This issue of YAHSHUA'S
WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for Jul-Sep 2010
Inside this issue:
Will
There Be a Pre-Tribulation Rapture?
EDITOR:
MORE ON THE CROSS
WOW! Our articles on the cross
have certainly stirred up a snake’s nest! One group especially makes every
attempt that they can to put this truth down. I would have left this subject
alone had they not posted some incomplete data. They’ve gone to one scholar,
E.W. Bullinger in their last newsletter, who almost always had his own ideas
about things. It’s just like anything and anyone. You can find scholars who
you will agree with, and others who you will disagree with. I happen to disagree
with E. W. Bullinger on his dissertation concerning the cross because he says
that the Greek word stauros (generally translated
as cross in the New Testament) no more means a crux (Latin for cross) than the word
“stick” means a “crutch.” You know, it’s too bad that Mr. Bullinger
evidently never discussed this with Mr. James Strong (who developed Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
and J. H. Thayer (Who produced The New Thayer’s
Greek English Lexicon) (And other scholars). They both agree that stauros means cross. But we shouldn’t just let
the scholars have the final say, we should allow the Scriptures to corroborate
everything. That is what we endeavor to do here. Remember, “There is a way
that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death,” Prov.
14:12; 16:25.
Even the Greek word xulon was addressed, in this group’s latest
newsletter article on the cross, which was defined as “...generally denotes a
piece of a dead log of wood,
or timber, for fuel or for any other purpose. It is not
like dendron, which is used of a living, or green tree,
as in Matthew 21:8; Revelation 7:1,3; 8:7; 9:4, &c.
Goodness, it would be great if
someone would search a little deeper before they make such brazen statements! As
a matter of fact xulon
is utilized in Luke 23:31, “For if they do these things in a green tree (xulon), what shall be done in the dry?”
Then there is Revelation 2:7, “He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree (xulon)
of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Yahweh.” 22:2, “In the midst of
the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree (xulon) of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits,
and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree (xulon) were for the healing of the nations.” 22:14, “Blessed are they
that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree (xulon) of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city.”
The definition given in their
newsletter certainly doesn’t match these Scriptural verses here, do they? I
would truly say that these trees (xulons)
are not only green and living, but they would/will have BRANCHES, wouldn’t
you? (Someone should have clued the author of that article and the one who
presented the definition in on the facts.)
Also, did you know that the
cross was utilized as a symbol of deliverance in the Old Testament, of all
places!? It is found in the book of Ezekiel, “1 He cried also in mine ears with a loud
voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even
every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.2 And, behold, six men came
from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a
slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen,
with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the
brasen altar. 3 And the glory of the Elohim
of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the
house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's
inkhorn by his side; 4And
Yahweh said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of
Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for
all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said
in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye
spare, neither have ye pity: 6
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark;
and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before
the house,” 9:1-6.
It was said (implying me) that
someone knew just enough Hebrew to be dangerous. Dangerous to whom? Maybe
dangerous to the man who printed the statement. You see, if we just allow the
English to rule, then we never know what kind of mark it was that was placed on
these people’s foreheads. The Hebrew word for “mark” in these verses is taw (ft).
Taw
(ft) is the last letter of the
Hebrew alphabet. It looks like this (t)
in more ancient Pictorial Hebrew, and like this (t/+)
in Paleo Hebrew.
Now the charge is that the
cross is a “pagan” symbol, and true enough, it has been utilized in paganism
for millennia. But the question would be “Why would Yahweh originally
incorporate the cross in the original Hebrew alphabet if it is pagan?” The
answer is that Yahweh originally incorporated the tau
(t) into the Hebrew alphabet
and the serpent is the one who took it and made it into something corrupt.
It’s the same with the sun. We all know that Yahweh created the sun, but the
pagans worship it, don’t they? So does that mean that we can’t enjoy the
sun, its light, its warmth, its good things that it does for us? No, it’s just
that we should never worship it, make images of it and place them on our altars,
etc., and neither should we do that with the cross.
As a matter of fact, Yahshua
told the Apostle John that he is the aleph
(a) and tau (t).
(He didn’t say alpha
and omega, He was speaking to a
Hebrew, just as He spoke Hebrew to the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:14.) The aleph (a)
is the beginning, the very first letter of the Hebrew alphabet just like the
“A” is our first letter, so it does represent that which is first, the
beginning, a head, chief, master, etc. It is pictorially the head of an ox. Now
all of the ancient pagan gods were represented as bull-gods. Aaron made the
image of an ox which the Israelites were worshipping and dancing around when
Moses came down from the mount the first time.
