The mystery of the “Oneness of Elohim” has been with mankind since the creation of Adam and his wife in the Garden of Eden. Over the millennia Yahweh has been manifested in ways that mere mortals cannot completely understand.

By David Douglas

  When we read in Genesis 1:26, “And Elohim said let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness…,” we hear the words, But can we fully explain the duality of the Speaker? In our modern times this issue is further complicated because none of us walked and talked with and touched the man called Yahshua, who was Elohim; who became a man of flesh and tabernacled among us. (John 1:14) It is very understandable that our human mind struggles to comprehend and explain just exactly how that was possible.

  In Judaism, Deuteronomy 6:4 is called the “Shema,” the watchword of Yisra’el.

  “Shema, O Yisra’el: Yahweh Eloheinu, Yahweh echad.”

  “Hear, O Yisra’el: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is one.”

  The Holy Scriptures clearly reveal Yahweh the Father and Yahweh the Son. (See: Pr. 30:4; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-5; and John 3:16) The Holy Scriptures also indicate that Yahshua has been with the Father from the beginning. (John 17:5) But how can our mere mortal mind understand and explain that TWO EQUALS ONE?! Very Obviously we need divine help and divine revelation.

  Therefore….enter the Set-Apart/the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKoDesh of Yahweh, whom Yahshua prayed for the Father to send. (John 14:16-18) “Another Comforter,” one to dwell with you and in you.” And it is of great significance that Elohim says… “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (v. 18) Therefore, the “Comforter/Ruach HaKodesh” is a distinct manifestation of the “One True Elohim” of the Hebrew Scriptures.

  Now…here is where I confess to you all that because I could not really explain this with human words, nor could I fully grasp the understanding with human concepts, I began to pray for a simple explanation. Over the years the answer has grown into a fixed belief and I can now offer a few examples of physical knowledge. (And I want to thank Brother Jim Rector for planting the seeds of understanding and wisdom in his Cornerstone Publication: A Voice To The Endtime Church…and his article titled: “The Heart of the Matter.” I am expanding on several of his points herein.)

  In the very familiar passage of scripture in Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul declares his “Oneness” with the Messiah… “I am crucified with the Messiah: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but the Messiah liveth IN me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of Elohim, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Emphasis added) Also see: Romans 6:3-6…and v. 6 in particular!

  In the much quoted scripture Philippians – Chapter 4:13, Paul states: “I can do all things through the Messiah which strengtheneth me.” This is reiterating the teaching in John 15:5 wherein Yahshua stated: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth IN me, and I IN him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: For without Me ye can do nothing.” (Emphasis added)

  Well now, that explains everything perfectly, right? The King of the Universe, an immortal being who is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly Places, is also abiding IN me and Hs is my “Commander-in-Chief” who is running the show. Really? How does that explain everyone – from the least to the greatest – who keeps on ignoring and disobeying the express commandments in the Holy Scriptures, i.e. disobeying the instructions of Yahweh given for righteous living? Immediately your mind reveals that there must be more to this picture and process.

  For better understanding and clarification, here is how the Amplified Bible states Philippians 4:13 – “I have strength for all things IN Messiah who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who INFUSES inner strength into me (that is, I am self-sufficient in Messiah’s sufficiency.”) (Emphasis mine)

  The real key to better understanding this passage is found in the definition of the word “infuses.” The dictionary states: infuse: 1. To instill or impart (qualities, etc.) 2. To fill; inspire. 3. To steep or soak (tea leaves, etc.) to extract certain qualities.

  So what does this actually mean regarding Messiah Yahshua’s abiding IN me? And exactly how does Messiah “infuse me? Can you give a simple explanation of the process of infusion? (Again I thank Brother Rector for sharing the process of making a cup of tea!)

  Most of us have done it or seen it done. You take a tea bag which contains tea leaves and place it into a cup filled with hot water. Very soon, the color, taste and strength of the tea is released into the water. If you just place the tea bag beside the cup will you get a cup of tea? Can the water imitate the tea merely by being near it, or studying it very carefully? Not possible! There has to be an “infusion”….a process of combining and steeping.

  This simple illustration reveals a great spiritual dynamic. By ourselves, we are completely unable to reproduce the life, strength, and characteristics of the Messiah within us. We are an empty vessel that NEEDS filling. Our example here likens the hot water to the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Messiah, Ruach HaKodesh. The tea bag is like Messiah Yahshua Who comes into our vessel and He “infuses” His very own strength and His spiritual characteristics into us. And we become “One IN Messiah.”

