This issue of YAHSHUA'S
WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for November-December 2004
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
From
the Editor
Choosing
the name of this Magazine
The Idol Shepherd ....... By Elder Jerry Healan
Yahweh’s Law Applies Today ....... By Elder Dave Ganton
Messiah, Torah, And Me ....... By Matthew Armstrong
The Witness of Aaron’s Rod ....... By Elder Jerry Healan
From
the Editor
Choosing the
name of this Magazine
For
such a long time I saw that information as revealed in the Scriptures concerning
Yahshua had suffered. One of the problems that the assemblies face is that so
much of our focus has been on the name of the Father (which, don’t take me
wrong here, is extremely important) and the pronunciation of it. Also, much
focus has been on the Torah (which is also important, so please don’t take me
wrong here) and how we, personally, might obey its commands. But there are too
many places where the importance of Yahshua’s fulfillment of the Scriptures
have suffered because it seems that once people accept His sacrifice for their
sins, then they go about the business of declaring the name of the Father,
looking to see how we might obey the Torah, etc., etc. as already stated.
But
let’s read the last part of Matthew chapter 28, “Then the eleven disciples
went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Yahshua had appointed them. And
when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. And Yahshua came and
spake unto them, saying, ‘All
power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
teaching them to observe all things what soever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ Amen,” vv.
16-20.
Again,
Yahshua told them as related by Mark, “Go
ye into all the world, and preach the evangel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned (condemned, judged),” v. 15.
Luke
records, “And He said unto them, ‘These are the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that
all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the
Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.’
Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,
and said unto them, ‘Thus
it is written, and thus it behoved the messiah to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of
these things,”
Lk. 24:44-48.
John
records Yahshua’s words, “Search
the Scriptures,
for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of Me,”
Jn. 5:39.
Well,
of course the witnesses who witnessed these things are long since dead awaiting
the resurrection, but their words are recorded for us in order to remind us of
the things that they saw and witnessed to. The same thing can be said about
Moses, the prophets, the psalmists, etc. But there are those in these last days
who have horribly corrupted the Scriptures from their original meanings and
intent. Their leaders continue to cause them to observe the things dedicated to
pagan idols and deities daily, weekly and annually rather than the true things
of Yahshua. Then, we have those even in the assemblies and Messianic Judaism who
embraced the truth concerning the Sacred Names, the observance of Yahweh’s
commandments, the Savior Yahshua, etc., who are now falling away in disbelief.
So very much of this has to be resulting because of a lack of focus on the
reality of Scripture which is Yahshua and how the Scriptures speak of Him, as
well as our need for Him in everyone’s personal life.
Of
course, we do know that the Scriptures tell us that in the last days scoffers
will abound asking about the truth and verity of Scripture because things are
continuing as they always have. The promise of the Kingdom of Heaven seemingly
has failed. This has to come in order to try the patience and faith of the true
believers.
But
the Apostle Peter encouraged us, “But grow
in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Sovereign and Saviour Yahshua the
Messiah.
To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen,” 2 Pet. 3:18. This is a very vital
and important key for us to understand. We are to grow in the GRACE AND
KNOWLEDGE of Yahshua the Messiah. But there are those who do not understand the
boundless power of the grace and knowledge of the Messiah and through their lack
of understanding, they begin to load burdens upon the shoulders of others which
are grievous to be borne. You can detect these because they will be Pharisaical
in their approach.
Due
to this lack of this witnessing, we thought it necessary to publish a magazine
which would hopefully enable the people to begin to learn of Yahshua and how He
is spoken of in the Scriptures. With your prayers along with ours, and the aid
of the Holy Spirit we will accomplish this task.
Because
of this, we considered a couple of names for the magazine. The first
consideration, of course, was the name by which we have ultimately chosen
“Yahshua’s Witness Magazine.” But the other was “A New And Living
Way.” This is because of the radio program that we had when we first began
this ministry. That name was inspired by a dear sister of ours, Maryland Frick.
Thus, we decided to name the magazine “Yahshua’s Witness Magazine” and
also to incorporate “Declaring a new and living way” along with it.
I
had not realized how the title “Yahshua’s Witness Magazine” would play in
the mix until after the first issue was completed. I took the first letters of
each word Y, W, M and converted them to Hebrew mwy.
mwy
is the Hebrew word for day! Yahshua is our light and He is a great light. His
light is even brighter than the light of the sun which is the light of our
current day. But when Yahshua returns, His light will shine brighter than seven
suns as reported by the Prophet Isaiah, “Moreover the light of the moon shall
be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the
light of seven days, in the day that Yahweh bindeth up the breach of His People,
and healeth the stroke of their wound,” Isa. 30:26.
Can
you imagine that? The light of the sun will be as bright as seven suns or seven
days, while the light of the moon will be as bright as the sun which currently
shines producing our daylight. That means that there will no longer be any
darkness to cloak any works of wickedness. The earth will be full of the glory
of Yahweh and His righteousness. This will all be accomplished through Yahshua
the Messiah when He returns in His power and might.
Is
Yahshua your light? He is our light and must be the light of this magazine which
we will endeavor to cause to shine forth with the help of the Spirit of Yahweh.
JH
THE IDOL SHEPHERD
The book of Zechariah is an extremely important prophetic book. Through
a careful and deep study of its pages we will be able to properly determine that
there is a false idol
shepherd. The false Shepherd continues to do his deceitful work to this very day. This study will enable you to properly identify and
distinguish between the true and the false, and will open your eyes to the true
salvation of the Creator.
By Jerry Healan
Yahweh’s word can be
difficult to understand or the meaning can be easily overlooked unless one
carefully analyzes what is being said.