You see, the Hebrew word, or
equivalent to the English word “god” is El. El is presented as la in Pictorial Hebrew. (Hebrew
reads from right to left.) We can figure out some things that will lead us
directly to Yahshua concerning this word. It will prove to us, without a doubt
that He is certainly El or “god” (if that word is your cup of tea).
The aleph
(a) is the head of an ox, and
typifies the head, chief, first, master, etc. The lamed (l) has to do with a rod of
authority, shepherd’s rod, and also had to do with a teacher.
So now we can look at this word
and see that the Hebrew word El has to do with the head or chief authority, a
mighty one, or chief shepherd,
or great teacher, etc.
Peter calls Yahshua the Chief
Shepherd, “And when the chief Shepherd shall
appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away,” 1 Pet. 5:4.
All we have to do is couple
these facts with John 1:1-3 and we have greater support for the fact that
Yahshua is El/Elohim. So how dangerous does this make the knowledge of the
Hebrew? Well, it does fly in the face of those who deny Who Yahshua really is,
doesn’t it? But it certainly supports the Scriptures and truth.
But the fact of the matter is
that Aaron made the image of an ox. Is it possible that he made the image of the
ox because the Mighty One of the Hebrews was called El (la), and the first letter in
that word is the picture of an ox?
Now we come down to the last
days and the tau (t) is held in high esteem and
placed on altars of worship. Should this be done? Absolutely not! Should it ever
have been done? Absolutely not! Isn’t it interesting that the images of the ox
(a—aleph) were the first to be revered (in the
early days) and lastly the image of the cross (t—tau). The aleph is the first, the beginning letter of
the Hebrew alphabet and was more prominent in the early days, even though the
tau was also utilized somewhat. But the last letter is the tau and we are in the
last days and that is what is more prevalent in people’s worship. Is this
telling us something?
But, you see, the serpent Satan
is the one who twists and perverts the marvelous things that Yahweh has created
and made (the sun, moon, and stars, the ox [aleph],
the cross [tau], etc., etc.) causing people
to worship them.
Yahweh incorporated the aleph (a)
and tau (t)
into the original Hebrew alphabet. Satan has taken their images and caused them
to be worshipped. So do we now throw those things away? No, absolutely not! We
just utilize them in the way Yahweh meant for them to be utilized and we just
have to let the world continue to do its thing with them, even though we should
continually protest to them.
Even the word Torah is quite
revealing, as we have shown in other writings. The word “Torah” (the first
five books of the Scriptures) is presented in Pictorial Hebrew thusly: erft. The tau (t),
of course, is a cross; the waw
(f) is a nail, the resh (r)
is the head of a man, the hei
(e) means to behold, lo,
reveal, window, etc. Therefore it can be interpreted as “Behold (e), the man (r), nailed (f) to the cross (t).
Didn’t Moses write the Torah,
the first five books of Scripture? Wasn’t he writing about Yahshua? “9 Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me. 40
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you,
that ye have not the love of Elohim in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye
receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe,
which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from
Elohim only? 45
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth
you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have
believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe
not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” Jn. 5:39-47.
Yes, Moses wrote of Yahshua.
The Torah definitely speaks of Him in ways that haven’t even been discovered
yet. But there are many ways in which it speaks of Him that we can figure out if
we just put our nose to the grindstone and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into
His truth.
The Torah spoke of His life and
His death. The word Torah itself, revealed that He would be nailed to a cross.
Do you see how if we allow the
Scriptures to substantiate the outside facts, we can come to the truth of the
matter? But if we want to continue to dig up what certain scholars and other
writers say, well….there are other scholars and writers who say the opposite,
but the Scriptures “nail” it down. (Pun
intended)
Should we be declaring the
“cross of the Messiah?” “17
For the Messiah sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of the Messiah should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching
of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it
is the power of Yahweh,”
1 Cor. 1:17-18.
“But Yahweh forbid that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah, by whom
the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world,” Gal. 6:14.
“And, having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by
him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven,” Col. 1:20.
By the way, did you know that
even though Bullinger said the things he did about the cross in the Companion Bible, denying that the Greek word
stauros ever meant cross but rather
an upright pole, he never took the words cross, or crucify, crucified, etc. out
of his own works.
