There is a great deal of confusion concerning what happens
when we die. I have been to funerals where even the most evil individuals have
been preached into heaven. But what is the truth of the matter? What is death?
What do the Scriptures say happen to us when we die?
By Jerry Healan
Do we
have an immortal soul? The ancient philosopher Plato taught that death was
nothing more than separation of body and soul. His idea was that the body is
temporary, but the soul is immortal and existed before entering into the body.
Upon death, the soul separated itself from the body leaving it behind. The pagan
religions of this world believe this concept, but many people in Christianity
also believe in this. That is why the ministers preach everyone into heaven. The
belief is that the body dies and the soul goes to heaven to be with the heavenly
Father.
Of course, there is also the concept of an ever burning hellfire.
Everyone is either to go to the eternal bliss of heaven, or the very wicked,
evil and unsaved will burn forever in hellfire. This comes from the immortal
soul idea.
But is this what the Scriptures say? What do the Scriptures say about
life, death and immortality? You need to know.
One of the problems we have about the Scriptures is that they have been
interpreted to say certain things that rather confuse us unless we study into
the original Hebrew language to find out the truth about the matter. Also, Peter
warned, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation,” 2 Pet. 1:20.
Isaiah also warns, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he
make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from
the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon
line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering
lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is
the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing:
yet they would not hear. But the word of Yahweh was unto them precept upon
precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and
snared, and taken,” 28:9-13.
Notice what is required here. One must be weaned from the milk and drawn
from the breast. In other words, one must be ready to be able to eat a full
course spiritual meal which includes meat that an infant can’t eat. There must
be a spiritual maturity and knowledge of the Scriptures that leads us to be able
to go from Scripture, to Scripture, to Scripture in order to be able to
assimilate understanding. If we fail to do this and begin to privately interpret
each and every Scripture, then we will fall backward, be broken, snared and
taken. We will fall backward in error.
While Plato may have tendered many famous quotes and sayings, he knew
nothing of Yahweh and His word of truth. Plato was a Greek philosopher. The
Greeks hated the Hebrew language and certainly cared nothing for the Elohim of
the Hebrews. He was a man, living with the spirit of man in him. Paul writes of
this condition, “For what
man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
Even so the things of Yahweh knoweth no man, but the
Spirit of Yahweh. Now we have
received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of Yahweh; that
we might know the things that are freely given to us of Yahweh.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
Yahweh: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor. 2:11-14.
Therefore, no matter how brilliant or important Plato was as a man, he
simply was ignorant when it came to true spiritual things. His words may hold
weight with mankind to this day, but they are foolishness to Yahweh and those
who have the Spirit of Yahweh, which is the Spirit of truth and understanding.
What is life? Life is vitality, awareness, the ability to live, breathe,
move, work, communicate, think, plan, etc.
What is the body for? The body is a vessel wherein we live. It is our
tabernacle, our tent, our primary dwelling place.
What would be the soul? The general Greek word for soul is psuche.
We get the English word psyche from the Greek word psuche.
Psyche is defined as; 1.
the human soul 2. the mind; esp., Psychiatry the mind considered as a
subjectively perceived, functional entity, based ultimately upon physical
processes but with complex processes of its own; it governs the total organism
and its interactions with the environment. (Webster’s
New World Dictionary) Therefore, the soul is your awareness, your
intellect through which you learn via the five senses. We learn through hearing,
seeing, smelling, tasting, and feeling. The soul is not only your intellect,
your intelligence, but it also is your character. The soul is what governs or
controls the body.
What is the spirit? The general overall Hebrew word for spirit is ruach.
The general overall Greek word for spirit is pneuma.
Both words can also be translated as breath. You see, we must all have a body
wherein is breath (ruach/pneuma) so that we can be a living soul (psyche) that is able to live, move, walk, talk,
work, think, plan, etc., etc., in a physical body.
The Hebrew word for soul is nephesh. “And Yahweh Elohim formed man of the
dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living (chayah)
soul (nephesh),” Gen. 2:7.
Yahweh formed the body of Adam from the dust of the ground and then
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a soul that lives.