  This “infusion process” is one very clear sign of our having made a personal decision to allow the Messiah to direct our life and lifestyle. And even though you know this, and are established in this present truth, I will not be negligent to remind you that you CANNOT be a true follower of the Messiah Yahshua unless you have entered into a marriage contract and asked Him to forgive all of your lawlessness/sin; have declared your 100% submission to Him and His commandments; applied His sinless blood to the doorposts of your heart; and asked Him to come in and fill your vessel. Then…He can and will do this. And you become “One IN Messiah.” But notice a critical fact: He comes into you WITHOUT making you a puppet and WITHOUT removing your ability to make free-will choices!

  In our example of making tea, the tea will always stay locked up in the water until it is released by the medium of the hot water. Then the “infusion” of the tea released into the water is so complete that the water is no longer simply water, but water combined with tea. By “infusion” the two (2) have become (1)! Yet, think a moment. The “Tea” is still in the bag, right?

  Comparing this to the Messiah. He does come into us…and He does manifest His life in us and through us as we submit to His leadership. And yet, He has not become us and we have not become Him! We are forever distinct…and yet…forever one! What a marvelous truth!

  All serious Bible students and disciples of the Messiah can readily quote other examples of this “Distinctness and Oneness.” When a man and woman get married, the Bible says they are “One Flesh” and yet it is physically obvious that they remain two distinct individuals. The Body of Messiah/the Assembly: Many parts yet “One IN Messiah.”

  The Messiah Himself has said “I am the Bread of Life.” In 1 Cor. 10:17 it states: “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” The Apostle Paul referenced this in Romans 12:4-5… “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in the Messiah, and everyone members of another.” Forever distinct yet forever one! Quite clearly…everything is a reflection of “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.” (Gen. 1:26) So…Yahweh the Father and Yahweh the Son are forever One, yet forever distinct! HalleluYah!!!!!

  There is another example I’d like to mention that was discovered in the 20 th century. It involves the release of great quantities of energy. When we studied science in school we learned about “nuclear energy,” and two (2) types of nuclear chain reactions. One is nuclear fission; the other is nuclear fusion. Fission is accomplished by dividing atoms to achieve a great release of energy, e.g. the atom bomb. But we need to look at FUSION…(very similar to the word infusion)…which is the second kind. It is a combining/joining of particles one with another wherein an even greater quantity of energy is released. Our own sun is a giant nuclear reactor utilizing FUSION; a joining together of atomic nuclei into a nucleus of heavier mass, with the resultant loss in the combined mass converted into energy, as in a hydrogen bomb. With reference to our sun, we don’t even know how many millennia this process has been going on! Dividing atoms is very destructive; but combining/ joining atoms can be very productive…if it is managed/harnessed.

  One of the scientific goals of the Twentieth Century was to harness the production of energy from nuclear fusion for the good of mankind. If they could, it would accomplish the production of power that would be clean ad efficient. Automobiles and other types of machinery would be run by batteries, charged by hydrogen-produced energy. Fossil fuel like coal, oil, and gasoline…and of course uranium fission…would be ancient history.

  It does not take a rocket-scientist to realize this is just another one of Yahweh’s creative processes that reveals a great spiritual dynamic. When we “JOIN” ourselves to Him, we replicate the FUSION process; and great energy is released. Remember though, we are talking about joining ourselves to the CREATOR OF ALL THINGS! The One who upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb. 1:3) So very plainly He must manage/harness that much power, or we as mere humans would be destroyed instantaneously!

  Having created these pictures in your mind, let’s look at Yahshua as He walked the earth. In John Chapter 5 Yahshua teaches critical truth to the leaders of the House of Yahudah in Yerushalayim. Those leaders had just rebuked Yahshua for breaking “Their Traditions” re: the Sabbath, and He corrected them by stating His position and authority IN Yahweh the Father. (Read John 5:19-47) These are all words of Yahshua our Messiah!

  (v. 19): Then answered Yahshua and said unto them, verily, verily I say unto you. The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things so ever He [The Father] doeth, these also the Son doeth likewise.

