The Natsari View of Hebraic Sotariology by Gregory Feguer

The Natsari View of Hebraic Sotariology By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

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The Natsari View of Hebraic Sotariology By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

I wish for this work to be beneficial not only to the scholar but especially to the laymen, therefore I have tried to word things in a simple and concise manner, which differs from most works regarding aspects of systematic theology. All Scripture (unless otherwise noted) is taken from the King James Version of the Bible due to its Public Domain status. In the service of the God of Israel, Shalom,

10/12/09 24th of Tishrei, 5770

The Natsari View of Hebraic Sotariology By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

It is recorded in Genesis that Adam’s children sacrificed animals and by Torah and Oral Tradition so did all the Patriarchs until the Sacrificial System was codified in the form we have today in Vayikra (Leviticus) and how it was practiced during the Tabernacle and Temple periods. How else Adam did to Moshe (Moses) know what, how and why to sacrifice unless it was given orally by YHWH to Adam and Chavah (Eve) after the fall, after eating of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden?

Gan Eden – The Garden of Eden To rightly begin our journey to define what the true definition and meaning of Sacrifice and Personal Salvation is from a Natsarim Jewish mindset we need to show the precedence for such in the first book of Moshe called B’resheet (Genesis). We see in the first few chapters of B’resheet we find the Creation account. In archeological and critical historical religious literature the authors (usually agnostic, atheist or secular) often attempt to make one believe other cultures are older and predate that of Scriptural writ, simply because physical evidence found is often older than the earliest Biblical manuscripts. They claim that the Biblical writers took traditions and stories from these so called older cultures and adopted them as their own creation story and flood account and so on. However, if one believes the inerrancy of Scripture one would easily realize that the entire world was at one time one people, language and culture until the confounding of the languages at the Tower of Babel. Thus, in the post Babel world everyone took the shared traditions and legends from the Creation to the Flood and molded them into what each people group has become. This is why every people group has a similar creation and flood story. Our investigation is not necessarily concerns with creation per se, but in the creation called, “man” for man is what is at the center of this matter called Salvation and hence we will see the only reason sacrifices exist.

Gen. 1:26-28, 2:7-9, 15-25 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earthâ&#x20AC;Ś And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evilâ&#x20AC;Ś And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. -- (KJV)

With that the stage is set. Now we need to ask ourselves some fundamental questions. Such as, why even in His foreknowledge did the Eternal One decide to create us?

Gen. 1:31a And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good.

Isa. 43:7 [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Isa. 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Psalms 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

Rev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. “Whatsoever the Holy One, blessed be He, created in His Universe, He created but for His glory.” – Talmud, Avot 6:2

Simply put, for His pleasure, because He wanted too, and we can not speculate much further, for how can a finite mind grasp the entirety of why He wanted to create mankind. Reb Michael Gadol in his paper “A need for a Savior,” says this about why G-d created mankind and for that matter all that we see and know as creation: “In the beginning, the Creator had a plan. Even before the creation of the worlds, the Creator had a desire within Him. His plan and desire included all good things, including peace, happiness, fulfillment, but most importantly, a relationship. He desired to be in intimate fellowship with His creation, so He created the Heavens and the earth. In doing so, it was for the purpose of sharing. Unfortunately, however, His main creation, mankind, has not understood this fully. Mankind, because of selfish ambition, decided that He did not want this relationship. Instead, mankind turned to other things, such as food, drugs, alcoholism, idolatry, lust, position, power, and politics to fill this void.”

What then is the meaning or purpose of us His creation? To put it in more secular terms, what is the meaning of life?

Ecc. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

Ah, to keep His commandments, now we have as the Rabbiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s count, 613 Commandments, 6+1+3=10, 10 summing up the 613, and taking the 10, 1+0= 1 leaving us with the one commandment that governs and sums up them all; to love G-d with ones whole being; sort of like at the first when there was only one Commandment.

Gen. 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

This is not as the Rabbiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of today say a choice of mortality and immortality, but one of morality and immorality. Clearly a boundary of right and wrong, obedience and rebellion, holiness and sin was set from the very beginning by YHWH to mankind. It was so man could be a separate and individual entity of G-d but outside of G-d and have a relationship with G-d all the while exercising and maintaining an autonomous free will. His Commandments are life: Deut. 32:46-47a And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it [is] not a vain thing for you; because it [is] your life:

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

And at the first there was only one and to disobey it meant the opposite of life… death.

This gives us a working definition of what sin is an is made even clearer in I John 3:4:

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).”

We see that a spiritual death, a separation from an intimate relationship with G-d was immediate and a physical death began a countdown like sand through an hourglass. So from the beginning, to sacrifice has something to do with life and the salvation of it. Salvation does deal with to be sure, but ultimately involved the restoration of all things back to a Pre-Edenic Fall type of state, what we read about in Revelation regarding the New Heaven, Earth and Jerusalem.