He didn’t have the fortitude
to stand up and change the words to pole, impale, impaled, etc.
We have found proof in the
Hebrew language, in the Scriptures, in the earth and elsewhere that the
“cross” is correct, therefore, we will stand on the things that we have
proven to be true no matter what others may say about us, or do their best to
discredit us. When truth comes, we must stand on it without wavering. JH
PART II
In the day that Yahweh cursed Adam, He told him “Dust thou art and unto
dust shalt thou return.” Part I has taken us back to the beginning of our
history in order to explain, by the Word of Yahweh, how we are as we are in our
personal lives. It reveals what we are truly like and why we fall short of the
glory of Yahweh.
Now in part two, we must magnify this understanding by viewing the
history of mankind, which brings us down to today’s world.
By Jerry Healan
When Yahweh had finished with
His creation on the sixth day it is said, “And Elohim saw everything that he
had made, and, behold, it was very good.
And the evening and the morning were the sixth day,” Gen. 1:31.
When it says that it was very
good, it means that it was exceedingly good. It had to have been a breath-taking
creation. This statement, of course, is an oxy-moron. It didn’t take the
breath, it gave breath, life, beauty, etc.
The man and woman were placed
in a beautiful Garden of Eden, which was to be the headquarters of the earth,
because they were to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. But the
serpent entered into the garden, deceived the woman to take of the forbidden
fruit and the rest is history.
The first murder in man’s
recorded history was committed by the first man-child born of Adam and Eve. Cain
slew his brother Abel. Cain and his posterity were banished from Yahweh’s
presence, just as his father Adam had been banished from the Garden of Eden.
Thus, the first man committed suicide and the first man born into the world
committed murder.
In less than two thousand years
the earth with its inhabitants had to be destroyed by a great flood. Had it not
been for Noah and his family, all would have been lost, but Noah found grace in
the eyes of Yahweh (Gen. 6).
Noah’s family was able to
cross over into a new world, a world washed clean by water. But then came Nimrod
who became a despot, and he was put before, or in the place of Yahweh (Gen.
10:9). How did this happen so soon after the flood while it was still on the
minds of men? It is because of what we have discovered and written above. Man at
his best state is altogether vanity (tselem
= a shade, phantom, idol, etc.) Man is dust and the serpent’s food is dust.
Man breathes the air (ruach)
and the serpent is the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air
(ruach). Man was made to be the
sovereign, the master, the lord of the earth under Yahweh’s righteous
direction, but now he follows the lead of the serpent.
Only those who Yahweh chooses
to call will be able to resist the serpent’s enticements, and even they are
not totally perfect. Nimrod established his kingdom in Babel (Babylon), but he
built great cities in many places. He was such a great city builder and the
earth was all of one language following in rebellion against Yahweh, that it was
proposed that they build a great tower not only reaching into the heavens, but
wherein would contain the constellations of heaven. This was for the worship of
the host of heaven, which Yahweh hated. But Yahweh saw what they were doing, and
divided them by confusing their language and the greatness of Nimrod and his
kingdom began to wane.
Then Yahweh called Abram out of
Ur of the Chaldees, which then began the history of the family of salvation that
grew from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to Israel.
Yahweh, Himself, allowed the
conditions to come upon the earth that brought the Israelites into the land of
Egypt and eventually into slavery to Pharaoh and his people.
Through Moses, Yahweh called Israel out of Egypt and made a covenant with
them, which if they were obedient, they would be truly blessed, but if not, they
would suffer curses and destruction.
This covenant was based upon
two promises, Yahweh’s and Israel’s.
Moses went up to receive
Yahweh’s promises to Israel, “And Moses went up unto Elohim, and Yahweh
called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of
Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the
Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now
therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall
be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And
ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation,” Ex. 19:3-6.
Israel promised or covenanted,
“All that Yahweh hath spoken we will do,” Ex. 19:8 (See also Ex. 24:3 &
7).
While the Israelites were
Yahweh’s people, they were still born into this world having only the spirit
in man, or the spirit of Adam, the mortal, corruptible man. They weren’t given
the Holy Spirit at that time so that they could understand spiritual things, nor
keep the covenant that they had made with Yahweh.