The first thing that we
should seek to discover is what is a shepherd? The Hebrew word for shepherd is
“ra’ah” and means: to tend a flock, i.e. pasture it; intrans. to graze
(lit. or fig.) gen. to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend). A shepherd, therefore, is one who tends
to a flock, leading it into fields of pasture so that the
sheep may be fed. A shepherd is a friend to the flock for he is supposed to
care for it making sure it has the best conditions, the best pasture, the purest
water to drink, the safest places wherein to abide, etc. The shepherd is the
leader of the flock and, therefore, is also its ruler.
The English word
“pastor” is shown by Webster’s New World Dictionary to be derived
from and has an equivalent meaning to shepherd. Pastor means:
minister of a congregation, a shepherd, clergyman or priest in charge of a
church or congregation.
THE TRUE SHEPHERD
The Psalmist David cried
out, “Yahweh is my Shepherd; I shall not want,” Psa. 23:1. David knew that he was but a sheep and
that Yahweh was His Shepherd.
Asaph also said, “Give
ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou That leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou That dwellest between the
cherubim, shine forth,” Psa. 80:1. The
plalmist Asaph, like David, knew Who the Shepherd was.
The prophet Isaiah also was
inspired to write, “ Behold Adonai Yahweh will come with strong hand, and His
arm shall rule for Him: behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm,
and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young,”
Isa. 40:10-11.
To ancient Israel, Yahweh
was their Shepherd and they were His flock. If Yahweh was the Shepherd then who
was Yahshua? Yahshua said, “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the
sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are
not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf
catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, and know My
sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are
not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and
there shall be one flock, and one Shepherd,” Jn. 10:11-16.
Ezekiel was inspired to
prophesy, “Therefore will I save My flock, and they shall no more be a
prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I Yahweh
will be their Elohim, and My servant David a prince (ruler) among them; I Yahweh
have spoken it,” Ez. 34:22-24.
Yahshua is the Root of
David, “And one of the elders saith unto me, ‘Weep not: behold, the Lion of
the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to
loose the seven seals thereof,’” Rev. 5:5. He is called the Root and
Offspring of David, “I Yahshua have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these
things in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the
bright and morning Star,’” Rev. 22:16. He also has the key of David, “And
to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write; ‘These things saith He
That is Holy, He That is True, He That hath the key of David, He That openeth,
and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth,’” Rev. 3:7.
The David that Ezekiel was
prophesying of was Yahshua. Yahshua is in the lineage of King David and was
called many times the “Son of David.” Yahshua is the Shepherd that Yahweh
prophesied He would raise up to shepherd the flock of Israel.
The apostle Peter writes,
“For even hereunto were ye called; because Messiah also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither
was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when
He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him That judgeth
righteously: Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed, for ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,” 1 Pt. 2:21-25.
THE TRUE SHEPHERD’S EXAMPLE
Notice that Yahshua set an
example for us that we should follow in His steps. What was the example? “Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”
The definition for sin is
given to by the apostle John, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law,” 1 Jn. 3:4.
Yahshua fulfilled the law
perfectly so that His sacrifice was a blemish free sacrifice. The true Shepherd,
therefore, would not encourage His flock to transgress Yahweh’s law of
righteousness.
Yahshua, Himself, said,
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come
to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven,” Mt. 5:17-20.
Furthermore, the Scriptural
definition for righteousness is Yahweh’s commandments, “My tongue shall
speak of Thy word: for all Thy commandments are righteousness,” Psa.
119:172.
Yahshua DID NOT come to do
away with Yahweh’s righteous law, but rather to fulfil (keep, do, perform,
obey) it. He was righteous because He fulfilled the law of righteousness. He is
our power to be brought back into unity with Yahweh and His righteous law.
THE UNFAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
The prophet Ezekiel wrote in
condemnation of the shepherds of Israel, “And the word of Yahweh came unto me,
saying, ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and
say unto them, ‘Thus saith Adonai Yahweh unto the shepherds; ‘Woe be to the
shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the
flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are
fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither
have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was
broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have
ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled
them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became
meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered
through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, My flock was scattered
upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh; As I live, saith Adonai
Yahweh, surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became meat to every
beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did My shepherds
search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not My flock;
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh;’ Thus saith Adonai Yahweh;
‘Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require My flock at their
hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the
shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver My flock from their
mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith Adonai Yahweh;
‘Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep, and seek them out. As a
shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are
scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places
where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them
out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to
their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in
all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and
upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a
good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I
will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith Adonai Yahweh. I
will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and
will bind up that which was broken, and will strangthen that which was sick: but
I will destroy the fat and strong; I will feed them with judgment. And as for
you, O My flock,’ thus saith Adonai Yahweh; ‘Behold, I judge between cattle
and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you
to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the
residue of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul
the residue with your feet? And as for My flock, they eat that which ye have
trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
Therefore’ thus saith Adonai Yahweh unto them; ‘Behold, I, even I, will
judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust
with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till
ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save My flock, and they shall no
more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle,” Ez. 34:1-22.
The language in this
prophecy is poetic or figurative language. The flock is Israel. The shepherds
are those who were placed in charge of Israel to guide and rule them. Originally
it was the priests and Levites. Then the kings were added to the rulership. By
the time of Yahshua’s day the shepherds were the Pharisees, Sadduccees and
Scribes. The mountains are the Gentile kingdoms of the earth, and the beasts are
the rulers over those Gentile kingdoms.
During the reign of
Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the kingdom of Israel was split into two kingdoms. The
northern kingdom was named Israel. Its leader was from the house of Joseph, an
Ephraimite by the name of Jeroboam. Jeroboam and his successors turned the
northern flock to idolatry from which they would not repent. They were
eventually overthrown by the Assyrian Empire and scattered among the Gentile
kingdoms.
The southern kingdom was
named Judah. It was governed by the dynasty of King David, the priests and
Levites. But they eventually corrupted and had to be taken captive by Babylon.