Torah and its Meaning in Regards to Personal Salvation Torah is eternal and was orally transmitted to Adam and passed down until it was explained in detail by G-d, codified and written down by Moses for all of us to know, see and have. Because of the nature of the Torah it is inseparable from the concept and issue of ones personal salvation. To say the Torah is only for the Jews is ridiculous. When the Torah was given, yes, it was given to B’ney Yisrael (Children of Israel), but remember, there was the mixed multitude that went out with them during the Exodus. (Exodus 12:38) The mixed multitude was there when the Torah was given. And they, like Israel, agreed to obey and live by the Torah. It is in my opinion (and some Sages will agree with me) that in the mixed multitude there was a representative from all seventy nations of the world at that time. For everyone present, even the mixed multitude, said “Yes, we will obey!” (Ex. 19:8), Even BEFORE they heard all that was expected of them! Levi, who wasn’t born yet, gave tithe to Melchizedek through Avraham (Heb. 7:1-5), so in like manner, mankind agreed to obey the Torah through those ancestors who were at Sinai when the Torah was given. It is said of the Torah in Scriptures (too numerous to mention) that it is forever, for all generations. Nowhere does it say that one day it will be done away with or annulled by the coming of the Messiah. On the contrary, Yeshua, our Messiah, said in Matthew 5:17-20 “Think not…” Some people stop there and fail to read on “…that I’ve come to destroy the Torah and the prophets, I didn’t come to abolish, but to fulfill.” The Greek and Hebrew word for fulfill does not mean to complete or stop, but to fill up, to bring it to full meaning. Yeshua showed us how to live Torah appropriately. Some say that the “Law of Christ” supersedes the Law of YHWH. When has it ever been proper for a son to tell a father what to do, or the command of a son to over rule the command of a father? Since when did sons make the rules to be followed and obeyed? What sense does it make for Yeshua, the Living manifestation of Torah and Elohim in human form to say, “You know all the Rules my Father laid out for you to obey? Well, forget about

‘em. I’m calling the shots now; it’s a whole new ballgame.” That would make YHWH: 1) A Liar – It is impossible for Elohim to lie. (Num.23:19, Titus 1:2) He is always and forever the same. (Mal.3:6, Heb. 13:8) 2) Double minded. The Scriptures talk about one who is double minded is unstable in all he does. (James 1:8) Is our Elohim a liar? Double minded? Unstable? If I may use an old catch phrase: “NOT!” YHWH and Yeshua are “Echad” one in plurality (John 10:30, John 17) and Yeshua said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) He is referring to the Torah. Yahshua’s commandments are no different than YHWH’s. A couple of my personal mottos are, “If you don’t have Torah, you don’t have Messiah.” And, “A Messiah with out Torah is no Messiah at all.” Yeshua the Messiah is the Living Torah, the Light of the world. A Messiah without the Torah is like a flashlight without batteries. The word “Torah” has been translated “Law”, and rightly so, but the root meaning is “Teachings” and “Instructions”. So does it make any sense to say the Yeshua came to do away with YHWH’s Teachings and Instructions!? Absolutely not! If you went through survival training you wouldn’t get out there and say, “I’m not going to obey my survival instructors’ teachings, I’m going to pick and choose what I like that he taught and wing the rest.” NO! Survival instructions are as LAW to you, it is your life! You obey and live, or you ignore and die! Didn’t Elohim say to Israel that the Torah was their life (Deut. 32:47)! Isn’t it Ironic that the very nature of change makes it consistent and therefore change is one thing that stays the same? But, as far as change goes, times have changed. This isn’t the “Brady Bunch” world of our Mothers, or the “Leave it To Beaver” world of our Grandmother’s, or the “Walton’s” of our Great-Grandmother’s, nor is it the “Little House on the Prairie” of our Great-Great-Grandmother’s. No doubt about it times have changed.

Technology has changed, from smoke signals, to Morris Code, to the telegraph, to the telephone, to the cell phone, to the internet, technology has definitely changed. Sholomo Ha Melek (King Solomon) argued in his book call Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun, and it is true, what seems new is just recycled or an improved upon idea. So in essence, even though the package may change, the core is virtually the same. Yet this illusion of change makes one believe that the changeless changes and therefore, one excuses oneself from so called moral and religious entrapments. I have found three things that never change: 1. G-d (Mal. 3:6, Titus 1:2) 2. The Human Condition 3. G-d’s Torah Just because times have changed and technology has changed doesn’t mean that the three things mentioned above do. Changing times only causes the illusion in the spirit to rationalize that these 3 things change. Since the downfall of our parents Adam and Chavah (Eve) we have inherited this predisposition to sin, and it will not change until be are in the World to Come. We fight and struggle between the choice of good and evil everyday, in every aspect of our lives. Even after one is “saved” one still fights the old nature, Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) did (Rom. 7:13-25) The Human Spirit changes not. G-d said Himself that He does not lie, and He does not change (Mal. 3:6, Titus 1:2) Yet this is precisely what most Christians claim when they say the Torah is irrelevant, it has been done away with, or at best they try to divide the Torah up into subjects or special classifications and say, “Oh, the religious and ritual laws have been done away with the moral code is still in effect for us today.” The Scriptures says there is one Torah, not three (Ex. 12:49, Lev. 24:22, Num. 15:16,). G-d does not change and therefore His Word, His Torah does not change.