  (v. 30): I CAN OF MINE OWN SELF DO NOTHING: AS I HEAR, I JUDGE: AND My judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

  (v. 43): I come in My Father’s name…

  Further Yahshua stated:

  “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” (John. 6:38)

  “Yahshua answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of Elohim, or whether I speak of Myself.” (John 7:16-17)

  “I and My Father are One.” (John 10:30)

  “If I do not the works of My Father believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10:37-38)

  “…If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make OUR abode with him.” (John 14:23)

  “That they all may be one: as thou, Father, are in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me. And the honor that thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as WE are one: I in them, and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me.” (John 17:23-23)

  Now…this still leaves one very real question: What does “One IN Messiah Yahshua” really mean and entail for us? Remember…Yahshua comes in when we ask His forgiveness for our sins; repent of our unlawful/un-torahful ways; apply His sinless blood to the doorposts of our heart; commit ourselves to Him and to His commandments and instructions and submit to His Supreme Leadership. This total act of OBEDIENCE is ou “Love Offering” to the Supreme One[ness] who first loved us enough to die the death Torah required and we deserved for our sins. “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of Elohim is everlasting life through Yahshua the Messiah our Master. (Romans 6:23)

  Therefore…being “IN HIM” means we now listen to His voice and are 100% willing to cancel all of our own plans and ambitions in life as we follow Him by faith. Right? …OOPS! That is where we run into problems. Yahshua came to earth to DO the will of the Father. That was His total pursuit. Whether through His life or through Hid death, He had NO OTHER AGENDA! Can we say the same thing? Do we have plans that we refuse to give up?

  Beloved brethren…Being “IN Him”; being “INFUSED” with His great power and presence, requires our total commitment. Then we are ONE, i.e. abiding in Him, and He in us. At that point He will show us His way! But we all struggle with the same human problem: We are quick to act on our personal opinions of what we “think” Yahweh wants done; and in our own fleshly power we completely miss what Yahweh alone can do by the anointing of His power and presence in a submitted and committed vessel!

  “Lo, I come to do Thy will O Elohim.” (Heb. 10:7) That was Yahshua’s WHOLE AGENDA! Yahshua imparts life when He goes forth and He is the Master. And I did NOT say “Puppet Master”; we always have free-will in all matters!

  “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25) A true disciple of Yahshua must walk as He walked. We must absolutely follow His instructions and His time-table. (1 John 2:3-6)

   Brethren, be assured that any power we embrace or appropriate in this life, apart from walking in total obedience to the will of Yahweh, is self-glorifying by nature, and self-destructive in consequence! As long as HaSatan can deceive people with thoughts that success, numbers, achievements, and the accumulation of worldly resources…even the attainment of political, religious, and economic power…are the things Yahweh NEEDS for the extension of His kingdom, then Yahweh’s plan will not be achieved through men. Man’s plans must be cancelled and abandoned, and Yahweh’s true people must submit to and follow His perfect plan.

  On a personal level, we all need to ask ourselves just exactly how deep is our love for ABBA YAHWEH? Do we really TRUST Him and KNOW Him well enough to lay down everything we think we know about His commandments and His promises…out of true love for the Elohim who gave them? Consider Abraham for a moment; Yahweh told him to do exactly that! Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac His son of promise as a burnt offering to Yahweh. And Abraham set out to obey…because he loved and trusted Yahweh more than he loved the promise, i.e. his son! Deep down Abraham KNEW Yahweh’s promises were absolute, and that he would be 100% faithful to perform everything He promised; and if necessary, bring Isaac back to life with resurrection power! Now that is true faith and true love! And notice a basic spiritual truth: You cannot receive the promise until you obey the commandment.

  The Sacred Scriptures are replete with examples of what to do and what not to do. W.W.Y.D? What would Yahshua do? Exactly what He always did! He always obeyed His Heavenly Father and He always walked Torahfully/Lawfully. He always obeyed the Spirit of the Torah and the letter of the Torah. He never sinned. (1 John 3:4) Yahshua plainly taught that DOING THE WILL OF YAHWEH ELOHEINU, rather than doing many good works, IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN!

  The reason we miss the mark in our walk with Yahweh is quite evident; His thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways, and we miss Elohim when we assume we are working on His projects and objectives, but in truth and fact we have closed our eyes to the foundational principle of simply being totally committed and submitted to do His will and walk in His ways, i.e. “Being IN Him.” (See: Matthew 7:21…Yahshua is speaking very plainly!) Being IN Him means walking in the light; walking in the love; walking in the Spirit. It means “fellowshipping” with Him, up close and intimate. This is what John meant when he spoke of fellowship with the Father and fellowship one with another in 1 John. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yahshua the Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

  Beloved Brethren…if we are 100% committed and submitted to DO HIS WILL, we will be IN Him, and He will show us His ways. At that point we will be “infused” with His power and His presence. Then we are FOREVER ONE WITH HIM, YET FOREVER DISTINCT! HalleluYah!!!!! Have you “JOINED” yourself to His Family yet?

