This issue of YAHSHUA'S
WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for January-March 2010
Inside this issue:
Medical
Account of Crucifixion
Did
Yahshua Die on a Cross? Part II
EDITOR:
ASSOCIATE EDITOR:
PROOFREADERS:
THE PURPOSE FOR THIS LIFE
We
live in a world today that has become so blinded to the truth and purpose for
life. Of course, with the scientists, media, and educators doing their job of
promoting evolution, and the continuing demise of faith in the Elohim of
Scripture, we do understand how this is happening. But those who teach or rather
preach from the Scriptures have their part in the failure to grasp this purpose
also.
Another fact is that we are at the end of an age and the beginning of
another. Man has been given six one thousand year days (millennia) to work his
work, but the seventh one thousand year day (the millennium) belongs to Him.
About six thousand years ago, Elohim looked upon the earth and all was total
chaos and destruction. He began to bring about a completely new creation by
performing powerful creative works over a six day period. On the sixth day, He
brought forth man and woman to not only be sovereigns over this wondrous
creation, but to dress and keep a garden that Yahweh had planted in the earth.
The man and woman were to multiply and replenish the earth.
We all know the story about the two trees that were planted in the
garden. Of course there were many trees there, but the two that were focused on
were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In
actuality, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the tree of death,
because Yahweh warned that in the day that they ate of that tree “dying, they
would die” is the way it should be translated.
I am telling you right now that Yahweh, who prophesies, predicts the
future, who knows the future, knew what the man and woman would do. But the
earth and the heavens that we see above us had already come to a state of
destruction. That is because of the rebellion of the nachash (serpent) who was allowed to enter into
the garden of Eden, deceive the woman, and lead man to eat of that tree of
death.
In our six thousand years of history there has been a story of
wickedness, pain suffering and death. We don’t know how many lives have been
destroyed, but the destruction process continues to this day. We are now close
to the end of that six thousand year period and look at what man is doing. Have
you seen the implements of war and destruction that are being developed? In the
‘50’s and 60’s we thought that our world would end in a nuclear holocaust,
but there are even more sinister implements of destruction that can be utilized,
and that is chemical and biological warfare.
We are on the verge of chaos. Look at what is happening to our economy.
People are losing everything that they have hoped and worked for. Look at what
is happening to people’s lives. Look at what is happening to the human spirit.
That is why we need the seventh millennium. Yahweh is going to bring in
peace, rest, blessings, and holiness, by sending His Son Yahshua the Messiah to
establish His righteous ruler ship over this earth. You see, Yahweh is in the
process of creating a new heavens and earth wherein dwells righteousness. It is
stated, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that
thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou
crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy
hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put
all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all
things put under him,” Heb. 2:6-8. This is quoted from Psalms 8
and the Psalmist says, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained,” v. 3.
Man was given sovereignty over the earth, but mortal, corruptible man
can’t have sovereignty over the heavens yet. Why? He has to be changed from
mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible. Our tendency to work
evil, wickedness, sin, death, destruction must be purged from us. We must be
given a new spirit, a new heart, a new life, a new purpose. Flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, nor can mortality inherit immortality (1
Cor. 15:50).
Those who are seeking power and control over the earth in today’s world
are doing so through vice, deceit, wickedness, corruption, destruction, and
death. They can never be given power over eternal things. But those who pay
attention to Yahweh and His word. Who submit themselves to Him so He can work in
their lives and change their lives; who trust in Him and believe, will be
rewarded with eternal life and sovereignty over Yahweh’s new creation, the new
heavens and the new earth. This is the real purpose for this life. Are you
living it? Don’t be deceived, but believe, and submit. Your life will be
filled with purpose now and for all eternity.
JH
A Physician Testifies
About the Crucifixion
by Dr. C. Truman Davis
NOTE:
When I read this the first time, I wept like a baby because the agony and pain
sank deeply into my own soul. It is so easy to declare the fact that Yahshua
died for us, but we really need to understand with more clarity, the agony that
He went through. This medical account certainly helps in that regard. (JH)
About a decade
ago, reading Jim Bishop's "The Day [the Messiah] Died", I realized
that I had for years taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted - that I had
grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and
a too distant friendship with our [Master]. It finally occurred to me that,
though a physician, I didn't even know the actual immediate cause of death.
The Gospel writers don't help us much on this point, because
crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they
apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary. So we have only the
concise words of the Evangelists: "Pilate, having scourged [Yahshua],
delivered Him to them to be crucified-and they crucified Him." I have no
competence to discuss the infinite psychic and spiritual suffering of the
Incarnate [El] atoning for the sins of fallen man.