Some try to argue that the Torah, by necessity, has changed because of the changing times and the changing technology. NO, because the human spirit and G-d are a constant, this predetermines that His Torah does not change. As I have stated before, time and technology come in different packages yet the core of it is essentially the same. Just look at G-d’s Word and we will see the times change, yet the message, the Torah remains a constant. You have the leadership or the governmental structure of Israel change, yet the Torah that guides them never changes. From the Patriarchs, to the Judges, to the Kings and to the Prophets, the message of absolute and resolute obedience to Torah changes not. Yet after the closing of the Scriptural cannon people claim that we are to far removed from those times, and that the Torah is outdated. And so the secular state of Israel runs without the Torah of their ancestors. One my also say, “Besides we are in the age of Grace right!?” We have always been in the age of Grace! And the Torah will never be outdated. Let me attempt to put this in perspective. I stand firm in saying that the Torah is relevant and applicable for today and none of it has been “done away with” even after the advent of Messiah Yeshua. However, because times have changed doesn’t mean the Torah changes but that certain commandments are unfulfillable at this time in history. For instance, because there is no Temple standing at this present time in Jerusalem, and because there are no working Levitical Priests in the Temple, the laws regarding the priesthood and the sacrificial and Temple services are temporarily put on hold, or suspended until the time of the building up of the 3rd Temple. The Prophets tell of a time when the 3rd Temple will be rebuilt, and the sacrifices will resume, and at the time of Messiah’s reign no less! We need to sift rabbinic decrees regarding Torah commands, Jewish literature, customs and traditions of Judaism in regards to the law. We need to filter it through the words of Torah itself and the Words of Messiah who in Matthew chapter five proclaimed that He didn’t come to do away with the Torah but to show us how to live it correctly. If the Rabbi’s uphold Yeshua’s words or if we see that the fences the Rabbi’s have erected around the Torah are wise, needful and maybe necessary in some circumstances, we need to graciously and joyously abide by them. If they do not measure up, then we must not fear to toss them aside, despite what men may say.

I believe in holding to, but not bound by, Jewish Traditions and customs that uphold and help fulfill Torah Commands, and enhance the meaning and significance of YHWH’s Word. I believe all extra Biblical Documents, (which gives us some of the “How to’s” in fulfilling the Torahs commandments,) such as the Book of Jasher, the Books of Enoch, the Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, Pirkei Avot, Zohar, Kabbalah, etc. need to be filtered through the whole of Scripture. I reject all that which annuls, or contradicts YHWH’s Word. One has three choices in regards to Traditions: 1. If it lines up with Torah: Keep it! 2. If it is neutral, neither enhancing nor detracting from Torah one may choose or choose not to keep it. 3. If it nullifies Torah then we MUST NOT keep it! But regarding the Torah alone you have those who say the Law is divided into three sections the Civil Law, the Ceremonial Law and the Moral Law and all but the Moral Law has been eradicated. “This threefold explanation is flawed… and does not withstand serious scrutiny. There are not three different Torahs. The Torah itself exclaims, “One Torah and one manner shall be for you…” (Num. 15:16, KJV)... The distinction between moral, civil, and ceremonial is artificial and arbitrary.” – Ascend Magazine, Issue 2, Volume 1, p. 5, Summer 2003

The Torah is not bondage. It is YHWH’s handbook to keep us well physically, mentally and spiritually, and keep us in a right relationship with Elohim and man. There are not just 10 commandments as most people think, but 613! There are 248 positive (commandments) ways to get closer to HaShem, “Thou shalt’s,” and 365 negative (commandments) ways to get closer to HaShem, “Thou shalt not’s.” Yet not all 613 apply to one person. Some are for men, some are for women, some for kings, some for Levitical priests and the Temple which currently is no longer standing, and some for farmers in Israel.

Our Sages (Talmud: Makkot 23b) explain that this verse also serves as the source, which teaches us the exact number of Mitzvot. The numerical value of the Hebrew word Torah, is 611. Moses conveyed 611 Mitzvot, to the Jewish people. The first two of the ten commandments - "I am the L-rd, your G-d," and "You shall have no other gods before Me," we heard from G-d, Himself, at Mount Sinai. Thus, there are a total of 613 mitzvot which the Jewish people are commanded to observe. Daniel Botkin, in his article; “Christians Keeping Old Testament Commandments? Not a Yes/No Question, but a Question of Which Ones” writes:

“So how many commandments are Christians still supposed to keep? Or we might ask, How many of the “613” commandments can we still keep? Years ago Chafetz Chayim listed all the Torah commandments which can still be observed today…. The Chafetz Chayim lists 77 positive commandments (things we are still commanded to do), 194 negative commandments (prohibitions), and 26 commandments which apply only in the land of Israel. That makes a total of 271 for people outside Israel, and 297 for people living in Israel. That’s 316 less than 613. What happened to the other 316 commandments? These are, for the most part, commandments which pertain to the Tabernacle/Temple service and sacrifices which were administered by the Levitical priesthood.”