Articles INDEX 

PART III

We have shown how man has become the serpent’s food in the beginning. We showed why the Hebrews also failed. Now we need to focus on the Gentile kingdoms to see what the end result will be.

THE GENTILE KINGDOMS

    The wayward Israelite kingdoms were finally overthrown, which gave rise to new powers on the earth. The northern kingdom of Israel had gone into captivity in 721 BCE at the hand of the Assyrians. The southern kingdom of Judah followed in about 585 BCE through the hand of the Babylonians. This gave rise to the power of the Gentile (non-Hebrew) kingdoms over the earth. Not that there weren’t Gentile kingdoms until that time, but there was now no Hebrew kingdom extant for any kind of influence over the Gentile kingdoms.

  The Israelites had been set in the land of promise as a crowning light to the Gentile kingdoms. The temple at Jerusalem gave knowledge that the Hebrews had a most powerful Elohim named Yahweh. He was the Elohim above all elohim. Now there were no people, nor was there a temple to serve the purpose to remind them that such an Elohim exists.

  The kingdom of Babylon was established as the prime ruling kingdom over the earth. This is revealed in the writings of the Scriptures. The earth was now going to pass through a series of world ruling kingdoms that would have an effect and influence upon the whole world, which continues down to this present day, and will continue until Yahshua the Messiah returns.

  Yahweh had warned the Israelites that if they refused to obey Him curses would come upon them (See Dt. 28:15-68). I want to primarily focus on a couple of verses in this context, “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. Yahweh shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed,” Dt. 28:23-24.

  The Prophet Isaiah was inspired to declare, “Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of Yahweh, and make mention of the Elohim of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the Elohim of Israel; Yahweh of hosts is his name. I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them,” Isa. 48:1-6.

  Jeremiah was also inspired to write, “O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because Yahweh hath rejected them,” Jer. 6:26-28.

  Ezekiel also writes, “And the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying, Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus saith Adonai Yahweh; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I Yahweh have poured out my fury upon you,” Ez. 22:18-20.

  Because of their sins, Yahweh reduced His own people Israel to the dust of death. The serpent fed upon them and caused them to be overthrown and destroyed. After all, they were descendants of Adam and, like him, they were dust and had to return to the dust.

  There are significant meanings as to why Yahweh chose to utilize these terms in relation to Israel, specifically and especially the brass and iron. We must explore the book of Daniel in order to come to a better understanding.

DANIEL 2

  King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream that disturbed him greatly. The problem is that he knew that he had an important dream, but he couldn’t remember what it was, “And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dream-ed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain,” Dan. 2:1-13.

  Daniel persuaded the captain of the guard, and King Nebuchadnezzar to give him a little time and he would give the king an answer. He and his three companions prayed to Yahweh and Yahweh revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel.

  Daniel told the king, “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth,” Dan. 2:31-35.

  What Yahweh was revealing to King Nebuchadnezzar, and consequently, the rest of the world, was a prophetic thumbnail sketch of the history of the kingdoms of the world from Babylon down to the time when Yahweh would establish the kingdom of heaven under the guise and direction of Yahshua the Messiah.

  Furthermore, the Hebrew word for “image” is tselem, the same word that we have discussed previously. Therefore, the dream was also a thumbnail sketch of the history of the kingdoms and their pagan idolatrous practices and systems.

INTERPRETATION

  Daniel gave the interpretation of the dream thusly, “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the Eloah of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the Eloah of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great Eloah hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure,” Dan. 2:37-45.

  Let’s also take a closer look at these things ourselves, because so much of the book of Daniel, as well as the rest of the Scriptures have been sealed up until the time of the end, “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand,” Dan. 12:9-11.

  The first thing that we would notice about the image is that it begins in excellence since gold is of the highest quality, but the gold turns to a metal of a lesser quality, silver, the silver to brass/bronze, the brass/bronze to iron, the iron to iron and potter’s clay, and the iron and potter’s clay to iron and mirey clay. Therefore, the image reveals corruption, which would occur both in secular and ecclesiastical histories. Even in our own day, we have seen much corruption take place in the world governments, religion, and also in the human spirit.