Yahweh pronounced blessings and cursings upon Israel. If they were obedient
to His spiritual law, then they would be blessed, but if not, they would be
cursed. The Covenant of Moses contained physical things, which they could
perform, but it also contained spiritual components that they simply couldn’t
understand, or perform.
It is recorded by Moses,
“These are the words of the covenant, which Yahweh commanded Moses to make
with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he
made with them in Horeb. And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them,
Ye have seen all that Yahweh did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto
Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and 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. 29:1-4.
Again he writes, “And Yahweh
heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and Yahweh said unto me, I
have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto
thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 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.5:28-29.
Isaiah was inspired to
proclaim, “Thy first father hath sinned,
and thy teachers have transgressed against me. Therefore I have profaned the
princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to
reproaches,” 43:27-28.
Hosea writes, “But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there
have they dealt treacherously against me,” 6:7.
The question is, Who is their
first father? The answer is Adam. The word “men” in Hosea 6:7 is a
mistranslation. The Hebrew word or name is “ADAM!”
They, as all mankind, followed the path of their first father Adam who,
in essence, committed suicide when he took of the forbidden fruit. Whether you
like to admit it or not, we all follow him. We have all sinned and fallen short
of the glory of Elohim, bringing the death penalty upon our own heads.
The Apostle Paul writes, “Ye
are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as
ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of the Messiah ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living Elohim; not in tables of
stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through the
Messiah toward Elohim: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any
thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of Yahweh; Who also hath made us
able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for
the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,
was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the
ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of
righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no
glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which
is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious,” 2 Cor.
3:2-11.
The Covenant of Moses was truly
a glorious administration. But it was an administration of death because the
people weren’t given the power of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to
fulfill their part of the agreement.
They made their deal with
Yahweh before Moses ascended the mount the first time. But he was gone for forty
days and nights. With hearts set on physical things and not spiritual, the
Israelites gathered before Aaron demanding, “Up, make us gods, which shall go
before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of
Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the
golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your
daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden
earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received
them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a
molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up
out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it;
and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to Yahweh. And they
rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace
offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play,”
Ex. 32:1-6.
They broke the covenant that they had just made with Yahweh and death was
to enter into the camp when Moses returned.
This is a type. The tables of
stone were the tables of the covenant. This meant that the covenant was already
broken and would have to be renewed.
Another type is also figured in
because Moses burned the golden calf, crushed it to
powder, cast it into water and made the people drink of it. Water is a type of
the spirit (Jn. 7:37-39). This means that Moses made Israel to drink of the
waters of idolatry, or the spirit of idolatry. Israel would now have an even
greater tendency to descend into idolatry than they would have with the natural
spirit in man received from Adam. And such has been the case
with Israel.
The trek through the wilderness
for forty years reveals that their heart simply wasn’t set on Yahweh. After
they entered the land and conquered some of it under Yahshua ben Nun, they began
a series of falling into idolatrous practices, suffering the grievous
consequences, repenting and turning to Yahweh Who would deliver them by the hand
of a judge, until the kingdom was established.
But the tenure under the kings
of Israel fared no better. There would be an evil king and a righteous king. The
northern kingdom of Israel was broken away from Judah and she never returned to
Yahweh. Israel was finally overthrown and destroyed around 721 BCE.
Judah continued to serve Yahweh
on and off until Yahweh would no longer renew the covenant with them, and He
destroyed them and Jerusalem through the Babylonians and their king
Nebuchadnezzar.
One point that we would like to
make here is the fact that the covenant of Moses was renewed time, after time,
after time, after time. But this is something that has to be done with the flesh
if the flesh is ever going to have a covenant because, as Paul said, the law is
spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin (Ro. 7:14).
Therefore, we declare that the
covenant of Moses was a temporary covenant, made with the flesh, which is also
temporary because Paul states in another place, “Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
Elohim; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption,” 1 Cor.
15:50.
It is clearly stated that there
was
a first covenant and now there is a second covenant. The second
covenant is declared to be a New Covenant based on better promises, that is; it
is based solely on the Word of Yahweh, which never fails (Jer. 31:31-33, Heb.
8:6-9).
You see, the first covenant was
more of a physical covenant made with physical, and especially carnally minded
people. That which is physical, carnal and fleshly passes away, but the second
is spiritual and has power to continue forever and ever.