The majority of Judah’s people never returned from Babylon, only a small
remnant returned to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. The rulership finally fell
into the hands of the Pharisees, Sadduccees and Scribes to whom Yahshua came.
By the time of Yahshua’s
day the people were once again fitting the description of Ezekiel, chapter 34.
The Pharisee, Sadduccee, and Scribe leaders were very well enriched by the power
that they had over the people, but the poor of the flock were not healed,
strengthend, nor properly fed and watered.
Spiritually speaking, the
food of the sheep would have been Yahweh’s word. The water or drink was a
symbol of the Holy Spirit. The leaders of the people had trodden down Yahweh’s
word and muddied the clarity of the Spirit (confusion) by the traditions of men
(Mt. 15:1-6; Mk. 7:1-13). The people had, in effect, become as sheep without a
shepherd (Mt. 9:35-36).
Ezekiel, chapter 34, the
book of Zechariah, especially chapter 11, and the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John are compliant with one another. And, I might add, they are also compliant
with
the conditions of our own present
day.
ZECHARIAH 11
The book of Zechariah,
chapter 11, begins, “Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy
cedars. Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled:
howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. There is
a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of
the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled,” v.v. 1-3.
Once again this is poetic,
figurative language. The shepherds spoken of in verse three are the leaders of
Yahshua’s day. Their glory was Jerusalem and the temple wherein the Holy One
of Israel, and His glorious Name was to dwell. The framework of the temple was
built with the cedars and firs of Lebanon, while the oak wood came from Bashan.
But, the cedars, firs and oaks were also very popular trees among the paganistic
peoples. The god of the Greeks (Zeus), of the Romans (Jupiter) and the trinity
of the Druids were all represented by oak trees. The Assyrians, Babylonians and
others revered their dieties as cedars and firs.
Toward the end of his life
king Solomon turned to the worship of the deities of the nations. His foreign
wives turned his heart away from Yahweh and he built temples to the foreign gods
of his wives (1 Kings 11:1-13). From this time commenced a blending of the
worship of Yahweh with all the paganistic deities into a secret mystery religion
into which the adherents had to be initiated.
After Solomon’s reign, the
kingdom was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom
of Judah, because of the division of Solomon’s heart. Thence ensued
controversies between successive rulers. Some rulers had perfect hearts
dedicated to the worship of Yahweh like their forefather King David, but many
forsook Yahweh and served other deities. The corruption finally became so great
that both Israel and Judah had to be cast away. A remnant of Judah returned to
Jerusalem, rebuilt the city and temple, but through successive Greek and Roman
conquests, the truth, the temple and Yahweh’s true worship had become
corrupted once again. Such is the scene upon which Yahshua, the True Shepherd
appeared.
THE TWO FLOCKS
Zechariah 11: 4-7 speaks of
the flock of slaughter. Two staves were taken. Upon one stave was written the
word Beauty and upon the other Bands.
The staves were representative of the covenant (Beauty) and the
brotherhood of Israel and Judah (Bands). They were also representative of the
houses of Israel and Judah. Beauty was the first staff that was cut asunder,
which represented the covenant with the people. When the northern kingdom of
Israel was separated from Judah, the people took themselves out from under
Yahweh’s covenant and made a covenant with the calves of Egypt, placing one
calf in Samaria and the other in Dan.
One of the chief problems in
Israel’s actions is that they continued to use the name of Yahweh, yet they
had turned to idolatry. Yahweh reveals that when Israel made the golden calf in
the wilderness, they were changing His glory into that of an ox. Notice Psa
106:19-20, “They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus
they changed their (should be My) glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth
grass.”
When Aaron fashioned the
molten calf they said, “These be thy elohim, O Israel which brought thee up
out of the land of Egypt,” Ex. 32:4. Furthermore, Aaron proclaimed,
“To morrow is a feast to Yahweh,” v. 5.
Israel revealed the
stiffness of their necks and hardness of their hearts time and time and time
again because they were ever turning away from Yahweh to worship the
heathenistic gods around them, but they made another fatal mistake in seeking to
degrade Yahweh’s name by applying it to idolatry.
The Southern kingdom of
Judah followed Israel’s example of turning Yahweh’s glory into the shame of
idols. This was extreme treachery which Yahweh condemns with even greater
vehemence than that of Northern Israel, “Yahweh said also unto me in the days
of Josiah the king, ‘Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done?
She is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there
hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, ‘Turn
thou unto Me.’ But she returned not, and her treacherous sister
Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsling Israel
committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And
it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the
land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto Me with her whole heart, but
feignedly, saith Yahweh,’ And Yahweh said unto me, ‘The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah,’” Jer.
3:6-11.
Thus the two flocks, Israel
and Judah were set up for the slaughter.
THE CELTS
The king of
Assyria besieged Samaria, Israel's capital, three years. He took them to
Assyria, placing them in Halah and Habor as well as in some of the cities of the
Medes.
Chapter 17
testifies that Israel had sinned against Yahweh, their Elohim, rejecting Him,
His statutes, ordinances and covenant. They secretly served the deities of the
heathen before them, serving idols (v. 12). They left all the commands of Yahweh
making molten images of two calves and a grove, serving the host of heaven
(astrology) and Baal. Paul reveals that all of Israel, but
7000 men, had bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Baal became the
idol shepherd. Who was Baal? Was this deity's name Baal or was Baal a title? The
word baal means; master,
husband, owner, etc. Yahweh actually used this word of Himself when He said,
"Turn, O backsliding Israel, saith Yahweh; for I am married (baal - master,
husband, owner) unto you," Jer. 3:14.
Baal's true name
has been purposely concealed, covered up so that it is not easily recognized
today. Hopefully the time has come to make it known.
Israel was taken
into captivity because of Baal worship. They became lost to history being known
as the "lost ten tribes." A trace into history will reveal the lost
identity, however.