ASSAYING THE COMPONENTS

  The kingdoms represented by these metals, of course, were Babylon (gold), Medo-Persia (silver), Macedonia-Greece (brass/bronze), Rome (iron, iron and clay, iron and miry clay).

  But another thing that we need to look at is the first two metals themselves. Gold, in idolatry, represents the sun and the false pagan gods and goddesses associated therewith, such as Mithras, Apollo, Jupiter, Ba’al, Bel, etc. Silver, in idolatry, represents the moon and the false pagan gods and goddesses associated with it.

  It is the third metal that begins to shed even more light on the subject. The third metal is bronze or brass, which in Aramaic is nachash. It was the serpent (nachash) that began the whole system of murderous lies (Gen. 3:1-5).

  Remember that the image is a tselem, which means an idol. We are looking at a thumbnail sketch of the history of idolatry. Babylon was the beginning of the kingdoms and she is represented by the gold. One of Babylon’s chief deities was Bel (Ba’al in the Canaanite religion).

  It is no coincidence that the Babylonian harlot is revealed in the book of Revelation, “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Yahshua: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration,” Rev. 17:1-6.

  What about the iron? “Iron is taken out of the earth…” (Job 28:2, first part).The Hebrew word for earth is aphar! The same word utilized in the beginning for DUST! When Yahweh told the serpent that his food would be dust (aphar), and told Adam that he was dust, the Hebrew word for dust was aphar!

  What do we have here? Adam and Eve were created from the dust (aphar) of the earth, but they were made of such excellent quality that they had no death working in their members at first. Then they were enticed to take of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When they did so they came under the penalty of death. Death began working in their members. Over a period of time, they were going to corrupt from that excellent condition that they were created in until they came to death and the dust would return to dust. The serpent will have eaten his food, flesh, returning it to dust.

  The same can be said of the Gentile kingdoms and of all kingdoms of men for that matter. Look at Israel. Solomon was the greatest king of Israel. Israel was at the apex of her glory under his rule. But he fell away to the worship of pagan gods and Israel began to corrupt to her ruin. Does this not prove that man in his best state (as well as the kingdoms of men) is altogether vanity? (Psa. 39:5) The Hebrew word for “vanity” utilized here is tselem! Every man, even at his best state is altogether an idolatrous image!

  Where is ancient Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece? Where are the people of Central and South America who built the great cities of the ancients, which have been and are being discovered? They have returned to the dust! They are no more! Babylon passed to Persia, Persia to Greece, and Greece to Rome.

  Israel’s heaven has been turned to brass! What does this mean? Supposedly, the dwelling place of the gods is in heaven, thus Yahweh’s term for turning their heaven into brass. What or who is the underlying spirit of idolatry? Isn’t it the serpent (nacash)? Doesn’t the serpent have to be cast out of heaven? “1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto Yahweh, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of Yahweh, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 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. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our Elohim, and the power of his Messiah: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our Elohim day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child,” Rev. 12:1-13.

  The earth is where man lives under his own forms of government. This is what Yahweh meant by saying that He would turn their earth into iron (aphar = dust). The iron kingdom was/is Rome. The brass kingdom was/is Greece/Macedonia.

  The image of Daniel chapter two is revealing the history of idolatry to us. It began with Babylon, the head of gold, descended to Medo-Persia, the chest and arms of silver. This represented the deities of idolatry, the sun (gold) and moon (silver) gods and goddesses. Then came Macedonia/Greece represented by the brass. The word nachash for brass or bronze also has to do with the serpent, who is the underlying spirit of idolatry. Man has been reduced to the worship of the serpent (nachash), who is represented by the brass (nachash). The iron represents mankind, the dust (aphar). The serpent feeds upon man, who is made of dust (aphar).

  The iron and clay would be representative of Israel being amalgamated into the Roman Empire and its idolatrous spirit, as the prophet Isaiah cried out, “But now, O Yahweh, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand,” Isa. 64:8. The iron and potter’s clay is a type revealing that Israel has now been added to the iron kingdom.

THE WAY OF CAIN

    Jude writes, “3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, unrighteous men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness, and denying the only Sovereign Yahweh, and our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that Yahweh, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 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. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, Yahweh rebuke thee. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core,” 3-11.