6 + 1 + 3 = 10. And 1+ 0 = 1. So the 10 commandments sum up the 613 and the greatest 1 of the commandments: “Shema Yisrael HaShem Eloheynu, HaShem Echad. Hear oh Israel, YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is one. “You are to love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart…soul…mind…and strength…” (Deut. 6:4-9) Sum up the 10 and the 613. (Matt. 7:12) You think 613 commandments are a lot? Dake’s Annotated Bible lists 1,050 commandments in the New Testament!

“The Issue is did Messiah Yeshua change Judaism to a new form of religion? Or did He intensify the Judaism of the Torah? If one says as some of the Christians do that he replaced the Torah then He also created a new religion, if this is true then the G-d of Israel changed. If this is true then we are all in trouble.” -- Rav YoshiYahu ben Shofar

The bondage spoken of in the Renewed Covenant is not talking about Torah, but about the additions to the Torah. The tradition and doctrine of men and of demons (Col.2:8, 1Tim. 13:9) which were added (Mk. 7:9-13, Deut. 4:2,12:32, Rev. 22:18,19) by men and raised to the level of authority of Torah itself, which in some cases nullifies the Torah. Yeshua agreed with the Pharisees in all points except divorce (Mt. 19:19) and traditions elevated to Torah status (Mk. 7:1-13). Rav Sha'ul (Paul) whom many use out of context to say the Torah has been done away with said, the Torah is good (Rom. 7:12). And regarding the terms “under the law”, and “curse of the law”, these refer to the penalty under the law that has been done away with and “nailed to the cross”, (Col.2:13-14) that penalty is death. That is what grace is all about. Our sin debt is what has been nailed to the cross, not the Torah. The Torah was never the problem, our hearts were. The Torah wasn’t imperfect, our hearts were. Regarding the phrase, “works of the law”, in the Renewed Covenant, refers to one counting on their Torah observance, their works, to secure their salvation. Some know this as “Legalism”. This is the negative definition of that word. But when someone accuses me of being “Legalistic” I say, “I am guilty as charged!”, because I see, and use “Legalism” in the positive sense. In other words I’d rather be “Legal” than “Illegal”! There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, which is a free gift from Elohim. Yet, it is our responsibility to maintain our salvation by obedience to Torah. It’s like winning a car from someone by them simply pulling your name out of a hat. You in no way earned the car; it was a free gift to you. But to keep the car, you can’t just drive and drive and drive and drive, and never check the oil, change the fluids, fill up with gas, air up the tires, get a tune up, etc. If you don’t do these things you will loose the car, it will either blow up or break down. You need to MAINTAIN the car which you got by no merit of your own. It’s the same with your salvation. As my Former Rebbetzin (Rabbi’s wife) has said, “We are saved by Grace, kept by Works.” 14

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been brought to my attention on more than one occasion that Christians are not under the law. This statement of Rav Shaul's is taken out of letters to various assemblies of the called out ones. The most amazing thing to me is that Christians rest on this out of context statement even when presented with the truth. The argument goes that; if we try to keep any part of the law then we have put ourselves back under its authority, and voided our salvation. Yet every time a Christian sins they are admitting that they are indeed under the law. How and Why is as follows. If I stand on the principle that there is no law, believing that when Paul wrote 'for where there is no law there is no sin', then to confess that I have sinned is hypocritical. If I say that the Torah (wrongly translated Law) has ended then there is no need to confess any so called sin. However (John) says very clearly that if we confess our 'sin' we are forgiven, and that if we say we have no sin we are liars. So, how do we reconcile this conundrum? First we must look at what Christians are really trying to say. Second we must look at what HaShem has really said. And thirdly we must develop a peace and determination in ourselves about following the truth. Having listened to and spoken with over a thousand learned Christians scholars this is the jest. What Christians are really trying to say is, that "Chr-st died for our sins and that this death removed not only our sins but also magically removed the cause of our sins the law. Now, we are set free from the control of the law and able to have peace with G-d, through the blood of Chr-st. You must understand it was the law itself that was weak and ineffective, and therefore had to be removed. Really, you are damned if you try to live by the law, and not by faith. For the Holy Spirit of G-d will come into you and change your heart so that no matter what you do, G-d can't see the sin in you, or the sins you commit. Most importantly anyone who tries to tell you to live a Torah obedient life or keep any part of the law is a Judaizer and is evil." Okay, so obviously I don't agree with this view, duh!!! Your mom says to you when you're a kid, "don't drink the chocolate milk before dinner". Being a kid, you drink it, and your mom catches you. However, after you beg not to be punished, and she extends mercy and doesn't punish you, does that mean that from now on you can get a class of chocolate milk before dinner? Of course not! Unless she says, "okay from now on you can get a class of chocolate milk before dinner", otherwise the rule still applies. There once was a man who had two sons; he wanted to give them joy, so he thought to do a magic trick for them. He placed a small soft red ball In his hand made a motion, closed his hand and said some words then swoosh opened his hand and it was gone. The shock and amazement on his son's faces as they looked and wondrous joy they expressed was the reward he wanted, as the boys scurried off to tell their friends. The truth however is that the ball never went anywhere it is simply in the other hand.