Thus there are three requirements for our life, (1) we must have a body, (2) we
must have breath, spirit, and (3) we become a soul that is alive.
Interestingly, in accordance with the English translation, when we die,
we become a dead body as is translated from the Hebrew, “And there were
certain men, who were defiled by the dead (muwth) body (nephesh)
of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came
before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are
defiled by the dead (muwth) body (nephesh) of a man: wherefore are we kept back,
that we may not offer an offering of Yahweh in his appointed season among the
children of Israel?” Num. 9:6-7.
If we are alive, the translators have determined to translate chayah nephesh
as “living soul,” but if dead, they have chosen to translate muwth nephesh as “dead body.” If a chayah nephesh is a living soul, then a muwth nephesh is a dead soul. But the
translators, because of the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, chose to
take the same word (nephesh)
and in the instance of living, translated it as soul, but in the instance of
death, translated it as body. This seems to be a purposeful effort to confuse.
If we do not have the Hebrew documents to prove these things, we would
never know the better. But praise Yahweh, the Hebrew documents are made
available and the examination of these documents reveals the truth of the
matter.
What do the Scriptures say about death and the dead? The Psalmist David
declares, “O Yahweh, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy
hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Yahweh; for I am weak: O Yahweh, heal me;
for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Yahweh, how
long? Return, O Yahweh, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no
remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
Psa. 6:1-5.
What!? In death there is no remembrance of our Creator Yahweh? Who, in
the grave, can give Him thanks!? Doesn’t this fly in the face of the idea that
the soul flies off to be with the Creator in heaven?
“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is
no help. His breath (ruach) goeth forth, he returneth to his earth;
in that very day his thoughts perish,”
Psa. 146:3-4.
These verses here are certainly interpreted correctly in the English. In
the day of one’s death, he breathes out his breath from the body and in that
very day, even in that instant, his thoughts perish.
“All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and
to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that
sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner;
and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This is an evil among all
things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also
the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart
while they live, and after that they go to the dead. For to him that is joined to all the living there
is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any
thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have
they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun,”
Eccl. 9:2-6.
What Solomon is saying in Ecclesiastes is the same thing that is stated
in Psalms 146:3-4 and 6:5. In the day of one’s death, their soul, their
psyche, their thoughts, their memory has perished. Whatever they loved, hated,
envied or even desired is no longer important because their awareness has
ceased, their thoughts, their personality, their character has ceased to exist.
“The dead praise not Yahweh, neither any that go down into silence,”
Psa. 115:17. Oh, but I thought that the soul went into heaven to be with “the
Lord.” If the soul is in heaven with “the Lord,” then shouldn’t there be
awareness? Shouldn’t that soul be able to praise Yahweh? Not according to the
Scriptures that we have examined, but there is yet more to examine.
The dead can’t celebrate their Creator Yahweh, nor can they praise Him.
Only the living have the ability to do that.
King Solomon also declared, “I said in mine heart concerning the estate
of the sons of men, that Elohim might manifest them, and that they might see
that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men
befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other;
yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast:
for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all
are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the
spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should
rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to
see what shall be after him?” Eccl. 3:18-22.
Interestingly, Solomon asks here, “Who knoweth the spirit (ruach)
of man that goeth upward, and the spirit (ruach)
of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?,” because in chapter 12 and
verse seven he states, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and
the spirit (ruach) shall return unto Elohim
who gave it.” This Scripture could be one of the places where men have come up
with the idea that the soul goes to heaven to be with “the Lord.” But
remember that the Hebrew word is ruach,
which simply means breath. What is required for life, awareness and intellect
are the three things, body, soul, and spirit (breath).
Previously, he stated in Ecclesiastes chapter twelve, “Remember now thy
Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years
draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or
the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return
after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the
strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few,
and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut
in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at
the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the
way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go
about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be
broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the
cistern,” vv. 1-6.
This is speaking of one growing old with the eyes (windows) weakening,
instead of firmness, the limbs begin to tremble, one’s strength has weakened,
the teeth have worn down or are missing, the hearing (doors) is practically gone
and everyone has to shout to be heard, fear of heights, etc. Also the silver
cord is loosed or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher be broken at the
fountain, etc. This would have to do with a stroke, or heart attack, or other
bodily catastrophe.