But it seemed to me that as a physician I might pursue the
physiological and anatomical aspects of our [Sovereign's] passion in some
detail.
What did the body of [Yahshua] of Nazareth actually endure
during those hours of torture?
This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion
itself; that is, torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to
many who have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary
colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive
historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the subject.
Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the
Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world-
to Egypt and to Carthage.
The Romans apparently learned the practice from the
Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly developed a
very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of Roman authors (Livy,
Cicer, Tacitus) comment on crucifixion, and several innovations, modifications,
and variations are described in the ancient literature.
For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes)
could have the cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its top
in what we commonly think of as the Latin cross.
The most common form used in our [Sovereign's] Day, however,
was the Tau cross, shaped like our T. In
this cross the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes.
There is archeological evidence that it was on this type of
cross that [Yahshua] was crucified.
Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and
Renaissance painters have given us our picture of [the Messiah] carrying the
entire cross.
But the upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed
permanently in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was
forced to carry the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the
place of execution.
Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion
also show the nails through the palms.
Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have
established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists
(radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will
strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body.
The misconception may have come about through a
misunderstanding of [Yahshua’s] words to Thomas, "Observe my hands."
Joh_20:27 Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have
always considered the wrist as part of the hand. A titulus, or small sign,
stating the victim's crime was usually placed on a staff, carried at the front
of the procession from the prison, and later nailed to the cross so that it
extended above the head.
This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would
have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.
But, of course, the physical passion of the [the Messiah] began
in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of
greatest physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St.
Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, "And being
in Agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood,
trickling down upon the ground." Luk_22:44
Every ruse (trick) imaginable has been used by modern scholars
to explain away this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that
this just doesn't happen.
A great deal of effort could have been saved had the doubters
consulted the medical literature. Though
very rare, the phenomenon of Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented.
Under great emotional stress of the kind our [Master] suffered, tiny capillaries
in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might
well have produced marked weakness and possible shock.
After the arrest in the middle of the night, [Yahshua] was next
brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the
first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck [Yahshua] across the face
for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then
blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed
by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.
In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted
from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress
Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You
are, of course, familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to pass
responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea.
[Yahshua] apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the
hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate. It was then, in response to the cries
of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned [Yahshua] to
scourging and crucifixion.
There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual
scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do
not associate the two.
Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered [Yahshua]
scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came
only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly
defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of
the Jews.
Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the
Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His
head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish
law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty
lashes. The Roman legionnaire
steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip
consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead
attached near the ends of each. The
heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across [Yahshua's]
shoulders, back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only.
Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the
subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries
and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in
the underlying muscles.
The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which
are broken open by subsequent blows.
Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the
entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is
determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the
beating is finally stopped.
The half-fainting Yahshua is then untied and allowed to slump
to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood.
The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew
claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in
His hand for a scepter.
They still need a crown to make their travesty complete.
Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for
firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His
scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular
areas of the body.
After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the
soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving
the thorns deeper into His scalp.
Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn
from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the
wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of
a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds
once more begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His
garments.
The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders,
and the procession of the condemned [Messiah], two thieves, and the execution
detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the
Via Dolorosa.
In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy
wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too
much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the
lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles
have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with
the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to
carry the cross. [Yahshua] follows,
still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard
journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed.
[Yahshua] is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic
mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the
ground and [Yahshua] quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the
wood.
The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the
wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep
into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action being
careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement.
The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes
and the titulus reading "[Yahshua] of Nazareth, King of the Jews" Luk_23:38 is nailed in place. The left foot is now
pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down,
a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed.
The Victim is now crucified.
As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the
wrists excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in
the brain-the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As
He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full
weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the
nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.
At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep
over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these
cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the
pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act.
Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled.
[Yahshua] fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath.
Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the
cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to
exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these
periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:
The first,
looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment,
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Luk_23:34
The second, to the penitent thief, "Today, thou shalt be
with me in Paradise." Luk_23:43
The third, looking down at the terrified, grief-stricken
adolescent John-the beloved Apostle-he said, "Behold thy mother."
Then, looking to His mother Mary, "Woman behold thy son." Joh_19:26-27
The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, Psa_22:1 "My [El], my [El], why has thou forsaken
me?" Mat_27:46
Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending
cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn
from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then
another agony begins... A terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the
pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. One
remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14 verse: "I
am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; th my heart is like
wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."