This is Christianity in a nutshell. The law is the little red ball. The old man is the Catholic church; the children are unlearned disciples. The illusion is that the law is gone, poof. The sons are none the wiser and tell others what the old man did. Scripturally you can't do away with the law anymore than the man could make the ball truly disappear, yet that is what they want you to believe, that they have made the law to disappear. For Yeshua Himself said 'heaven and earth will pass away before one yod (jot) or tageen (tittle) of the Torah would disappear. Very simply said, if there is no law, why would you confess to breaking it? I won't go into my scant on the book of Hebrews. Suffice it to say this is book that is used and misused by so many to confuse and twist the truth. If as Christians claim the book of Hebrews teaches that the law was weak and ineffectual, then the Christian G-d is weak and imperfect. How and why would the true EL create a defective set of laws for us to follow? Having to then send the Messiah to be slaughtered, just to be able to then remove it? This all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, all-just G-d would not be so powerful, loving, knowing, or just, huh? Could this be why so many people are now leaving the catholic and christian churches? Christians can't understand why the Jews don't get it. I understand why, you see, you can't have a perfect G-d, and then have him not so perfect. You can't have the TeNaCK, and then have the works of Paul translated in a way that contradicts the TeNaCK. Unless something is lost in the translation, this maybe why we supposedly, only have Greek translations of the ReNewed Covenant texts. Adonai's word however, never changes. How could a perfect EL (G-D) give something of Himself, and have it be weak and ineffectual? It is not the Torah that is weak it is us, we are the defective part, made that way by original sin. It is Messiah Yeshua who comes and shows us how to live the Torah, and then cleanses our hearts so that we would be able to have the Torah written on them. Then we will be able to live in the Way that HaShem intended, in a right way, in a right standing, righteous. The Torah is not the enemy of the Christian, but the Christian can be, and almost always is, the enemy of the Torah. The Messiah did not come to give us a new Torah. No, He came to cleanse us, to give us a new heart so that we could keep the Torah. Yochannon did not say "Behold the Lamb of G-d who takes away that weak and ineffective Torah." No he said 'Behold the Lamb of G-d who takes away the SIN of the world.' Sin is what you get when you break the Torah, the evidence that the Torah remains in effect. Can you see the wind? No, but you see the effects of the wind blowing. The same is true of the Torah. You know it’s still in effect because of sin. If there was no Torah, then there would be no sin; no wind, no breeze, it really is that simple. The Torah Remains Barrack HaShem! The only thing left is for you to determine where you will stand. Will you stand on the side of Torah or on the side without Torah? Anomia is the Greek word for “without or against law”. The word literally means against or without the Torah. It is from the word Anomia that the best translators derive the English word lawlessness. Lawlessness, lets break it down; Law+less+ness, lawless is pretty clear:

less the law, or without the law, ness: meaning being in a state of. So lawlessness is to be in a state of, against or without the law. Yochannon (John) says that all sin is lawlessness. Putting it back in Hebraic thought, sin is being in a state against or without the Torah. There can be no lawlessness if there is no law. No law would therefore mean no 'man of lawlessness' as Paul predicted. So where do you or where will you stand? May His peace seek you out and overtake you, and may you grow in a deeper walk with Yeshua, and may the Ruach HaKodesh empower you for the walk.” – Rav Yoshi ben Shofar President of Ha Derek Netzarim

The “legalism” Rav Sha’ul and the other apostles were concerned about was the additions to the Torah, the fences around the law that were elevated to Torah status, or nullified a Torah command. The laws men made up which were imposed as bondage upon the common people, a heavy yoke, impossible to keep (even the Pharisees who made up many of these “fences” couldn’t keep them) (Lk. 11:45-46, Acts 15:10). “Obviously no one can keep the whole Torah. No one is perfect. Therefore, we should not try to keep the Torah because it is too difficult.” Moses must have foreseen our faulty logic. Therefore he insists in no uncertain terms that “this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach” (Deuteronomy 30:11). The Apostle John agrees saying, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). It’s not about being perfect, it’s about loving God.” – ffoz: Nitzavim : Choose Life, 2007