Think of it as a light bulb. The light bulb has a body composed of metal
(the part that goes into the apperture) and glass. Inside there is a filament.
When energy (electricity) is added, then the bulb is energized and works. This
would be similar to our body (the bulb), soul (filament) and spirit/breath
(electricity). But when the bulb burns out, the filament, the silver cord, is
broken, then the bulb is dead. Or if the glass (the body, or golden bowl) is
broken, then the bulb is dead. Of course, when electricity is withheld, then the
bulb is dead, just as we, without the breath, are dead.
Now let’s understand what Peter has declared to them and us here. He
says that because Yahweh showed David certain things that his flesh would rest
in hope. Okay, so that means that his body is still resting in the grave. As a
matter of fact, Peter did go on to say that David was both dead and buried and
his sepulcher (grave) was with them unto that very day that Peter was speaking
to them. But notice what he said about Yahshua, “…his soul (psuche) was not left in
hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” This imputes that both David’s
body (flesh) saw corruption and that his soul (psuche)
was still in the grave.
King David was declared to be a man after Yahweh’s own heart (Acts
13:22), yet he hadn’t ascended into heaven up to the day of the apostles.
Neither is there a place to show that he has ascended into heaven. The one who
has ascended into heaven is the same one who descended from heaven, Yahshua the
Messiah.
Ezekiel is inspired to declare, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the
soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul (nephesh) that
sinneth, it shall die,” Ez. 18:4.
The fact of the matter is that all have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of Elohim. (Ro. 3:23) Therefore, we all die and see corruption. Our
physical, fleshly body corrupts and returns to the dust of the ground. The soul
(nephesh)
is also left in the grave. The breath (air/spirit/ruach)
will be breathed out into the air (ruach),
the thoughts, memories, desires, understanding, ability all perishes.
Have you ever thought about that? Our physical, fleshly, carnal life is
like a shadow! Is there any real substance to a shadow? Absolutely not! A shadow
is defined as a shade cast upon a surface by a body intercepting light rays. (Webster’s
New World Dictionary) It is further defined as something without
reality, or substance. That’s what Solomon meant when he said all is vanity.
Vanity has to do with emptiness and worthlessness.
The Psalmist decrees, “My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I
am withered like grass,” 102:11. Again, the Psalmist decrees, “Man is like
to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away,” 144:4.
The Apostle James is inspired to write, “Go to now, ye that say, To day
or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and
sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?
It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and
then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If Yahweh will, we
shall live, and do this, or that,” Jas. 4:13-15.
When Yahweh created man (Adam and Eve), he said, “Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So Elohim created
man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female
created he them,” Gen. 2:26-27.
The Hebrew word for “image” is tselem, which is defined as; to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively)
illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol.
Let us consider what was done here. As long as man was obedient to
Yahweh, he was established in his own likeness and resemblance. But when man
disobeyed Yahweh, breaking His covenant, then he turned to the vanity of
idolatry. Death entered and caused man to become a shade, a shadow, a phantom,
an illusion, even an idol.
The Psalmist also writes, “As for man, his days are as grass: as a
flower of the field, so he flourisheth,” Psa. 103:15.
The Prophet Isaiah was inspired to proclaim, “The voice said, Cry. And
he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is
as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the
spirit of Yahweh bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass
withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our Elohim shall stand for
ever,” Isa. 40:6-8.
The Apostle Peter quotes Isaiah in order to remind us of our own
temporariness, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the
flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But
the word of Yahweh endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel
is preached unto you,” 1 Pet. 1:24-25.
James wrote to the rich in order to remind them that they were like the
grass, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the
rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass
away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the
grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it
perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways,” Jas. 1:9-11.