Psa_22:14
It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a
critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick,
sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort
to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood
of stimuli to the brain.
[Yahshua] gasps His fifth cry, "I thirst." Joh_19:28. One remembers another verse from the
prophetic 22nd Psalm: "My strength is dried up like a
potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the
dust of death." Psa_22:15
A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine
which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He
apparently doesn't take any of the liquid.
The body of [Yahshua] is now in extremes, and He can feel the
chill of death creeping through His tissues.
This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little
more than a tortured whisper, "It is finished."Joh_19:30 His mission of atonement has completed.
Finally He can allow his body to die.
With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn
feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters
His seventh and last cry, "Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit."
Luk_23:46
The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned,
the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the
crosses.
The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture,
the breaking of the bones of the legs.
This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; thus the
tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid
suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the
soldiers came to [Yahshua] they saw that this was unnecessary. Apparently to
make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth
inter space between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart.
The 34th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John
reports: Joh_19:34 "And immediately there came out blood
and water." That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac
surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that, Our [Master] died not
the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken
heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.
Thus we have had
our glimpse - including the medical evidence - of that epitome of evil which man
has exhibited toward Man and toward [Elohim].
It has been a
terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed.
How grateful we
can be that we have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of [Yahweh] toward
man-at once the miracle of the atonement (a tone ment) and the expectation of
the triumphant resurrection.
NOTE:
This account was taken from e-sword. There was no copyright notice, thus we have
taken the liberty to publish this treatise and have interjected the true names
and titles where applicable.
JH
In the book
of Revelation, chapter two, verse 2 the Messiah commends the assembly at Ephesus
for they, “Tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found
them LIARS.”
One has walked among us during these last days proclaiming, “I am
God’s apostle! I dare anyone to question my authority!”
By Jerry Healan
Having been a member of the World Wide Church of God from 1970 until my
excommunication early in 1988, those words struck fear in my heart. When his
successor performed some gruesome acts and made alarming statements at the first
feast wherein he served as Pastor General in the fall of 1986, on the very
opening day of the feast, I was DUMBFOUNDED!
Few, if any others, took notice however, and I reserved my comments,
because of FEAR until after the feast. We had been back home for some time and I
couldn’t stand it anymore.
I called our minister and questioned, “Why or how could a minister of
God, especially the church’s Pastor General and apostolic replacement (I
wasn’t utilizing the Sacred Names at the time) hold up a replica of the statue
in front of the United Nations and say that, to him, that statue represented
Christ?”
We, of course, kept the commandments of our Creator and one, the second
commandment, has to do with not making idols in order to represent anything in
heaven above, on earth under heaven, or in the sea beneath the earth. We
weren’t even to conjure up an image in our mind of the heavenly Father as we
were praying.
The
statue was:
1. Naked – The Messiah is not naked but clothed
(Rev. 1:13).
2. The statue appeared black (like Nimrod, the
original savior of Babylon) and the Messiah is white (with light).
3. The statue was a replica of the one placed in
front of the U.N. which is an organization of men, trusting in man, not the
Creator, to bring about world peace.
4. The statue was inspired by the RUSSIANS, a
godless, god-hating, atheistic nation.
5. Man actually polluted and corrupted the
Creator’s word by extracting it from Scripture and placing it on an image of a
naked man.
Furthermore, the college
students at Big Sandy, Texas made a replica of the statue later that year for
their prom and danced and partied around it!!!
To me, it was a symbol of the
beginning of leading the church into a watered-down faith and eventually
idolatry. I had told my wife that the new Pastor General was going to change the
church’s position on many things which he had said he was NOT going to do. But
almost before the ink was dry on the Worldwide News (the church news paper)
where he stated that all things would continue as they had been under Herbert W.
Armstrong; he began to change them anyway.
When
I questioned the minister about the Pastor General’s actions, I was commanded,
“Don’t you dare question God’s Pastor General. (Later an apostle?)
Looking
back on HWA’s history now in retrospect, many things come to mind. He
proclaimed, “I am the Elijah who is to turn the hearts of the fathers to the
children and the children to the fathers!” (Didn’t happen.)
An examination of Malachi 4
from whence comes this scripture reveals that it would be Eliyah THE PROPHET. Yet HWA stated several times that he was not
a prophet. Why? Because his prophecies failed to come to pass. Didn’t he
prophesy that Germany, under Hitler, was the final beast power? He then changed
his story when it was obvious that it wasn’t.