The fact of the matter is that Israel was not given the power of the Holy
Spirit to be able to fulfill their part of the covenant. They were physical,
fleshly (dust). They were food for the serpent who loves to work the works of
idolatry, darkness, death and destruction. Israel was dust and they returned to
the dust.
What about Israel? Did you know
that Israel was to be sacrificed for the rest of the world? Yahweh raised up the
beast kingdoms after the destruction of Israel and Judah. This is revealed in
the book of Daniel chapter seven. Yahshua even called the woman of Canaan who
cried for Him to heal her daughter a dog (Mt. 15:22-28). Other than Israel, all
peoples of the earth were regarded as unclean animals.
Yahweh called His people Israel
sheep, goats, oxen, dove, etc. These were the animals that were acceptable as
sacrifices on the altar of sacrifice to Yahweh. Therefore, Yahweh not only
sacrificed His own Son, Yahshua, who the sacrifices typified, but His people,
the house of Israel for the nations of the world.
During Yahshua’s, and the
apostle’s day, other people, the Gentiles, or non-Hebrews were considered to
be common and unclean (Acts 10:28).
Israel’s sacrifice is
revealed by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans, “7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which
he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8
(According
as it is written, Yahweh hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they
should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their
table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto
them: 10
Let
their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they
stumbled that they should fall? Yahweh forbid: but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of
them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the
Gentiles; how much more their fulness?....15 For if the casting away of them be the
reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the
dead? 16
For
if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so
are the branches. 17 And
if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert
graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the
olive tree; 18 Boast
not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the
root thee. 19 Thou
wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of
unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded,
but fear: 21
For
if Yahweh spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not
thee. 22 Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of Yahweh: on them which fell, severity; but
toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also
shalt be cut off. 23 And
they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for Yawheh
is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree
which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive
tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into
their own olive tree? 25
For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel
shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away unrighteousness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I
shall take away their sins. 28
As
concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the
election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the gifts and
calling of Yahweh are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed
Yahweh, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these
also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32
For Yahweh hath
concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all,” Ro.
11:7-12, 15-32.
The only true hope for the
world is the sacrifice and resurrection of Yahshua the Messiah, but a secondary
hope has to do with the sacrifice of the house of Israel and their resurrection.
What a most wondrous day that will be!!!!!
TO BE CONTINUED……….
Every word
of Scripture, every event in Scripture has some important lesson to teach. The
fishing expedition of the disciples after the death and resurrection is one of
the most important and deepest lessons that we can learn from Scripture. Let’s
see what this event can teach us about spiritual things.
By Jerry Healan
Peter, Thomas, Nathanael,
James, John and two other disciples didn’t seem to have anything better to do
after Yahshua was slain and resurrected than to go fishing (Jn. 21:1-3). After
all, Peter’s, James’s and John’s occupation prior to their calling was
fishermen. As fishing can go so many, many times, they labored, fishing all
night and caught nothing. In the morning Yahshua stood on the shore and called
out to them if they had caught anything and they replied no. So he instructed
them to cast the net on the right side of the ship and upon following His
instructions, they filled the net with a multitude of fish. (v.v. 4-6). John
immediately knew that the one calling out to them was Yahshua and told the
others so. When Peter heard that it was Yahshua, he girded himself with his
fisher’s coat and jumped into the water swimming to shore. The others followed
dragging the cumbersome net with the fishes. (v.v. 7-8). When they got to shore,
Yahshua already had a fire of coals going with fish upon it. But they pulled the
net to the shore and counted the fishes that they had caught and they numbered
153. (v.v. 9-11).
We live in a world that is governed by law. This world came into
existence by the power of the Word of Yahweh and it stands fast based upon that
same power. (Jn. 1:1-3; 10-14; Heb. 1:1-3; Psa. 33:6, 9, etc.) Scientists,
mathematicians and others utilize many means to try to come to understand the
essence of the creation. Many of those means have to do with the use of
formulas, chemical, numerical, etc. There are those who seek to understand the
Scriptures through the use of numbers. If we can do that with the physical
creation, then can we not do that with some of the spiritually significant
numbers that Yahweh provides in His own word? After all, it is His word that
created all things and in reality it is His word that they are seeking to search
out, even if they don’t understand this or realize it. Of course, the Hebrew
letters themselves not only represent letters for words, language, but also
represent numbers and even hieroglyphics.
The Apostle Paul writes,
“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of
this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But 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 Yahweh 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. 2:6-13.