After Alexander's
conquest of Persia a people called "Celts" began to migrate into
western Europe from the Caucasus and "Iberian" area of what is now
known as Georgia in southern Russia. The Celts were divided into tribes of Gauls,
Goths, Belgaii, Anglii, Saxons, Lombards, Germanii, Teutons, Scotti, Gaels, etc.
Western Europe and the British Isles became their home.
They
were also known as Iberians, giving the name to Spain as the Iberian Peninsula.
Ireland also became known as Hibernia. Tacitus wrote that the Roman general
Agricola contemplated adding Hibernia (Ireland) to the empire, but he rendered
the name "Hibernia" as "Ibheriu." (America
B.C., by Barry Fell).
The Iberian Celts also named one of the Spanish rivers as the "Ebro."
The Iberians were
Hebrews. Iberia, Hibernia and Ebro
come from "Ibriy" which is the actual Hebrew word for
Hebrew. Ibriy comes from Eber, one of the descendants of Shem in the lineage of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel), Gen. 10:21-25. Ibriy (Hebrew) means; an
Eberite, a descendant of Eber. Many Frenchmen today bear the name of
“Hebert" pronounced Eber (Ay `bear).
The Iberians were
also Celts. They spoke the Celtic language and lived by and under the Celtic
customs. The Celts were Hebrews. They were the "lost ten tribes" of
Israel.
Israel had been
cast out of the land of Canaan because they would not repent of Baal worship.
The Celts continued in their worship of Baal.
A custom of
Scottish Celts is revealed in "The Life and Death of a Druid Prince," by Anne Ross and Don Robins. “On May day (May 1), a group of boys would gather together, kindle a fire,
make oatmeal cakes (one for each boy present) taking charcoal from the fire and
blackening one of the cakes. They were placed in a hat. Everyone was
blindfolded, and then drew out a cake from the hat. Whoever drew the black piece
was the devoted person, and was figuratively sacrificed to Baal.
He had to leap through the fire three times, (p.p. 37).
Yahweh condemns Israel and Judah for building the high places of
"Baal" and causing their sons and daughters to pass through the fire
to Molech, Jer. 32:35.
The Celts had a
pantheon of deities, but they had three mighty ones (elohim). They were Taranis,
the thunder deity; Esus, the lord and master; and
Teutates, the overall deity of the people ("The Life and Death of a Druid Prince," p.p. 45).
E. Raymond Capt
wrote in his book titled, "The Traditions of Glastonbury," that the Celts had a
"trinity," emanating from the god-head. They were known
as "Beli," the creator as regards the past; "Taran," the
controlling providence of the present and "Yesu," the coming Saviour
of the future. Druidism thus anticipated Christianity and pointed to the coming
Saviour under the very name by which Christ was called!!! (p. 9).
E Raymond Capt
also wrote in another book titled, "Stonehenge and Druidism," "It is of interest to note that the Druids revered a form of
the cross. It was their custom to
search diligently for a large handsome oak tree, having two large armlike branches. When viewed in conjunction with the trunk of
the tree they formed a cross. This cross" was then consecrated by cutting
characters for the word "Hesus," spelled "Yesu," upon the
RIGHT branch. Upon the middle trunk they cut the word "Taranus," upon
the left branch, "Belenus," and over them all the word
"Than," meaning God.
"Hesus"
or "Yesu" was the supreme God whom they worshipped as the great
"ALL-HEAL" and they believed in Him as "Saviour" of the
world. In both the Druidic religion and the Hebrew religion (NOTE: The Druids were the
Celtic priesthood, in other words the priesthood of Israel, the Hebrews, Ibriy) of patriarchal times we can see a parallel
preparation for the coming of Christ. The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that
the promised Messiah would come as a babe, grow to be a great teacher, and
finally be revealed as Redeemer.
Through the
ministry of the Druids, the same doctrines were believed, with the expectation
of the same Saviour, HESUS (JESUS). In the ancient
British tongue, "Jesus" had never assumed its Greek, Latin or Hebrew
form, but remained the pure Druidic "Hesus" or "Yesu."
Talisen, a Welsh bard of the sixth century wrote, "Christ, the Word from the beginning was in the beginning our
Teacher, and we never lost His teachings. Christianity was a new thing in Asia,
but there never was a time when the Druids of Britain held not its
doctrines."
Despite
its practice of pagan rites in "high places" and "sacred
groves," it was the Druidic faith, rooted in Druidism, that
nurtured the essential divine truths and prepared Britain for the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. When Christianity
reached Britain, Druidism merged with it. Many of the Druidic priesthood became
ministers in the early Christian Church. They went on to carry the message of
Christianity to the far nations of the world," (p.p. 78-80).
The Druids and
Celts were (are) the descendants of ancient Israel.
Israel was cast out of the land of Canaan because they would not repent
of the worship of the pagan Baal. Baal was worshipped as a trinity. One of their deities that they
worshipped was Esus, Hesus, Yesu (Jesus). That Yesus, Hesus and Jesus are one and the same there can be no doubt because when
Billy Graham went to Russia recently, everytime he said the name Jesus, the
interpreter would say Yesus. We also all know that the Spanish pronunciation for
Jesus is "Hesus." Yesu (Yesus, Jesus) was worshipped as Lord and
Master of the Celts and as their coming Saviour.
What does Yahweh
say about all this? "I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy
lies in My name saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' How
long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies?
Yea, they are
prophets of the deceit of their own heart; which think to cause My People to
forget My name by their dreams which they tell every man his
neighbor, as their fathers have FORGOTTEN MY NAME FOR BAAL," Jer. 23:25-27.
The Celtic world
worshipped Baal. Their Saviour's name was Esus, Hesus, Yesu (today called
Jesus)! The modern day Christian world has forgotten the name of the Most High
and His Son. Ask one what the Heavenly Father's name is. He will have to say God
or the Lord because His name has purposely been
taken out of the scriptures. Ask what the Saviour's name is and he will respond
with Jesus, the name of Baal, not the true name "Yahshua," because it
also has been cleverly removed, covered up.