  Cain, of course, slew his own brother Abel because he was jealous of him. He was banished from the presence of Yahweh to become a fugitive and a vagabond. Cain traveled eastward to the land of Nod, which is the land of wandering.

  But Cain was still defiant against Yahweh. Instead of continuing as a fugitive and vagabond, he built a city and named it after his firstborn son Enoch, which means to initiate or initiated. This is very important to understand because we need to trace Cain and his influence on today’s world.

  Rome, the fourth kingdom of iron in Daniel chapter two, and the dreadful and terrible beast of Daniel chapter seven, had its own corrupted version of the story of Cain and Abel. This story comes alive in the myth about Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Remus, like Cain and Abel, were twins. Eventually, Romulus slew Remus and later built the city of Rome. He later disappeared in a storm, and was consequently deified.

  It is interesting that Cain’s great-grandchild Tubal-cain was an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron. In other words, he was a black smith, or founder in metals. He also was deified as Albert Mackey, a 33° Freemason identifies him with the Roman fire god Vulcan (Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, pp. 1059-1060).

  In the latter stages of Rome’s ecclesiastical history Vulcan was in a Trinitarian relationship with Jupiter and Esus (pronounced Hesus, the English version of this pagan deity was spelled Yesu, but also pronounced Hesus).

IRON

  The Hebrew and Aramaic words for iron are interesting in their make-up. The Hebrew word for Iron is “barzel”. It is a combination of two Hebrew words “bar” and “zalal.” Bar is a Hebrew word for “son.” Zalal is defined as; to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; fig. to be loose morally, worthless, prodigal.

  Thus, the Hebrew word for iron defines the spirit of man steeped in the idolatrous worship of the serpent. They are prodigal children. Their actions are to be morally loose, which ends up in worthlessness. Remember that the Babylonian harlot of Revelation 17 and 18 causes the whole world to commit fornication, that is; both physical and spiritual.

  The Aramaic word for iron is parzel. Par would be equivalent to the same Hebrew word “par”, which has to do with a bull, or bullock. Thus, the spirit of Babylon has turned the world into the worship of the Babylonian bull-god Bel; the Egyptian bull-god Apis, and the Canaanite bull-god Ba’al.

  How does this translate into today’s terms?

  Yahweh inspired Isaiah to write, “1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. 2 For the indignation of Yahweh is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. 3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. 4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. 5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. 6 The sword of Yahweh is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for Yahweh hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. 7 And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness,” Isa. 34:1-7.

  Whether people understand it or realize it or not, whether they are in Judaism, Islam, Christianity, or the other religions, they have been deceived to worship the serpent. They are food for the serpent. Adam and Eve, along with all of their posterity are made of dust (aphar). The flesh is the serpent’s food.

  The kingdoms of the world are made up of people, flesh, dust. The kingdoms of the world have been reduced from their grandeur of gold, to iron, which is made from earth (aphar/dust). We are presently in the death throes of the last vestiges of the Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom of Daniel 2 and the fourth beast of Daniel 7. We have come to the day when the kingdoms of this world will return to the dust. When Yahshua returns to establish the kingdom of heaven, He will overthrow the kingdoms of this world and grind them to powder, dust. The day is coming when the serpent will not be around to deceive anymore.

  This world is on the verge of death, but remember that the serpent understands this and is now in the process of pulling off an even greater deception. After all, he does appear as an angel of light, and has the power to greatly deceive. He can even cause the world to think that he has established the long awaited kingdom of heaven on this earth. There is yet to be another great war wherein he will make it look like the so-called good and righteous have won the day. That’s what Revelation 13 declares, “4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against Yahweh, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear,” Rev. 13:4-9.

  Didn’t we think that a better world and brighter future was in store for us after WWI? Didn’t we think that a better world and brighter future was in store for us after WWII? Look at the world and its dangers of facing another world war. This world is desperately wicked and evil. Wickedness and evil must perish, but not by the hand of man. It will soon be dealt with by the miraculous intervention of He who first came as a lamb, but will return as a conquering lion to establish the kingdom of heaven, but the kingdoms of this world must perish.

  May you understand what is written here and become prepared to escape the destruction coming upon this world at the end of this age and to face the conquering Hero Yahshua the Messiah. Even so, COME!

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Every year in November and December, the world becomes excited about December 25 and the supposed birth of the Savior. All kinds of Christmas decorations will be exhibited until well after the event. One of the more popular exhibits will be the manger scene depicting an adoring Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, kings (magi), animals, all gathered around a little baby in a manger. A quick check of the Scriptures written about this event will begin to confuse a person if they look into those writings too carefully. What is the real truth of the matter?