YHWH said this about the Torah: “You can do it!” (Deut. 30:14, Rom. 10:8) If you want to call following Torah legalism, or legalistic, call me a “Legal Eagle.” But wouldn’t you rather be legal, than illegal? We also must remember that in the Hebrew and Greek of Rav Sha’ul's day, there were not any words to express things like the negative idea we know of in religious circles as “legalism,” being saved or justified by ones works alone. So, he had to use the same word in the Greek he used for Torah, that word is, “Nomos.” Thus, it is of the utmost importance when reading and interpreting the Scriptures dealing with Torah in the Renewed Covenant, that we look at the context and usage of the word “nomos” translated “law.” Is it talking about Torah, or a secular legal system, or a manmade legal system

imposed upon the Torah? Is it talking about depending upon the Torah to obtain salvation? In that case the Torah isn’t bad, man’s misuse and misunderstanding of it is the problem. The examples in the Renewed Covenant are too numerous to mention and it is not the purpose of this work to tackle and iron out misunderstood and misinterpreted passages of the Renewed Covenant. However, to help us in this area, it is always good to keep in mind again, that if our interpretation causes the Torah to be done away with, our interpretation is wrong! Period! Not all of the “fences” around the Torah are bad. Only those imposed upon people as if they were Torah commands itself. Some people need “fences” so as not to break the actual commandments. For instance, a man may put extra software on this computer to keep him from accessing improper web sites. He knows that going to those certain sites is wrong, and has no desire to, and doesn’t plan on visiting those sites. But when tempted, why have an open door to it? So he erects a “fence” to keep himself from getting to those sites. Or, it’s like a mother saying to her children just coming in from a hard day of play, “No cookies before supper.” That’s her “commandment.” They know it would be wrong to eat a cookie before supper, but they are so hungry, and the cookie jar is just in reach. So Mom comes into the kitchen and puts the cookie jar on a high shelf, or in a cabinet to where they can’t get to it. Mom erected a “fence” for her children, to help them keep her “commandment.” An A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous) sponsor can be seen as a type of “fence.” They can be called upon to help a person not to “fall of the wagon” and drink when a person is tempted. The four laws given to the Goyim (Gentiles) in Acts 15 weren’t exhaustive or the only laws they were to keep. The purpose of these starter laws were to : 1) Help Gentiles make a clean break with the pagan world. 2) Enable Jews and Gentiles to fellowship and eat at the same table (Acts 15:19-21). These Laws were taken from Leviticus 17-18, called the “Heart of the Torah.” I often ask those who believe that these four laws are the only laws Gentiles are to keep, “Do you buy beef at the store?” “Yes.” “It’s saturated with blood right?”

“Yes.” “But you rinse it off and fry it up anyway, in direct opposition to Acts 15. If it was kosherly slaughtered they would be no blood in it. So you don’t even keep the four laws in Acts 15.” Most Christians don’t even keep all of the 10 Commandments. We’ll cover that a little later. Just because not all the 613 commandments are covered in the Brit Chadasha does not mean that the laws not mentioned have been done away with. The books of the Renewed Covenant were written with the idea that these 613 laws were a given, so there was no need to mention them again. The only things Yeshua and Rav Sha’ul and others did were to clarify the priority of the certain laws and bring them into a greater understanding. The Natsarim Sanhedrin headed up by Ya’akov (“James,” Yeshua’s half brother) knew the Goyim would end up learning the whole Torah at the Synagogue every Sabbath, through the annual Torah reading cycle (Acts 15:19-21). They would eventually learn and live all 613 mitzvot (commandments). This would culminate into the Gentile who learned Torah for a whole year to have the opportunity to officially convert to Netzarim Judaism by undergoing circumcision and a mikvah (baptism). Daniel Botkin in the same article mentioned above states: “For most Christians, the commandments which they have a problem with are commandments which deal with the Sabbath, Feasts, dietary laws, and miscellaneous things like tzitziyot (fringes), mezuzahs, beards, etc. These things are dismissed as “Jewish rituals, just for the Jews to do until Christ came.” Yet the Bible nowhere singles out these commandments from the rest of the Torah and says that they are just for the Jews. Nor does the Bible say that these commandments would be abolished by the coming of the Messiah. People think of these things as Jewish practices only because Christians abandoned them centuries ago, and the Jews have continued to practice them. But the Bible does not give one set of rules for Jews and a different set of rules for non-Jewish believers. “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am YHVH your G-d.” (Lev.24:22).”

If one can excuse and explain away (Saturday) Sabbath, observance, circumcision, kosher eating, etc. what’s keeping one from using Scriptural acrobatics (taking Scripture out of context) to excuse oneself for not keeping any of the commandments standing in ones way of fulfilling ones fleshly carnal desires? After all, some of the commandments have no apparent reason such as eating kosher, and not mixing cotton with wool (Deut.22:11) Laws like these are called “Chukim.” We keep them anyway because we trust, love and fear Elohim, and we recognize He is infinite, His ways are above ours, and His reasoning beyond ours. It is just like being a parent. You ask a 4 year old to do something and they ask, “Why?” You know that since they are so little, even if you did take the time to explain it to them, they may not fully understand the reasoning behind your command. So as to save time, confusion and more questions, you say to the child, “Because I said so.” Knowing when they get older and become parents themselves they may understand why. It is the same with our Heavenly Father. “Father knows best” we keep the Chukim because He said so. Even after the Chukim commands He says, “I am The YHWH your Elohim.” That’s His way of saying, “Because I said so.” We can’t just pick and choose which Commandments to follow. We can’t just decide to follow only the ones with moral implications. II Thess. 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for except there come a falling away first, and that the man of sin revealed…” I Jn.3:4 Defines what sin is. “Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law (Torah) for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).” Mt.7:21-23 “Not everyone that says, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

What is the will of the Father? Torah! V.22 Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? And in Your Name cast out demons? And in Your Name done wonderful works?” V.23 And then I will profess unto them, “I never knew (Hebrew: have been intimate with) you: depart from me you that work iniquity (Torahlessness).”