Hopefully you are beginning to understand that Yahweh has hidden deep
things in the Scriptures that the natural, carnal, physical mind of man simply
can’t understand, even the princes, the great leaders of this world. They are
brought forth by the power of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit is utilized to
search out the deep things of Yahweh. Previously, in chapter one of 1
Corinthians and also in chapter two, he reveals that the things of Yahweh are
considered to be foolish by the natural mind of man, while the things that the
natural mind of man considers to be important are considered to be foolish by
Yahweh. Therefore, there are those who will read this article and dispute it and
there are those who will read it and rejoice.
Bezaleel was the one chosen by
Yahweh to build the tabernacle with all its appurtenances in the wilderness,
“And Yahweh spake unto Mosheh saying, ‘See, I have called by name Bezaleel
the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Yudah: and I have filled him with
the spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in
all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in
silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of
timber, to work in all manner of workmanship,” Ex. 31:1-5.
Notice these three important
elements for He gave him (1) wisdom, (2) understanding, and (3) knowledge. The
tabernacle that Bezaleel was to build was a microcosm, a type of the heavens and
the earth. In Proverbs Yahweh says, “Yahweh by 1 wisdom hath founded the
earth; by 2
understanding
hath He established the heavens, by His 3knowledge the depths are broken up, and the
clouds drop down the dew,” 3:19-20. All things, including the deep things,
have been made by the Spirit of Yahweh, the Spirit of Elohim and Yahweh gave the
Spirit to Bezaleel so that he could be most skillful in constructing the
tabernacle and everything that pertained to it including the things that the
priesthood was to wear.
The tabernacle with its
Levitical priesthood was a type of the true heavenly tabernacle wherein Yahweh
dwells and the Melchizedek Priesthood that serves that tabernacle! The very name
Bezaleel means “In the shadow of El!” The tabernacle and priesthood of old
were only types, examples and shadows of the true heavenly tabernacle wherein
Yahweh dwells, “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We
have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,
which Yahweh pitched, and not man. For every high priest is
ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this
man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a
priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,
as Moses was admonished of Yahweh when he was about to make the tabernacle: for,
See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee
in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much
also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better
promises,” Heb. 8:1-6.
Notice that it says
that if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are
priests that offer gifts according to the law. That statement no longer applies
because there is no longer a physical manmade, handmade temple built to the
honor of Yahweh’s name on the earth. But there is a movement afoot to build a
temple or at least tabernacle and to restore the Levitical priesthood in
Jerusalem. Could this be taking place in order to thwart Yahshua from returning
as the High Priest and those who are His at the resurrection serving as kings
and priests with Him? (Rev. 14:1-5; 20:1-6)
Bezaleel not only means “in
the shadow of El,” but he is the son of Uri. Uri (yrwa/yrwa [note: I have given both the
original Paleo Hebrew and the modern day Hebrew here]) has to do with light or
specifically with the Hebrew letter yod (y/y) at the end of the word, it means
“my light.” He was also the son of Hur. Hur means “white
linen.” White Linen is utilized, spiritually speaking, for righteousness.
Finally, He is of the tribe of Yudah/Judah. Judah means “Praise Yahweh.”
Bezaleel, therefore, is a type,
a shadow, of Yahshua in that, according to the Scriptures, the Father made all
things through His Son, “Yahweh, who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much
better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name
than they,” Heb. 1:1-4.
The Father not only utilized Yahshua to create the heavens (His present
dwelling place which the Prophet Isaiah is inspired to declare that they are
like a curtain and spread out like a tent to dwell in [Isa. 40:22), and earth,
but He is also utilizing Him to bring forth the new heavens and new earth
wherein dwells righteousness (Rev. 21:1-5).
MORE SHADOWS
Here is what the book of
Hebrews declares about the law, which can also be translated as the Torah, or
the ten commandments, “For the Messiah is not entered
into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures
of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
Yahweh for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he
often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end
of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So the Messiah was once offered to bear the
sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the
second time without sin unto salvation. For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those
sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto
perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the
worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those
sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not
possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore
when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it
is written of me,) to do thy will, O Yahweh. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and
offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are
offered by the law; Then
said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O Yahweh. He taketh away the first, that he
may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the
offering of the body of Yahshua the Messiah once for all. And every priest
standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which
can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for
sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of Yahweh; From henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified,” Heb. 9:24-28; 10:1-14.