The lesson of the grass is that it is a tender vegetation. Grass appears
with moisture. Moisture, water is likened to the spirit (Jn. 7:37-39). When the
sun arises and its heat begins to dry out the grass, removing the life giving
moisture from it, then the grass withers and dies. Yes, the root generally
remains, which would be similar to going to sleep or death. When moisture
returns, the grass revives, springs up and comes forth. This will be addressed a
little later under the heading of resurrection.
MORTAL
Paul says that we are not only corruptible, but that we are mortal. He
had written the epistle of 1 Corinthians years after he had been called, given
the Holy Spirit and been ordained as an apostle. He still said that he was
mortal. For one to be mortal simply means that he will eventually die. This
flies in the face of the teaching of the immortality of the soul, but then so do
the words of Yahshua Who said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell,” Mt. 10:28.
Yahweh can destroy both body (Gk. = soma) and soul (Gk. = psuche). If the soul can be destroyed, then
that means that it is not immortal, but rather mortal.
Psalms 49 declares, “Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye
inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth
shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall
compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the
multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor
give to Elohim a ransom for him (-self): (For the redemption of their soul is
precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not
see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the
brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought
is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all
generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being
in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is
their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they
are laid in the grave (sheol); death shall feed on them; and the
upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall
consume in the grave from their dwelling, vv. 1-14.
The Greek is similar to the Hebrew and English in that there is more than
one word for grave and hell.
When Lazarus died, he was in the grave (mnemeion) for four days before Yahshua came on
the scene to resurrect him. (Jn. 11:17) The other Greek word is hades as is utilized by the Apostle Paul in 1
Cor. 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades), where is thy victory?
The dead are interred in their sepulcher or grave and according to the
Scriptures, they remain there until the day of their resurrection.
Some people get confused because it says that Yahshua will bring those
who are asleep in Him with Him. But what does this really mean? Notice that it
says that they sleep
in Yahshua. That sleep is the same sleep that Yahshua was referring to in John
concerning Lazarus. It was the sleep of death. Yes, He will bring them with Him
because when Yahshua begins to descend from heaven, the dead in Him will be
raised, resurrected from death to life. Those who are alive will be
instantaneously changed and all will rise to meet Him in the clouds, but they
will descend back to the earth with Him as he will be descending upon the Mount
of Olives, “Then shall Yahweh go forth, and fight against those nations, as
when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon
the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of
Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west,
and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove
toward the north, and half of it toward the south,” Zech. 14:3-4.
This is the glorified Yahshua Who is returning to the earth. Remember
that He ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives and the disciples stood
there gazing until a cloud received Him from their sight (Acts 1). They were
told that He would come in like manner as they saw Him go. In the day of His
return, He will return with the clouds of heaven.
This will be the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4). After the millennial
rule, all who ever lived will be resurrected, “And I saw a great white throne,
and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and
there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand
before Yahweh; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is
the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead
which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:
and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire,” Rev.
20:11-15.
Remember that the flesh is like the grass. The grass is composed of root
(soul) and blade (body). Its breath is carbon dioxide. The soul, the root of the
dead has been resting in the grave. Now Yahweh calls it forth by the power of
His word, sending His Spirit to perform the work.
This is what Yahshua was referring to when He cautioned the people to
fear Him who has the power to destroy soul and body in hell (Mt. 10:28). The
Greek word utilized for “hell” is geena. It is combined with the Greek word for
fire (pur) in Mt. 5:22; 18:9 and Mk.
9:47 as “hell fire.”
This final resurrection is the resurrection to judgment. All who are not
found in the Lamb’s book of life are cast into the fire. Notice that this is
the “second death” not “life.” In other words, when this fire has
consumed both body and soul, there will be nothing left but ashes in order to
fulfill Malachi 4:1-3, “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and
the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Yahweh of hosts, that it shall
leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun
of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and
grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they
shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this,
saith Yahweh of hosts.”
The dead from the beginning of this world, as recorded in Genesis chapter
4 until this day, are still in the grave. The only one who has been resurrected
and ascended into heaven of Yahweh’s throne is Yahshua the Messiah. On the day
of His return, He will resurrect those who are His from the grave to immortality
and incorruptibility. At the end of the kingdom age, a great number will be
resurrected and judged. Those who belong to Yahshua will receive everlasting
life. Those who are not His will receive everlasting death.