By Jerry Healan

Your news media, along with the clergy will excitedly proclaim it even though they will also admit that the Savior wasn’t really even born on this date. Does it matter? Didn’t the Savior, Himself, proclaim that Yahweh is spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth? (Jn. 4:24)

  The Scriptures reveal that there is a great deceiver in the world, and he is very subtle. How does one deceive? Through lies, falsehoods, confusion, of course! Even though more and more people are becoming skeptical concerning there even being a Creator Elohim, and the viability of the Scriptures because of the teachings of science concerning evolution, etc., there are still myriads of people who at least go through the ritual of Christmas observance along with its manger scenes, and other practices. After all, the merchants still need Christmas sales to keep their sales records in the black.

  The serpent has even long ago had to admit that the Savior was born into the world, but being the master of deception that he is, he causes man to put together a manger scene, and Christmas plays of confusion in order to keep the people focused on physical things rather than the powerful spiritual truths, and lessons that are contained in the Scriptures.

THE MANGER

  What is the spiritual lesson concerning the manger? I am sure that there are more lessons than I will be able to bring out here, but I do hope that I can at least bring some of the truth forth.

  In Luke chapter two, Miriam, Yahshua’s mother brings him forth, wraps him in swaddling clothes and places Him in a manger. (v. 7) What is a manger? Isn’t it a crib where farmers place food for their animals? What was the purpose for Yahshua to be placed in a manger? For Yahweh, nothing is without purpose or reason. There is a purpose and reason for everything that He does.

  Isn’t it interesting that Yahshua was born in Bethlehem, Judah? Bethlehem is a combination of two Hebrew words bayith (house, tent, temple, family) and lechem (bread). Yahshua told the people of His day that He is the true bread from heaven, “33 For the bread of Elohim is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Master, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Yahshua said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst….48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 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. 6:33-35, 48-51.

  The true bread from heaven was born in Bethlehem, the house, tent, temple, family of bread!

  Yahshua called His followers His sheep, “Then said Yahshua unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep….I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,” Jn. 10:7, 11.

  Thus, the true bread from heaven was born in the house of bread and placed in a manger which is a crib for fodder, or food for animals. He came to provide food, bread for His sheep.

  Are you beginning to see some of the hidden things that should be searched out and addressed rather than focusing on a corrupted, physical manger scene?

THE DOOR

  In the above verses, Yahshua proclaims that He is the door. He was born in Bethlehem-Judah. Both Joseph and Miriam were descendants of the patriarch Judah. The name Judah is hdwhy in Hebrew. Notice the dalet (d), which is equivalent to our letter “d”. In Hebrew, all letters not only represent letters to make words, but they are also numbers, and pictures, or hieroglyphics. The dalet (d) is the picture of a “door.”

  If we remove the dalet (d) from the name Judah (hdwhy), what we have left is hwhy, Yahweh! Yahshua is the door that this letter represents. He is the door to Yahweh, “6 Yahshua saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him,” Jn. 14:6-7.

  Yahshua told the people, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him,” Mat. 11:27.

  Yahshua is the Mediator between heaven and earth, between the Father and us, “5 For there is one Elohim, and one mediator between Elohim and men, the man the Messiah Yahshua; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” 1 Tim. 2:5-6.

  Yahshua is the Mediator of a new and better covenant, “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. 8:6. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb. 9:15. “And to Yahshua the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel,” Heb. 12:24.

  Yahshua is the door to the Father. He had to come and be the Mediator (a door) to a new and better covenant based solely on the Word of Yahweh, because the covenant of Moses was based upon two promises, Yahweh’s Word, which never fails, and Israel’s word, the word of men, which always fail.

  It is through Yahshua that the heavens and earth can be brought back as one again, “9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in the Messiah, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him,” Eph. 1:9-10.

  Are you beginning to see that there is more to the story of His birth than meets the eye?

SWADDLING CLOTHES

  When He was born, Yahshua’s mother wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. (Lk. 2:7). The Greek word for “swaddling clothes” is sparganoo. It is defined as: from sparganon (a strip; from a derivative of the base of 4682 meaning to strap or wrap with strips); to swathe (an infant after the Oriental custom). (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) Furthermore, #4682 is the Greek word sparasso, which is defined as: to mangle, i.e. convluse with epilepsy. It is variously translated as; rend, tear.