The Psalmist
cried out, "O Elohim, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the
enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?.....Remember this, that the enemy
hath reproached, O Yahweh, and that the foolish people have blasphemed Thy
name," Psa. 74:10, 18. (NOTE: the words blaspheme and blasphemed is
the Hebrew "na'ats" also meaning to scorn, abhor, contemn, detest.)
Yahweh's enemies,
His foes, His adversary (Satan) have caused His name
and the name of His Son to be hidden. Satan hates Yahweh and His Son Yahshua. He
seeks to be worshipped as the Mighty One himself. He has deceived the whole
world (Rev. 12:9) blinding them to the truth of their names. Yahweh's people
turned to sacrifice to devils (Dt. 32:17), to gods whom they knew not.
Satan turned
Israel to Baal worship. Baal was the ancient pagan sun deity. Israel continues
to worship Baal today under the name of Jesus. Israel has forgotten who they are
and who the true Elohim is. The proverb has come true that says, "Who hath
ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fist?
Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the
earth? WHAT IS HIS NAME AND WHAT IS HIS SON'S NAME, IF THOU CAN TELL?"
Prov. 30:4. Israel cannot answer this proverb's question
today.
Yahshua
declared, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which TESTIFY (WITNESS) OF ME. And ye will not come to Me,
that ye might have life...Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father:
there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye
believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe
not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” Jn. 5:39-40, 45-47. Moses
wrote of the rod of Aaron, Israel’s high priest. This treatise will help you
understand one of the ways in which Moses wrote of Yahshua.
By
Jerry Healan
Yahshua came speaking
in parables which caused His disciples to question, “Why speakest Thou unto
them in parables?” He answered and said unto them, ‘Because it
is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it
is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall
be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him
shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing seen not; and hearing they hear
not, neither do they understand,” Mat.
13:10-13.
Yahshua spoke in
parables in order to keep the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven hidden. Those
who thought they had the power of the kingdom, the Pharisees, Sadducees and
scribes, couldn’t understand what Yahshua was saying. Neither could His
disciples, unless or until He explained the meanings to them.
Yahshua told His
disciples before His death, “These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs:
but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I
shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in My name: and I
say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself
loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from
Elohim,” Jn. 16:25-27.
One of the items spoken of in Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 4 is the rod of Aaron that budded. This rod is a testimony, a witness of Yahshua.
We find in the book of Numbers, chapter 16, begining in verse one that Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On conspired together, rising up before Moses to question his authority. Their conspiracy had influenced and infected two hundred fifty princes of Israel, it says FAMOUS in the congregation, men of RENOWN, verse 2.
They gathered together against Moses and Aaron charging that they took too much on themselves and questioning why they lifted themselves above the congregation seeing that they were all holy.
The earth opened its mouth swallowing the assembly of dissenters and fire came down from heaven to consume the two hundred fifty princes. But after all this the children of Israel murmured and complained against Moses and Aaron saying, “Ye have killed the People of Yahweh,” verse 41.
Yahweh's anger burned against these complainers so hotly that a plague broke out on them slaying 14,700 before it was over. In order to stay the plague, Moses commanded Aaron to take a censer, put fire in it off the altar, put incense on it and to go quickly into the congregation making an atonement for them which stayed the plague (read all of Numbers 16.)
Twice Yahweh had
made a special distinction between Moses and
Aaron and the children of Israel. Yahweh distinguished
between Moses and Aaron, and the children of Israel yet a third time in Numbers
chapter 17.
“And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod. And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. And thou shalt lay them up on the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony (wit-ness), where I will meet with you. And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their father’s houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the tabernacle of witness.
And it came to pass that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before Yahweh unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. And Yahweh said unto Moses, ‘Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony (witness), to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from Me, that they die not.’ And Moses did so: as Yahweh commanded him, so did he,” Num. 17:1-11.
AARON THE HIGH PRIEST
Aaron’s rod was selected out of all the rods of Israel to bud, bloom and bear fruit. He had already been chosen and anointed by Yahweh to serve as high priest. The chosen high priest had to be selected because he was a type of the “heavenly High Priest,” Yahshua, Who was also anointed, selected beforehand.
The book of Hebrews says, “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to Yahweh, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of Yahweh, as was Aaron. So also Messiah (the Anointed) glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He That said unto Him, ‘Thou are My Son, to day have I begotten Thee.’ As He saith also in another place, ‘Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.’ Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him That was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of Yahweh an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing,” Heb. 5:1-11.
Just as Aaron had been pre-ordained, pre-chosen, predestinated as High Priest, Yahshua also was pre-ordained, pre-chosen, predestinated as High Priest for we find many accounts stressing that He was the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13:8. Yahshua witnessed that the Father loved Him before the foundation of the world, Jn. 17:24. He was the First, the Beginning, the Author, etc.
The High Priest was the only one able to take the blood of sacrifice, offering it to Yahweh. He was the only one able to enter the Holies of Holies on earth while the Heavenly High Priest, Yahshua, is the only one worthy to enter the Holiest place in heaven offering His own blood.
Aaron was an earthly type or model of the Heavenly High Priest Who was to come with a more perfect priesthood.
THE ROD
The Hebrew word used for rod in this instance is “matteh” and means; a branch (as extending); fig. a tribe (there was a rod for a tribe). Twelve rods for twelve tribes) also a rod, whether for chastening (fig. correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance) or walking (a staff; fig. a support of life, e.g. bread). “Matteh” is generally translated as, rod, staff, tribe.
From whence does one generally obtain a rod? Isn't it usually cut from a select tree limb or “branch” or a straight sapling, sprout or shoot coming out of the ground?