Iniquity is defined as, “Lawlessness” (Torahlessness) Greek: Anomia. A= Anti, against or another. Nomia= law. (Strong’s: 458) The “Jesus” of Catholicism and Christianity is seen as a Leonardo Divinci painting, Hellenistic, Greco-Roman looking, toga wearing, long haired, fair skinned, blue eyed, British speaking, zombified, hippy guru, rebel, who came and did away with Torah, and started a strange new religion. Like a bad, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” make over, they have turned Yahshua into something He’s not. It’s like calling Dr. Phil the Messiah yet painting him to look like Sigmund Freud, and Taking, and reading Dr. Phil’s book and yet not doing one thing he said to do, and on top of that interpret what he has said to say something entirely different from what he meant. This is NOT my Messiah! This is NOT the Jews Messiah! Hopefully it is not YOUR Messiah. This according to II Thess. 2:3-12, is a description of the anti-Messiah! It is no wonder that the Jewish people will not accept this “Jesus” as the Messiah. And rightly so, because He’s NOT! The Jews look at the Tanak (“Old Testament”) and it tells what their Messiah is supposed to be like, and they see the “Jesus” portrayed in Catholicism and Christianity, and immediately dismiss him. Why? Because the “Jesus” they see doesn’t line up with the Torah. Most Catholics and Christians today believe and claim that the Law has been abolished by the work of Christ on the cross. However, this “Christ” Himself who died on that cross said this about the Law. Mt.5:17-20 “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law (Torah) or the Prophets: (Nevi’im) (Both are the Tanak or the “Old Testament”) I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.” The word fulfill in v.17 does NOT mean, to complete, as in to put an end to something. It DOES mean to fill up, to bring and render its full and complete meaning, to perform. In other words Yahshua came to show us the true meaning of the Torah so we could live it out as He did. In Yeshiva, when Jewish students are learning to interpret Torah, in Yeshua’s day and now, a Rabbi would give a passage for the students to interpret and the students go away and hash the passage out and then would come zealous and excited back to the Rabbi and say, “Rabbi, this is what this passage means!” and if they would give wrong answer the Rabbi would say, “No, you have abolished or made void the Torah by your 21

interpretation!” Then the students would go and study the passage again and come back meeker and say, “Rabbi, we believe the passage means this.” And if they were correct the Rabbi would say, “Well done, you have brought fulfillment to the Torah, you have given this passage its full and correct meaning.” I believe that this know custom is what Yeshua was drawing from when He said this. V.18 For verily (Truly, Most assuredly) I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass…[Get up right now and look out side. Is the sky still up there? Is the earth still out there?]…not one jot… (Jot is Yod in Hebrew, the smallest letter. Looks like an apostrophe.) … or one tittle… (Tittle is the tiniest extension of the Hebrew letter Dalet, that differentiates it from another similar Hebrew letter, the Resh. It can also refer to the decorative flare on any given Hebrew letter.) …shall in NO wise pass from the Law (Torah) till ALL be fulfilled (preformed fully). V.19 Whosoever therefore shall break (Greek: to loose or destroy) one of the least commandments (according to the rabbinical sages of blessed memory, Deuteronomy 22:6 is the least of all commandments, concerning the disturbance of a birds nest.) And teaches men so… (“Ah, go ahead, it’s alright, we’re not under the Law anymore, but under grace.”) …he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall DO and TEACH; the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. V.20 For I say unto you that except your righteousness … (Not the righteousness of Messiah bestowed upon a believer, but YOUR righteousness, meaning your works!)… shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees… (performing all the commandments with ALL your heart and mean it! Not only on the outside, but on the inside as well)… you will in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven. V.20 of Matthew 5 mentions righteousness and connects it with works. Although we are not saved by works, but by faith in Messiah's sacrificial death in our place, we must prove, show, and back up our faith by our faith-full-ness to His Torah. Speaking of Torah, Yeshua said in John 5:46-47, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, (The Living Torah) for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words (Which is no different from the Written Torah)?” John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Messiah and YHWH are one (Jn.17) so Yeshua’s commandments are no different from YHWH the Father’s. So Yeshua didn’t teach anything new, He just taught Torah, and taught us how to live it correctly.