Bezaleel, whose name means
“in the shadow of El,” made the tabernacle and all things that pertained to
it and its priesthood by his own hands. The things that he made were simply
shadows, examples, types of the true. The true tabernacle is the one that Yahweh
has made through His own Son Yahshua of Whom Bezaleel is simply a shadow or
type. Notice that it says that holy places made with hands (of man) are only
figures of the true. The law, or the Torah was also a shadow of good things to
come, but they were simply not the very (exact?) image of the true things
because they couldn’t make anyone perfect. We are made perfect through Yahshua
the Messiah Who has the power to create in us the spirit and heart we need to be
able to please the Father with.
Isn’t it interesting that
Yahshua was born into a family whose head (Joseph) was a carpenter? A carpenter
builds dwelling places. Yahshua told the disciples, “1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in Elohim, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also,” Jn. 14:1-3. Yahshua is the One Who prepares a place, a
room, an office for us in His Father’s dwelling place.
Yahshua is not only the
builder, the maker of the house wherein Yahweh dwells, but he is the builder of
the city, the heavenly Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem, “8 By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the
land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a
city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Yahweh,” Heb. 11:8-10.
Yahshua told the Philadelphia Assembly, “Him that overcometh will I
make a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he shall go no more out: and I
will write upon him the name of my Elohim, and the name of the city of my Elohim,
which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my Elohim: and I
will write upon him my new name,” Rev. 3:12.
The first lesson that we learn about the 153 fish is that they direct us
to Bezaleel, who was a type, a shadow of Yahshua. Bezaleel made the tabernacle
in the wilderness, but Yahshua is the One Who has made the true heavenly
tabernacle wherein Yahweh truly dwells today, and is in the process of creating
a new heavens, a new earth, a new city called New Jerusalem, etc., etc. That is
why Bezaleel and his works were only shadows. Are you preparing to become a
pillar in that new city?
Sons of Elohim is a term that
is utilized throughout Scripture. We
find that there were “sons of Elohim” who were present when the earth was
made, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if
thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or
who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof
fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of Elohim
shouted for joy?” 38:4-7.
The sons of Elohim were called
before the throne of Yahweh and Satan was among them, “Now there was a day
when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came
also among them….Again there was a day when the sons
of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came
also among them to present himself before Yahweh,” Job. 1:6; 2:1.
If Satan is able to appear
among the sons of Elohim, then he also is a son of Elohim. In other places he is
called an angel or messenger. His message, of course, is contrary to Yahweh’s
message, but he is subtle enough to be able to take the truth, surround it with
lies and cleverly deceive the natural man. He is the serpent who appeared in the
Garden of Eden to deceive the first woman, Eve. He is still around deceiving the
world in the book of Revelation, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his
angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And
prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him,” Rev. 12:7-9.
He is currently working with
the great harlot (another woman) called Mystery Babylon, in order to deceive the
whole earth to commit fornication, making them drunk with the wine of her
idolatries.
Jude speaks of the angels that
left their first estate, “And the angels which kept not their first estate,
but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under
darkness unto the judgment of the great day,” v. 6.
The book of Genesis speaks of
the sons of Elohim who co-habited with the daughters of men (Adam), “And it
came to pass, when men (Adam) began to multiply on the face of the earth, and
daughters were born unto them, That the sons of Elohim saw the daughters of men
that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And
Yahweh said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is
flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in
the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of Elohim came in
unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became
mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And Yahweh saw that the wickedness
of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his
heart was only evil continually. And it repented Yahweh that he had made man on
the earth, and it grieved him at his heart,” Gen. 6:2-6.
Obviously, these sons of Elohim
had the ability to co-habit with the daughters of Adam and they then bore
children to them. The term “giants” is very interesting because it comes
from the Hebrew word nephiyl (lypn/lypn), which also means “fallen.” Yahshua,
Himself, said that He had seen Satan fall from heaven, “And he said unto them,
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven,” Lk. 10:18.
Mythology, itself, abounds with
stories of these rebellious fallen ones who became great and mighty ones in the
earth. Many of them became such great heroes that they were worshipped then and
now as gods. Yahweh has now reserved these rebellious fallen ones in the chains
of darkness until the day of judgment. Peter confirms Jude’s statement
concerning these fallen angels, “For if Yahweh spared not the angels that
sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness,
to be reserved unto judgment,” 2 Pt. 2:4.