Didn’t he publish a booklet
entitled 1975 In Prophecy? Didn’t he proclaim that 1972 was when the
great tribulation would begin, which would culminate in the return of the
Messiah in 1975, which didn’t happen, at least the last time I checked. But
how did he determine these dates? He liked to base the end time on the beginning
of his own ministry, which supposedly began in 1934. He claimed that he was
given two nineteen year time cycles in order to accomplish the work of
publishing the gospel of the kingdom of God. Two times nineteen is thirty eight
added to 1934 yields 1972. Another failed prophecy.
At one time it was taught that
he and his son Garner Ted Armstrong were the two witnesses who would be
witnessing very powerful messages in Jerusalem during the three and one half
year great tribulation while the church would be in the place of safety in
Petra. Another false prophecy.
During the Falklands War
between Great Britain and Argentina, he prophesied that the British fleet would
be destroyed by Argentina. Another false prophecy.
What has happened here? One of
his own followers who was an anchorman on the “World Tomorrow” telecast put
it into proper perspective in a sermon given in Pasadena, which was taped and
sent out to the churches. The title of the sermon was “Fun With Prophecy.” He admitted that he had been one who
taught 1972-1975 in prophecy. He further admitted teaching about Petra as the
place of safety. By his own mouth he admitted that he had been a FALSE PROPHET!!! QUESTION: If one is a false prophet by his
own admission, when does he become a TRUE PROPHET?
Frankly, he never would have
given that sermon if HWA were alive, or if he had, he wouldn’t have been on
the church payroll or in the church any longer.
The point is that Yahweh,
Himself, stated that if a prophet speaks in His name and the thing follow not,
nor come to pass, that is the thing which Yahweh hath not spoken, but the
prophet has spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him,” Num. 18:22.
HWA always denied that he had
said any such things after the fact and everyone was afraid to speak out
concerning the truth of the matter.
The facts are that EliYah is a
prophet, according to the word of Yahweh. HWA denied, finally, that he was a
prophet, yet still claiming to be the Elijah! The facts are that he did prophesy
and his prophecies failed! His own follower, disciple, and paid minister
admitted his failed prophecies making him a FALSE PROPHET!!!
THE APOSTLE
But that isn’t all! HWA also
claimed to be an apostle. Was He?! HWA always proclaimed that the gospel was a
gospel of the kingdom and not of the Messiah. He always turned to Mark 1:14-15
to prove his point, “Now after that John was put in prison, Yahshua came into
Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of Elohim, And saying, The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel.”
Let’s think about this for a
minute. There are at least five basic requirements for a kingdom. 1) A kingdom
must have a king. 2) A kingdom must have a government. 3) A kingdom must have
laws. 4) A kingdom must have subjects. 5) A kingdom must have territory.
Analyzing each point we find:
1. The Messiah is King of the kingdom of Elohim.
Without Him the kingdom would just be a kingdom of man or men, not Elohim.
2. The Messiah is the Governor that rules the
government of Elohim, “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the
least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that
shall rule my people Israel,” Mt. 2:6. Without Him, government would never be
administered properly.
3. The Messiah is the One Who personally gave the
law to Moses and has fulfilled (performed, kept) it. I know that this is
difficult for some, even in the assemblies to understand, but it is true. He is
the true Lawgiver and law keeper. He must be in us doing the work, “But we
have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be
of Yahweh, and not of us,” 2 Cor. 4:7.
4. Without the Messiah, the Savior, there would
not be any subjects of the kingdom for we were all dead in our sins.
5. The Messiah is the One through Whom the Father
has created all things and is creating a new creation. Without Him there would
be no creation, no territory.
So why was the Messiah’s
evangel not of Himself? Let Him answer, “If I bear witness of Myself, My
witness is not true,” Jn. 5:31. “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own
glory,” Jn. 7:18. The Messiah sought not His own will nor His own glory, but
rather the will and glory of the Father’s. He didn’t speak of Himself, but
his works spoke of Him, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do,
bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent me,” Jn. 5:36.
The Father bore witness of the
Messiah (Jn. 5:37). The scriptures written by the prophets, witnessed of Him (Jn.
5:39). John the Baptist bore witness of Him (Jn. 1:29-34). The apostles were to witness of Him, “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. The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) witnesses of Him
(Jn. 15:26-27).
Notice in verse 27 of John 15,
“And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the
beginning.” The apostles were to witness that the Messiah fulfilled the things
that He was sent to do. The prophets prophesied, foretold what He was to do. The
apostles confirmed, witnessed that He fulfilled, performed, did what was
prophesied! The assembly is built upon the apostles and prophets, the Messiah
being the chief cornerstone!