A rod is selected, chosen, preferably the best one can find. It is then “cut off” from the tree or root causing the life support system to “cease.” Daniel says that “Messiah shall be cut off,” (9:26) witnessing to the death that He would have to suffer.
All of the rods of the princes of Israel were dead witnessing to the fact that we are all dead for we have all sinned earning the wages of sin which is death, Ro. 3:23; 6:23.
The
rod of the High Priest, however, typified the sinless Messiah, Who, though He
was cut off, though He died, was sinless, pure, innocent making it impossible
for the gates of hell, the grave, death to hold Him. Therefore, as the rod of
Aaron sprang to life, by the power of Yahweh, budding, blooming and bearing
fruit, even so Yahshua the Messiah sprang to
life, was resurrected from the dead, able to bud, blossom and bear the fruit of and
to the kingdom of heaven!
The rod springing back to life witnesses to Yahshua, the heavenly High Priest after the order of Melchisedek, Who now has the power of resurrection.
THE BRANCH
The Hebrew word “matteh” also means “branch.” Yahshua is called the BRANCH in the book of Zechariah, “Take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Yahshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; and speak unto him, saying, ‘Thus speaketh Yahweh of hosts, saying, Behold the Man whose name is the BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of Yahweh; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both (King and Priest)’,” Chapter 6, verses 11-13.
The Hebrew word for BRANCH here is “tsemach,” and it means, a sprout (lit. or fig.) being translated; branch, bud, that which grew, spring or springing. Its root word is “tsamach” which is translated; bear (fruit?), bring forth, cause to bud, make to bud, bud forth, cause to grown again, grow up, to spring forth, to spring up, etc.
Zechariah says that the BRANCH will grow up out of His place, verse 12. Isn’t that what Yahshua did? Wasn’t His true place heaven? Didn’t He empty Himself of His glory and power that He had and find Himself in the form of a physical, fleshy man? Didn't He grow up in the earth?
Yahshua son of Josedech, the high priest, was also a type or model of Yahshua. Josedech is really Yehowtsadaq. Yehow, of course, refers to Yahweh. Tsadaq means, to be right or righteous.
Yahshua son of Josedech, the high priest would be intrepreted, Yahshua son of the righteous Yahweh, the High Priest, which is exactly what Yahshua the Messiah was and is.
Yahshua
the Messiah, the High Priest after the order of
Melchisedec, the son of the righteous Yahweh was the Man the BRANCH. He, as a
branch “cut-off,”
sprang, sprouted back to life, budding and bloosoming and bearing fruit to the
kingdom.
The book of Zechariah is one of the places in Scripture that names the Savior in advance.
TRIBE OF LEVI
“Matteh” also means tribe. Aaron’s rod (matteh) was chosen above the rods of the other tribes of Israel, even Judah’s. Aaron was a son of Levi but Yahshua was of the tribe of Judah. Why the difference? What is the meaning of it?
The name Levi has a significant meaning in the Hebrew. It means, “joined” or “attached.” Moses and Aaron were brothers, sons of Levi. The rest of the sons of Levi served in the tabernacle, performing various tasks in assistance to the high priest and his sons. They camped around the tabernacle. Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons, the priests, camped on the eastern side which was the only avenue of approach to the tabernacle for there was only one door or gate and it was on the eastern side.
The sons of Kohath, son of Levi were camped on the south side. The sons of Gershon, son of Levi were camped on the western side. The sons of Merari, son of Levi were camped on the northern side.
The Levites served as a buffer zone between Yahweh’s tabernacle and the children of Israel. Entrance into the tabernacle’s courtyard could only be made on the eastern side where the high priest and his sons resided.
This, of course, is a type, for entrance to our heavenly Father, Yahweh, can only be made, today, through the heavenly High Priest, Yahshua.
Since
the name “Levi”
means “joined”
or “attached,”
they served, not only as a buffer zone between Yahweh's tabernacle and the other
Israelite tribes but they also served as mediators of the Old Covenant, just as
Yahshua is the Mediator of the New Covenant, Heb. 9:15; 12:24.
They were the ones who “joined” the Israelites to Yahweh and His tabernacle
or dwelling place.
Now, the priesthood of Yahshua after the order of Melchizedek is the priesthood that joins Israel and all people to Yahweh.
THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRST
Paul reveals that, “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second is the Master from heaven,” I Cor. 15:47.
He says, “That was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural (earthy, fleshly); and afterward that which is spiritual,” verse 46. Furthermore, He reveals that the first body, the natural, earthy body is sown in corruption, dishonour and weakness, verses 42 & 43.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
Yahweh (verse 50) because flesh and blood is corruptible, dishonourable, weak.
Adam, the first man, a man of the earth, may have been a physically strong and
powerful man, but he had no power to resist the temptation to sin and didn't.
His flesh corrupted and he died as has all of his descendants.
The Aaronic priesthood was the first priesthood chosen by Yahweh to serve Him in the earth. They followed the pattern of their forefather Adam who didn’t resist error or failure when tempted. Adam took of the forbidden fruit and ate of it. Aaron was encouraged to make a golden calf which caused the children of Israel to err (Ex. 32).
Yahshua, the last Adam, the second Adam, the Master from heaven, may not have been physically strong (He fasted 40 days and nights which would have greatly weakened a physically strong body, and, at the end, He couldn’t carry His own stake) but His strength was of the Spirit. He was able to resist the temptation to sin.
Yahshua said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit,” Jn. 12:24.
He was speaking of Himself, for He is the corn of wheat. We make bread from wheat. He is the bread from heaven. He descended into the earth from His heavenly dwelling place, sowed the seeds of the kingdom, died and was resurrected so that He might bear much fruit. The difference between Him and Adam is that He never sinned, therefore His flesh was not left to corrupt, but He was resurrected, sprang to life. He sprang to life as the corn of wheat from heaven, budding, blossoming, bearing much fruit.