Where are the dead? They are in the grave awaiting the voice of their Creator Yahweh to the resurrection for which each has been prepared.
By an Average Joe, For Average Joes
FACT: The "church"
clearly recognizes and supports the prophecies foretelling the first coming of
Messiah: when, name, virgin birth, birth place, hometown, ministry, suffering
servant, execution and resurrection. Regardless of denominational differences,
all the "churches" agree on these very detailed and precise prophecies
as BEING
fact.
FACT: The "church” clearly recognizes and supports the
prophecies which have been fulfilled in recent years, and have yet to be
fulfilled, foretelling the second coming of Messiah: when--the last trump,
where—Jerusalem, how—in the twinkling of an eye. Regardless of
denominational differences, all the "church" agrees on these very
detailed and precise prophecies as BEING fact:
Messiah will return as a triumphant King, to rule the world with a rod of iron.
QUESTION: If our Heavenly father, through the mouths of His
prophets, has been so precise, so detailed, so specific, and exact in the
Scriptures so as to help us to plainly recognize the Messiah, and to recognize
the signs of His return: then, if indeed, Messiah (jesus) did away with the Law
(Torah), where are the prophecies foretelling that He would do this?
Why would the Creator be so thoughtless and the
source of so much contention and confusion as to not tell us by the mouths of
His prophets that His Son would come and do away with the very Law (Torah) that
He Himself had established forever...? Replacing the seventh day Sabbath with
“sunday” (sun-worship-day)...Replacing His Father's Feasts
with christmas and easter... replacing His Father's calendar...Even
changing the way days are reckoned—from sunset to sunset—to midnight to
midnight.
Why would our Creator leave us in the dark on
such important and world changing information?
ANSWER: OUR CREATOR HAS WARNED US, CLEARLY, WHO IT IS WHO WILL THINK TO DO THESE
THINGS:
anti—messiah!
Daniel
7:25KJV--"And he shall speak great words against the most
High, and wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change
times and laws:
and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
The Apostle Paul (Shaul) went to his grave shouting the warning that there
was about to be a "great falling away" from the true worship of the
Creator, saying...
2 Thess. 2:7a KJV--"For the mystery of iniquity
doth already work."
There have been, over the past 2000 years, many instances of types of
anti-messiahs, with satan rigorously and desperately attempting to perfect the
incarnation of pure evil: his anti-messiah...
Rev 12:17 KJV--"And
the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of (Yahweh),
and have the testimony of Yahshua."
Paul (Shaul) was not "crying wolf", and was not a "Chicken
Little" screaming, "the sky is falling". This man knew the
Scriptures, knew the Messiah, and walked in the power and wisdom of
Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit). We should pay serious attention to what
he had to say.
We need to take a serious look at what has happened to the faith of the
followers of the true Messiah in the last 2000 years. If eternal life is truly
important to you, do some serious digging into history and into the Scriptures,
delving into a reputable encyclopedia will reveal a history of the “church”
and the roots of its traditions and customs totally unknown to most believers
today, and would have been considered an abomination to the followers of Messiah
in His day and time.
You will find that after Paul's (Shaul's) death, the faith that he taught,
upheld, and died for, mutated; and if you were to put that original group of
followers of Messiah side by side with believers in the "church"
today, there would be virtually no resemblance between the two groups.
Folks, from Constantine to present day, the "mystery
of iniquity"
has been at work—iniquity means law-less-ness (Torah-less-ness)—in an
Average Joes words: the absence of, removal of, or total
lack of, respect for our Creators established rule and authority. The
"great falling away" that the "church" is waiting for, has
already taken place and is degenerating, like a fast moving cancer, to it's
prophesied end:
Matt 7:23KJV--"Then will I profess
unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity", (law-less-ness)."
In that day, there will be only one faith, and two groups of people: sheep
and goats. Sheep know their shepherd and obey His voice. Goats on the other
hand, are rebellious, stubborn, hard headed, and unteachable creatures. Which
will you be? A living sheep?— Or a
perishing Goat?