He says that they are cast down
to “hell,” but this word for hell is Tartaroo, which can also mean a state
of torment. Both say that they have been delivered into chains of darkness.
Darkness has to do with a spiritual condition. They are tormented in the chains
of spiritual darkness because they turned from the true light that shines
forever, that is the Father Yahweh and His beloved Son Yahshua the Messiah. They
follow the prince of darkness who seeks to take the true things of Yahweh and
twist, corrupt and pollute them so that their light can’t shine through to
enlighten the minds of those who follow after their deceptive practices.
These fallen angels/spirits do
have various and certain powers over the natural mind of man as is revealed in
the evangel accounts wherein Yahshua and then the apostles faced them. Yahshua
first had to face the ring leader Satan to obtain the victory over him which He
did do as is recorded in Matthew chapter four, Mark chapter one, and Luke
chapter four.
One of the great problems is
that men, themselves, love darkness more than light, “For Yahweh so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For Yahweh sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of Elohim. And this is the condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought
in Elohim,” Jn. 3:16-21.
Yahshua overcame, got the
victory and now those who believe in and follow after Him, loving His light and
truth, become the SONS OF ELOHIM. The Apostle John writes, “Behold, what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of Elohim (myhlah ynb/
myhlah
ynb [=153]): therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of Elohim,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that
hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the
law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no
sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,
neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is
of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son
of Elohim was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Whosoever is born of Elohim doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim. In this the children of Elohim
are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness
is not of Elohim, neither he that loveth not his brother,” 1 Jn. 3:1-10.
Yahshua primarily called fishermen to be his disciples and apostles, and
they were to fish for men, fishing them out of this world and converting them to
become sons of Elohim (myhlah ynb/
myhlah
ynb). The 153 fishes teach
us of this fact.
What is being said here? Shebna
is one who is seemingly a nail driven in a sure place today. He is a treasurer
or minister over the house, but the Hebrew word for house is bayith, which can also be translated as
“temple.” He has hewn himself a sepulchre on high. He has graven an
habitation for himself in a rock. Yahweh is called a “rock” in so many, many
places in Scripture.
When it says that he has hewn
out a sepulchre “on high”, the Hebrew term is “marowm” (~wrm),
which can mean “from Rome.” Rome is Roma in the ancient Latin language,
which is akin to the Hebrew term Ramah, meaning a height (as a seat of idolatry)
[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #7413].
There is one in today’s world
who had been driven as a nail in a sure place. His sepulchre has been carved or
graven in the rock (the world calls Him God, but in reality, His name is
Yahweh). He was supposedly dead and is yet alive. This is none other than the
Roman imposter Jesus Christ who has been raised up in the place of the true
Messiah Yahshua.
Notice that the key of the
house of David with be laid upon His shoulder and he shall open and none can
shut and he will shut and none can open. This is none other than Yahshua the
Messiah as revealed in Rev. 3:8.
The name Eliakim son of
Hillkiah has a very important meaning. Eliakim means “El of raising” or
“Raising again of El” (also had to do with resurrection). Hillkiah has to do
with the portion or inheritance of Yahweh. So Eliakim son of Hillkiah is the Son
of El who will again raise up the portion or inheritance of Yahweh. This is none
other than Yahshua the Messiah Who has the power to deliver from the grave and
to restore Yahweh’s children, Israel, to their portion or inheritance.
According to this prophecy, the
current one who is being served as the nail driven into a sure place will be
replaced with the true nail, which is Yahshua the Messiah. Yahshua is the true
rock as admitted by the Apostle Paul, “1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should
be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed
through the sea; 2
And
were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same
spiritual meat; 4
And
did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was the Messiah,” 1 Cor. 10:1-4.
Yahshua is the true nail Who has the power to raise El again, to restore
truth, and light that has been taken away through the deceit of idolatry. He is
the One Who is spoken of here, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. He will restore the true
inheritance.
It teaches us that we can
become the children, the sons of Elohim through the Son of Elohim, Yahshua the
Messiah.
And it teaches us that Yahshua
is the One Who has the power to cast down the current idolatrous worldly system
and again raise up the inheritance of Yahweh.
Yahweh’s
plan continues to march on and is being fulfilled in Yahshua the Messiah, His
most precious firstborn son, HalleluYah!!!!!!