  Is this not a prophecy in the beginning of His life as to what would happen to Him at the end of His life? Wasn’t His flesh stripped with a cat-o-nine tails? “Then Pilate therefore took Yahshua, and scourged him,” Jn. 19:1.

  Isaiah prophesied, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed,” Isa. 53:4-5.

  Peter confirms Isaiah’s prophecy, “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,” 1 Pet. 2:24.

POVERTY

  The manger scene confuses things because the Magi, or kings are shown around the child presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The plays also depict Joseph and Miriam fleeing to Egypt immediately after His birth, but such is not the case.

  Yahshua’s parents were impoverished when He was born to them. In Luke, He is circumcised on the eighth day, but the parents are still in the environs of Jerusalem after the days of Miriam’s purification because she went to the temple to perform the prescribed offering in the Torah, “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called YAHSHUA, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to Yahweh;  (As it is written in the law of Yahweh, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to Yahweh;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of Yahweh, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons,” Lk. 2:21-24.

  What did the law of Moses decree? “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5 But if she bare a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. 6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before Yahweh, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean,” Lev. 12:2-8.

  Notice this again! She was supposed to bring a lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. But if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she can bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons. The offering that Miriam gave was a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons because she didn’t have the means to bring a lamb! This means two things, #1 Joseph and Miriam were impoverished, and #2 the kings (magi) from the east had not yet arrived, because they brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Had Joseph and Miriam been in possession of the gold, they would have had the means to provide a lamb for the burnt offering.

  Once they had performed these purification rites, and the prescribed sacrifices, what do the Scriptures say happened? “And when they had performed all things according to the law of Yawheh, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth,” Lk. 2:39.

  What? No flight into Egypt? Let’s continue.

THE KINGS

  The book of Matthew records, “Now when Yahshua was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him,” Mat. 2:1-2.

  Now, let’s think about this for a moment. The kings came from a far place in the east, probably around the environs of ancient Babylon. They saw the star in the east announcing Yahshua’s birth. The trip from where they were to Jerusalem would have been a long trip. They couldn’t have been there on the night of Yahshua’s birth, or even 30 days later. After they had seen the star, they would have had to prepare for the trip, assimilate the gifts, etc. Wouldn’t it take a while to plan the trip, get packed up, and then leave?

  Matthew should read, “Now Yahshua, having been born in Bethlehem of Judaea….” The way it is worded, it promotes the idea that this is on the night of His birth, and it isn’t.

  The wise men arrived in Jerusalem, met with Herod, who stalled for time because he called for the chief priests and scribes and demanded where the Messiah would be born (Mt. 2:2-5).

  After they gave him the information, he called for the wise men once again, “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also,” Mt. 2:7-8.

  Furthermore, the star appeared to them to lead them where the child was, “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy,” Mt. 2:9-10.

  Why did they need the star to guide them? Hadn’t shepherds of the field seen angels who told them the news? When they came and found the child, didn’t they make His birth known to many in Bethlehem? (Lk. 2:8-18)

  But notice what else happened, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,” Mt. 2:11.

  Joseph, Miriam, and the child weren’t in a stable now, they were in a house. Remember that they had to resort to a stable with a manger because there was no room at the inn. (Lk. 2:7)

THE FLIGHT

  The wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod because he would seek to destroy the child so they took another route back to their homeland (Lk. 2:12).

  Joseph was also warned in a dream to flee to Egypt because Herod would seek to destroy the child (Lk. 2:13-15).

  When Herod realized that he had been made to look like a fool, he sent his troops in to destroy the children, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men,” Mt. 2:16.

  Herod had cross examined the wise men quite thoroughly. He found out that the wise men had seen the star somewhere around two years before or maybe a little less.

  Do you now see how the serpent has confused the issue by putting it all together in a neat, but confusing, and deceptive package? Isn’t it strange that Christianity continues to promote the confusion and deception, rather than getting to the truth of the situation?

  Christmas with its manger scene looks good, sounds good, feels good and seems good, but there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov. 14:12-16:25). Lies, deceit, falsehoods, and confusion serve to kill, to murder. That is the way of the serpent Satan. But the truth of Yahweh, Yahshua and His Word sets us free. Will you be set free from these things, or will you continue on the path of death? May Yahweh bless you to choose truth, freedom, and life!

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