Now we who are fleshly, corruptible, mortal can put on incorruption, put on immortality by putting on Yahshua, “But put ye on the Master Yahshua the Messiah, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,” Ro. 13:14. “For as many of you as have been baptized into the Messiah have put on the Messiah,” Gal. 3:27.
The major point now is that the Aaronic priesthood was an earthly priesthood. It was the first priesthood in Israel, it came to corruption and had to be done away.
The first covenant was made with a physical, fleshly people who, as Adam, had not the heart nor will to fulfil it. Yahweh cried out, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Dt. 5:29. But in another place Moses said, “Ye have seen all that Yahweh did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto all his land; the great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: yet Yahweh hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day,” Dt. 29:2-4.
The book of Hebrews states, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them (Why? Because they were physical, fleshly, corruptible, mortal), He saith, ‘Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, when I will make a new covenant (a second, a spiritual, incorruptible, immortal, everlasting covenant!) with the house of Israel and the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not saith Yahweh. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days (after what days? After the days when the Old Covenant has expired), saith Yahweh; I will put My laws into their mind and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim and they shall be to Me a People:’.....In that He saith, ‘A New Covenant,’ He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away,” Heb. 8:7-10, 13.
Yahshua the Messiah now serves as the High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle not made with hands, Heb. 9:24. The old earthly priesthood with its sacrifices, tabernacle and temple has perished, vanished away!
Yahshua, the BRANCH, the Rod has sprang back to life, budding, blossoming and bearing fruit, the fruit of the new covenant which is administered by a new and living way of the Spirit and not the old weak, dishonourable, corruptible administration of the flesh.
THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
But we need to ask the question, “Why the tribe of Judah?” The answer is, “Because Judah contains the very name of Yahweh, Himself.” Judah’s name in the Hebrew is “hdwhy” (Yehuwdah). It can be separated into two words, “Yehuw” (why) and “Yadah” (hdy).
“Yadah” means, lit. to use (i.e. hold out) the hand. The Psalmist recorded, “Yahweh said unto my Adonai, ‘Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool’,” Psa. 110:1. We know that he is speaking to Yahshua here for He records in verse 4, “Yahweh hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The book of Hebrews confirms that this is speaking of Yahshua, chapter 5, verses 5-6. But now look at Psa. 110 verse 5, “Yahweh at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath.”
Who is at the right hand? Yahshua. Who is He called here? Yahweh! Yes, Yahshua also bears the Father’s name, Yahweh. Yahshua prayed to the Father, “Keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one as We are,” Jn. 17:11.
When one receives Yahweh’s Holy Spirit, he is sealed with the Father’s name. We may not add it to our personal name yet, but in time we will be given the name of the Father, the name of the city, new Jerusalem and Yahshua’s new name also, Rev. 3:12.
The Psalmist David cried, “Shew Thy marvelous lovingkindness, O Thou That savest by Thy right hand them that put their trust in Thee, Psa. 17:7.
Yahshua serves as the right hand and arm of Yahweh. Yahweh extends His grace, mercy and salvation through Him. He will also use His right hand and arm, Yahshua to strike through His enemies in the day of His wrath.
“Yadah” also means, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away. Yahshua, the stone, the Rock will be thrown at the kingdoms of this world (the ten toes of Daniel 2) at the end of the age.
“Yehuw” the other part of the name “Yehuwdah” is also extremely significant for it denotes the name “Yahweh.”
The
extended or elongated form of the names of many prophets and holy men of old
contain this form, e.g. Isayah = Yeshayahuw, Jeremeyah = Yirmeyahuw, Eliyah =
Eliyahuw, etc. Two of the men that wrote the New Testament evangels
actually had this form on their name. They were, Matthew whose Hebrew name was
actually, “Mattityahuw”
and John whose real name was “Yehowchanan.”
Even Yahshua’s full name was “Yehowshua.”
The book of Matthew or “Mattityahuw” means the Branch or Tribe of Yahweh which is a witness of the good news or evangel of Yahshua. John or “Yehowchanan” actually means “Yahweh’s favor” or “Yahweh’s grace.” Again, speaking of the good news of the grace, the favor that Yahweh extends to us through Yahshua.
Yehuw
or Yahuw or Yehow, etc. means Yahweh (is) He,
or He (is) Yahweh. Many of today’s Jews have
this as a part of their name, e.g. one man who has been in the news lately has
the name Benyamin Natanyahuw. Another
has the first name of Eliyahuw, etc.
THE DOOR
As already stated the
only entrance to the tabernacle, and later, the temple was on the eastern side.
Moses, Aaron and the sons of Aaron dwelt on the eastern side of the tabernacle.
The tribe of Judah was also the central tribe situated on the eastern side.
The name Judah in
Hebrew is hdwhy
(yod, hei, waw, dalet, hei [reading from right to left which is the
characteristic of Hebrew]).
If we delete the
“dalet” (d)
from the name Judah (hdwhy)
we get the Hebrew letters hwhy
which is the name of the Heavenly Father.
The “dalet” (D) not only serves as a letter of
the alphabet, but is an hieroglyphic for a “DOOR!”
Yahshua proclaimed,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the
sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But
he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep...Then said Yahshua
unto them again, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I AM THE DOOR
OF THE SHEEP. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the
sheep did not hear them. I AM THE DOOR:
by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture’,” Jn. 10:1-2, 7-8.
Yahshua was a son of
David through His mother’s lineage. His step father was Joseph, also descended
from David. David was of the house of Judah. Yahshua was born of the house of
Judah (hdwhy)!
Judah was the central tribe of the east which was the only access to the
tabernacle. Yahshua is the only way, the door (d)
to the heavenly throne of Yahweh (hwhy)!