No man can be an apostle of the
Messiah who removes Him from the evangel. An apostle is to witness of the
Messiah’s fulfillment of all things past, present, future.
The scriptures bear witness
that one who prophesies a thing that doesn’t come to pass is a false prophet.
The scriptures also bear witness that the evangel is the good news about the
Messiah Who has the power to usher in the kingdom when the Father desires it to
be done! Any apostle who removes the Messiah from the gospel, the evangel, is a FALSE APOSTLE!!!
To proclaim that the gospel,
the evangel is not about the Messiah, but rather the kingdom of Elohim (God)
opens the door to establish the government of Elohim on earth without the
Governor; to establish the kingdom of Elohim in the church, the assembly without
the king; to enforce the law on others without the true Lawgiver; to establish
an hierarchy over the subjects and territory of the Messiah in His absence; to
rule as kings and priests over Elohim’s, Yahweh’s heritage!
We have tried Herbert W.
Armstrong. He was not a true prophet, nor was he a true apostle! Those groups
who seek to continue his teachings, his government, and his ways in their groups
are not the true body of the Messiah.
There are others who
presently proclaim themselves to be apostles. We will have to utilize the rule
of Scriptures that Yahshua did for Himself. If any witnesses of himself, his
witness is not true. Do the works of an apostle and let the works be the
witness.
Recently I was given a
copy of your Yahshua’s Witness Magazine. Being a very NEW follower of our
Elohim, I’m amazed at how I’ve been misinformed my entire life. This is my
second time in prison and I know without the Messiah in my life, I won’t
survive a third time. I want to build a relationship with our Elohim that is
based on truth. In your May-June 2009 issue, you have an article titled “What
About Truth.” That really nailed it for me. I feel in my heart that I’m
being led by the Holy Spirit to seek the one and true Yahweh.
MH/OR
Thanks so much for your
publication YWM. It means a lot to me and I am blessed to receive it. I’m also
interested in your Bible study.
JH/OR
I am currently
incarcerated at MVCI, Spruce Pines, NC. I am a member of a small group of
Messianic Jewish inmates here. I recently discovered a most fascinating and
spiritually enlightening publication, Yahshua’s Witness Magazine. What an
uplifting and spiritual experience I received when a fellow inmate shared a
portion of his new arrival. I immediately decided that I must have this
publication in my life. First, I would like to obtain the May-June issue as well
as the July-Sept. Issue and then be added to your mailing list to receive future
issues
I understand and can
relate to your business expenses, so in having said that, please allow me to
forward to you the appropriate subscription fee to cover the cost of the
publication plus postage. Be so kind to send me an order form or invoice so that
I can have the funds withdrawn from my account here and forwarded to you.
MS/NC
I ran across a copy of your magazine and was really
amazed. Please subscribe me into your Bible Correspondence Course, the YEA
Newsletter and Yahshua’s Witness Magazine. I’ve been studying the word for
about 10 years now, but I’ve never found it spoken so plainly until reading
your work. Thank you for a breath of fresh air.
JC/TX
I so call on Yahweh to continue to bless your assembly and members that
keep your publications “Yahshua’s Witness Magazine” and YEA Newsletters
coming to the lost souls in prisons. Reading them brings so much joy to my
heart. For it tells it like it truly is; that many other religions fail to do. I
would like also your Bible Correspondence Course “Lesson One, The Power of
Deception” to start coming to me. May the peace of “Yahweh and Yahshua”
His Son be upon your assembly.
CH/TX
Greetings
in Yah’s Great and Wonderful Name. My name is Elder Yisrael Ya’akov Kyles. I
just started to receive your “Yahshua’s Witness Magazine”, and I must say,
I’m very moved and impressed with your great, vast, and true knowledge of the
word of Yahuah/Yahweh’s Torah!
I
have been incarcerated now going on about 20 years. I’m an Elder of Yahweh’s
Congregation of Jefferson, South Carolina. I’m a studying person. Would you
please send me your bible study lessons and newsletter? I would really
appreciate it. If you have information (Articles of faith, pamphlets, etc.) I
would love to receive them.
I
don’t make much money in here, But I wouldn’t mind sending you an offering
when I can.
Thank you. Yahweh
bless you in Yahshua’s name.
I really do appreciate this magazine. It has helped clear up so many
questions I have had. I also realize that people do not like to hear sound
doctrine.
TR/MS