"REPENT! THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!"
Romans 10:13 KJV--"For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
How
can you call on His Name if you don't know what it is? That's kind of like Ali
Baba and the forty thieves being at the entrance to their hide out with a great
army about to attack and kill them all, and not knowing the words: "open
says-a-me". But most people, in the world today, are living their lives as
if they were cattle grazing in a field. Most cattle don't have a clue what their
owners name is, and probably stand there with a clueless look upon their faces
as he loads them onto a truck and hauls them off to the slaughter house. If,
just one of them were to call out his name, he would probably realize that
animal, indeed, was a very rare and special animal, and would return him to his
field and protect him, thus saving him from the slaughter house.
Jer 23:27--who try
to make My people forget My Name by their dreams which
everyone relates to his neighbour, as their fathers forgot My Name for Baʽal.
Q. Greetings in the Great Name of Yahweh through His Son Yahshua Messiah. I
read with, much interest, your periodic newsletter that you sent to Bro. J...
T... I find your concept of Yahweh and His Son Yahshua HaMashiach enlightening.
I am a practicing Yahwist and have been studying with the “House of Yahweh”
and “Yahweh’s Assembly In The Messiah.” I would also like to be placed on
your mailing list and would hope that there would be no conflict with you in
whom I am studying with. I would also like to ask your opinion on wearing the
holy garments? I’ve heard different views. Just wanted to know your opinion.
A.
Paul
instructs us that we are to be clothed with Yahshua (Ro. 13:14, Gal. 3:27, Eph.
4:24, etc.). The Levitical priesthood wore the “Holy Garments” made by the
hands of man, but still corrupted. We are to put on the “Holy Garments” (Yahshua)
not made by human hands. That is the ONLY way our righteousness can exceed the
righteousness of the Levitical Priesthood, the Pharisees, or any other righteous
group. It is the only righteousness that is acceptable to the Heavenly Father.
This is the true nature of the “New Covenant.” It is a covenant no longer
based upon the promises and works of the hands of men. It is based solely upon
the Word/Promise of Yahweh and the power of His Spirit as given through Yahshua
the Messiah. HalleluYah!!!
Q. I have a question for you concerning the title or name El, or Elohim. Some
assemblies believe this to be a title for the Creator Yah. Well, on 6-22-02 I
was reading my friend’s Wycliffe Bible Dictionary
and I came across the title or name El, or Elohim. The thing that blew my mind
was that it said that El, or Elohim is also another name for God and that
another title is “Allah.” Is Allah, El or Elohim the same title for Yahweh?
We
have no problem with the “generic” term as long as it is left in that
situation (generic). The problem we have is when some would replace the name
Yahweh with any other term such as el, elah, ilah, allah, elohim, adonai, god, the lord,
etc. The proper name Yahweh should appear and be utilized in the places wherein
it is inspired to be utilized in the Scriptures.
Brother
Harold Collins recently contacted us enquiring if it would be possible for him
to hold assembly meetings in Cleburne, Texas under the name Yahweh’s
Evangelical Assembly. We responded positively to his request adding that we
would be honored if he did so. He has posted a sign and banners saying
“Yahweh’s Evangelical Assembly meets here every Sat. 10:00 a.m.”
On
Apr. 27th he wrote, “We had our
first assembly meeting yesterday (Sab. the 26th).
One brother from Glen Rose, TX. attended. There should be 4 or 5 next Sabbath.
It’s a start!
I’ve enclosed the ad I placed in the Cleburne Times Review, Joshua
Paper, and the ‘Shopper.” The newspaper took the liberty to add a Christian
cross….We also have banners at the road near our home saying ‘Yahweh’s
Evangelical Assembly meets here every Sat. 10:00 A.M.”
The ads placed in the papers and shoppers reads “YAHWEH’S EVANGELICAL ASSEMBLY, Now meeting every
Saturday 10 a.m. 3900 E. FM 4 ∙ Cleburne, 817-933-9097”
If
you live near there you now have a place to meet on the Sabbath. If you are just
traveling by, please stop in and meet and/or visit with Brother Harold.