses and afflictions. Yahshua said that they truly don’t believe Moses who wrote of Him, for had they believed Moses, they would have believed Him (Jn. 5:45-47).

So many of the house of Israel (non-Jewish Hebrews), along with the Gentiles (non-Hebrews) are supposedly upholding the New Covenant made by and through Yahshua, but they have turned to another savior other than Yahshua, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of the Messiah unto another evangel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the evangel of the Messiah.” Gal. 1:6-7.

“Would to Elohim ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with pious jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to the Messiah. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in the Messiah. For if he that cometh preacheth another Yahshua, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of the Messiah” 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13.

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of Yahweh: but as of sincerity, but as of Elohim, in the sight of Elohim speak we in the Messiah,” 2 Cor. 2:17.

We can conclude from these Scriptures, as well as many, many others, that the house of Israel (both Judah and Israel) have not yet turned to Yahweh their Elohim with all of their heart and soul.

The house or temple was specifically built for Yahweh’s name. Verse 26 says that they must confess His name. Is the overall preponderance of the Israelites (both Israel and Judah) confessing His name? No! Both vehemently resist any enunciation of the Sacred (qodesh) name. The Jews forbid it and the Israelites and non-Hebrews also resist it. Yahshua told the Jews of His day, “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye say, ‘Blessed is He That cometh in the name Yahweh,” Mt. 23:39.

The book of Revelation calls modern day Jerusalem Sodom and Egypt, “And their dead bodies shall like in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Sovereign was crucified,” Rev. 11:8. Sodom was filled with all kinds of sexual perversion, especially homosexuality. Egypt was filled with the worship of all of the pagan deities. Would it please Yahweh for us to pray toward such a place?

It is obvious that those who are of the faith of Abraham seek for a city which is not built by human hands, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Yahweh…These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore Yahweh is not ashamed to be called their Elohim: for he hath prepared for them a city,” Heb. 11:8-10, 13-16.

The true Jerusalem will be made by the hands of Elohim and will descend to the earth from heaven, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Elohim out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Yahweh is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and Yahweh himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim,” Rev. 21:1-3.

Thus, our prayers should be toward our city of promise, the new heavenly Jerusalem, which is above, not the one on the earth, which has become so morally and spiritually corrupted. However, it isn’t wrong to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Q. I have a question that I have presented to several Assemblies, but the responses have been almost nil. If you can answer this question, please do.

"In Matthew 22nd chapter, the Messiah was confronted by the Saduccees with a hypothetical question concerning a woman who had married Seven Brothers and produced NO children. They asked "whose wife would she be in the kingdom"? In response, the Messiah said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of Elohim." verse 29.

I have never been able to find the answer to the Saduccees' question in the "canonized Bible". What SCRIPTURE was the Messiah referring to in verse 29? I realize that the Messiah gave us the answer to the question about marriage in the heavens in Matthew 22:30, but this answer come from a Scroll that is not contained in the "canonized bible". The answer is not found in the Torah/Tanakh.

In other words, and according to the Messiah, there has to be another Book/Scroll that must be studied and left out of the Bible to make the Scriptures "more complete". What is the Name of the Scroll that Yahusha said that the Saduccees either were not studying or had misunderstood; otherwise, they would have known the answer to the question?"

In Yahusha's Name I remain.

T…. W…

A. You are failing to include all of the verses in Mat. 22. The Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection (verse 23). So they tested Yahshua with this story of the woman and the brothers. The Sadducees were the ones from whom the priests of the temple were taken. Since they didn't believe in a resurrection, Yahshua was telling that they were in error, not understanding the Scriptures concerning the promised resurrection, nor the power of Yahweh to deliver from death and the grave. He wasn't quoting from nor referring to some uncanonized portion of Scripture, He was referring to the Scriptures that they had in their possession. Had they all believed and understood the Scriptures, then they would have known who He was, but they were purposely blinded so that they couldn't see, hear, nor understand the Scriptures.

It is difficult for me to believe that you have been in so many assemblies, presented this question, and they fail to come back with this same answer. If such is true, then many of them have had their understanding darkened also. What a pity.

Q.   I was wondering if anyone there could please explain a couple of verses to me? Could someone please explain what is meant by “confessing that Yahshua Messiah had come in the flesh” – 1 Jn. 4:2-3 & 2 Jn. 1:7?

I ask this because there are those who are teaching that these two passages mean that we who believe and say that Yahshua pre-existed are anti-Messiah. Their focus is on the word translated “come” in these two passages meaning “to start or begin”.