The reader should understand that none of this was happenstance! It was all arranged in advance by the Spirit, power, and intellect of the Great Elohim and Creator Yahweh. No man could have figured this out beforehand. We can only understand it afterward and even then only when Yahweh gives us the understanding by His Spirit to see these things.
THE STAFF
Another meaning of the word, “rod” or “matteh” is, a staff; or figuritively support of life, e.g. bread.
One uses a rod or staff as a walking stick for support. Jacob worshipped leaning upon the top of His staff, Heb. 11:21. The Psalmist said, “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,” Psa. 23:4.
The most significant use of the word “matteh” as a staff, however, is in the sense of “staff of life” or “bread,” for bread is a most important staple. Bread has been called the “staff of life.”
The Psalmist says that, “bread strengthens man’s heart,”
Psa. 104:15. Wisdom says “Come eat of my bread,” Prov.
9:5. Yahshua said that He is the bread of life, Jn.6:48. If we eat of this
bread, this “staff of life”
then our heart shall be strengthened and we will receive great
wisdom for life everlasting.
Yahshua declared,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting
life. Your fathers did eat manna (bread from heaven) in the wilderness, and are
dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat
thereof, and not die, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: If any
man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is
My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world,” Jn. 6:47-51.
The Jews of His day
couldn’t understand what He was saying, for it is written, “The Jews
therefore strove among themselves, saying, ‘How can this Man give us His flesh
to eat?” Jn. 6:52.
Yahshua was speaking
to the Jews in the synagogue in Capernaum. This would have included the most
learned of their day. Yet, they couldn’t understand because they didn’t have
Yahweh’s Spirit in order to give them understanding.
Is Yahshua the rod and staff that comforts you? Is He the one Who supports you? Is He your bread of life; your staff of life?
THE ALMONDS
One more thing must be touched on for the rod that sprang to life budded and blossomed and bore the fruit of almonds. The almond is very significant for several things.
The first is that the almond is good for food, typifying Yahshua as the food, meat or bread of life. We must eat of Him.
The
second thing is that the almond, when crushed or beaten, yields an oil that is
used for “medicinal”
purposes, the purposes of healing. Yahshua was beaten so that we might also be
healed both spiritually and physically. His beating and death made it possible
for the Holy Spirit to be given, the soothing oil of “comfort”
and “healing.”
The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed,” Isa. 53:5.
The
third thing is that the almond tree is the “first”
tree to bloom and bear fruit in the Middle East.
It blooms in January quickly
yielding its fruit before any others. This typifies Yahshua as the “firstfruits”
for He was the first to be resurrested
into eternal life.
Paul writes, “But now is the Messiah risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in the Messiah shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: the Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are the Messiah’s at His coming,” 1 Cor. 15:20-23.
The rod springing back to life in order to bud, bloom and bear almonds speaks of Yahshua as the One Who has the power to open the grave in a great resurrection for He has power over death. Death and the grave can no longer hold His people. At the proper time Yahshua will descend from heaven again and will raise His people from the dead, establishing the kingdom of heaven on the earth.
At the beginning of His prophecy Jeremiah is asked, “What seest thou,’ And I said, ‘I see the rod of an almond tree.’ Then said Yahweh unto me, ‘Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My word and perform it’,” Jer. 1:11-12.
The words “almond” and “hasten” are variations of one another for almond is “shaqed” coming from “shaqad” from whence comes also “hasten.”
Yahshua
hastens to do the Father's will. The book of Hebrews says, “For
yet a little while and He That shall come
will come, and will not tarry,” Heb. 10:37.
THE MYSTERY
The
Apostle Paul wrote, “We speak the wisdom of Yahweh in a mystery, even the
hidden wisdom, which Yahweh ordained before the world unto our glory: which none
of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Sovereign of glory. But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which
Elohim hath prepared for them that love Him.’ But Yahweh hath revealed them
unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of Yahweh. 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,” 1 Cor. 2:7-13.
Yahshua spoke in
parables in order to keep the mysteries of the kingdom hidden. The most learned
Jews of His day couldn’t understand what He was saying. Yahweh has purposely
blinded them (Ro. 11) in order to eventually have mercy upon all.
The tabernacle, its
appurtenances and priesthood were all parables (Heb. 9:1-9) which also served to
blind the people.
When Moses wrote
concerning many, many things, he was actually writing of the Messiah. We must
utilize the formula given by the Apostle Paul. If we are truly going to learn of
the majesty and glory of Yahshua. We must, with the inspiration of the Spirit,
compare spiritual things with spiritual. When we do this, Yahweh will bless us
with open minds to be able to receive the parables and to greatly rejoice at our
most wondrous and majestic Savior.
We truly hope that this treatise has been helpful to you, that you can understand it, and that it will be useful to help you keep your eyes on our only true Light and that Light is Yahshua the Messiah.
SUMMARY
Aaron’s rod that budded is a powerful witness of He that was to come. It witnessed to Him as “cut off” yet resurrected, as High Priest after the order of Melchisedek. The rod spoke of Him as the Mediator of a new and better covenant, as the Man the BRANCH. It witnessed of Him as the staff for support, as well as, the staff of life. It witnessed of Him Who is continually in the presence of Yahweh, as the door to the heavenly throne, for the rod of Aaron was placed in the Holy of Holies before the ark of witness. Finally it witnessed of Him as the firstfruits, the one Who is able to heal and revive us, the One Who also feeds us.
Just as Yahshua said, We must search the scriptures to see how they speak of Him, for Yahweh’s word prophesies of His plan. Yahshua, Himself, testified that He could do nothing without the Father, that it was the Father in Him that did the work. As we search the scriptures, seeking eternal life, we will find that they testify of Yahshua and if we are to fulfil His plan for us and receive eternal life then Yahshua must be in us doing the work, for it is He
NEXT ISSUE!
Who is The Idol Shepherd? Continued
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COMING SOON!
Who Is EliYah the Prophet?