A.    John writes, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of Yahweh: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of Yahweh: Every spirit that confesseth that Yahshua the Messiah is come in the flesh is of Yahweh:

 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Yahshua the messiah is come in the flesh is not of Yahweh: and this is that spirit of antimessiah, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world,” 1 Jn. 4:1-3.

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Yahshua the Messiah is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antimessiah,” 2 Jn. 1:7.

The Greek word that is translated as “come” in all cases highlighted above is “erchomai.” “Erchomai” is defined as, to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and  figuratively). (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) It has been variously translated throughout Scripture as, accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set. (IBID)

Notice that “to start or begin” is not included in the definition nor in the various translations.

Who, then, would be an antimessiah? Well…..the overall preponderance of the Jews are antimessiah because even though they do confess that a messiah is coming,  they do not confess nor believe that the Messiah Yahshua has come in the flesh. Then there is Islam, which refuses to allow the Scriptures to be brought into the overall majority of Islamic countries. Their prophet is Mohammed and their deity is Allah. They reject Yahshua and Yahweh. They do not believe that Yahshua is the Messiah.

Of course, there is also modern day Christianity which follows a messiah and confesses that a christ (messiah) came in the flesh, but their practices reveal that they have been given over to idolatry which is an anti-Yahshua (antimessiah) and anti-Yahweh spirit.

Then also, to believe that Yahshua didn’t pre-exist goes contrary to so, so, so many Scriptures which can be found in both Old and New Testaments. One has to simply either disbelieve many statements and writings of Yahweh, Yahshua, the apostles, the prophets, the psalmists, etc., etc., or twist, corrupt and make those Scriptures to say what they do not say.

Let’s take, for instance, the place where Yahweh declared, “I, even I, am Yahweh; and beside Me there is no saviour,” Isa. 43:11.

“Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I Yahweh? and there is no Elohim else beside me; a just Elohim and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am Elohim, and there is none else.

 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

 24 Surely, shall one say, in Yahweh have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

 25 In Yahweh shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory,” Isa. 45:20-25.

“Yet I am Yahweh thy Elohim from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no Elohim but me: for there is no saviour beside me,” Hos. 13:4.

According to the Prophets Isaiah and Hosea, there is no Elohim nor Savior but Yahweh. There is none beside Him! I have heard some say, because of these Scriptures, that Yahshua was in no way Elohim. However, these same men proclaim that Yahshua is the Savior. But these same Scriptures that proclaim that there is no Elohim other than Yahweh also proclaim that there is no Savior other than Him. I say to these men, either put up or shut up. If you can’t believe that Yahshua was Elohim and did pre-exist as Yahweh, then neither can you believe that He is the Savior. Some have rejected the New Testament Scriptures because of these very Scriptures that I have quoted. Those who deny that He pre-existed as Elohim, as Yahweh, should also lay down the New Testament Scriptures, because if He couldn’t have pre-existed as Elohim, then according to these Scriptures, He can’t be the Savior either.

Paul writes, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of Elohim our Saviour in all things.

 11 ¶ For the grace of Elohim that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

 12 Teaching us that, denying unighteousness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and piously, in this present world;

 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great Elohim and our Saviour Yahshua the Messiah;

 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee,” Titus 2:9-15.

“But after that the kindness and love of Elohim our Saviour toward man appeared,

 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spiritt;

 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Yahshua the Messiah our Saviour;

 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Titus 3:4-7.

Peter writes, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Sovereign and Saviour Yahshua the Messiah. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen,” 2 Pet. 3:18.

. John writes, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 15 Whosoever shall confess that    Yahshua is the Son of Elohim, Elohim dwelleth in him, and he in Elohim,” 1 Jn. 4:14—15.

Again, John writes, “And we know that the Son of Elohim is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life,” 1 Jn. 5:20.

These things are written in mysteries in the word of Yahweh. While paganism did have anointed saviors who were proclaimed to be sons of elohim, the fact of the matter is that the truth that Yahshua, Who pre-existed as Yahweh Elohim, was to empty Himself of His heavenly power, majesty and strength to become a man, suffer and die, was kept hidden from the eyes of the overall great preponderance of the Hebrews in parables, mysteries, types, etc. (Col. 1:26). They were purposely blinded (Ro. 11) so that Yahweh could also eventually break down the middle wall of partition between Hebrew and non-Hebrew in effect, eventually saving all of mankind.  

Salvation—An Ongoing Process

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