James 1:22 “Be DOERS of the WORD (Torah) and not hearers only…” v25b “…a DOER of the work, this man will be blessed in his deed.” (Deut.27-28) James 2:17-18 “Even so FAITH, if it hath not WORKS is dead being alone. Yes, a man may say, “You have faith, I have works: show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith BY my works.”” Yahshua and all the apostles were Torah observant, and because Yahshua was Torah observant, I don’t have to ask myself, W.W.J.D.? I simply D.W.Y.D.! (Do What Yeshua Did) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

He was circumcised. Lk. 12:21 He was dedicated and named at his circumcision. Lk. 2:22-24,39-40 He kept the feasts. Lk. 2:4, 9:28-36 Jn. 10:22-23 He was Torah trained. Lk. 2:46-52 He was “mikvahed”. (baptized) Mt. 3:13-17 He kept Sabbath. Lk.4:14-21 He went to the Temple. Lk. 19:47 He went to the Synagogue. Lk. 4:16,44 He read and taught a portion of the annual Torah and prophetic reading cycle. (Parashot) Lk. 4:14-21 He most likely prayed the ancient set of Jewish prayers, prayed 3x’s a day, called the “Amidah” meaning, “To stand.” He refers to this very prayer in Mark 11:25-26, “When you STAND to pray....” He said the Shema the Jewish declaration of YHWH’s Oneness said every day by faithful Jews, from Duet. 6:4: Mark 12:29,30. He was a Rabbi. Lk. 10:25-28, Jn. 20:16 He taught Torah. Lk. 24:44-45 He wore tzitzit. (fringes) Lk. 8:43-44, Jn. 19:23-24 He kept Torah. Jn. 15:10 He taught us to live out Torah. Mt. 5:17-20, Jn. 14:15, Lk. 5:14 He lived and died as a Jew. Jn. 20:6-8, 19:40 He left as a Jew. Lk. 24:50-51 He is returning as a Jew. Rev. 19:13,16 He will reign forever as the Jewish Messiah. Rev.21:1-6, 22:3-5

There were two schools of Jewish thought. The school of Hillel, and the school of Shami. Hillel was conservative. Shami was ultra conservative. Yeshua sided with Hillel and agreed with everything the Pharisees (which was from the school of Hillel) taught, except, on the issue of divorce, (Mt. 23

19:1-9) and the issue of tradition, oral torah, rabbinic law, which nullified the Torah. (Mk. 7:1-13) Yahshua even kept traditions except when it conflicted with Torah itself (Lk. 2:52). During the “Last Supper” Messiah held a Passover Seder for His Talmidim (disciples) and made the traditional blessings over the tirosh (non alcoholic grape juice) and matzah, (for everything even the wine was with out yeast or leaven) and followed the traditional order of the Passover Seder Haggadah (the program and order of the Seder). All of the apostles were Torah observant; all His followers were Torah observant as well. Let’s take a look. Acts 21:20 talks about how they were all ZEALOUS for the TORAH! Jim Myers has this to say concerning the early Jewish believers in Messiah Yahshua, from his article, “Would Your Church Really Allow You To Be Like Jesus?” Found at: http://www.biblicalheritage.org/Jesus/would.htm “The book of Acts provides us with some very valuable information. Acts 21:17-25 records Paul's return to Jerusalem and his meeting with the leaders of the "church." Keep in mind that these were the men who had been personally taught by and lived with Jesus. Their words provide us with some very enlightening information. The translation given below is based on a cultural and historical methodology. Your translation most probably reflects the doctrines of the Roman church and therefore may differ. "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have become faithful (observant). All of them are zealous for the Torah (Law). They have been informed that you have taught the Jews of the Diaspora to not keep the Torah, that they should not circumcise their children or live according to the Jewish religion.... Take these men and do the following... so that everybody will know that there is no truth in these reports about your teachings, but that you yourself are living an observant lifestyle and keeping the Torah." A quick summary provides us with some very significant information. Is your church producing the same results? (1) Jews became more faithful (observant) Jews because of the message. (2) They became zealous for the Torah (Law). (3) They kept the Laws of Moses (the Torah).

(4) They circumcised their children. (5) They lived according to the traditions (Jewish religion). Notice that Paul did as he was requested - he wasn't teaching the Jews to abandon their religion. Paul was "under the law" and lived an observant lifestyle. How then could he have been the author of a doctrine that advocated rejecting the law? I don't mean to linger on this point forever, but are you really getting the importance of this message? (1) The message of the apostles caused Jews to repent and become observant Jews who practiced Judaism faithfully. (2) The apostles were causing Jews to become eager for the Torah and to pursue it with fervor. It is clear that they were not teaching them that "they were under grace and no longer under the law." This one point is in complete opposition to most fundamental teaching of every modern Christian doctrine. (3) The Jewish members of the early church continued to circumcise their children. In other words, they continued to see themselves as participants in the Abrahamic Covenant, just as every practicing Jew does today. Their children were Jews, not members of some new mystical religion that replaced Judaism. (4) The Jewish members of the early church continued to practice Judaism. They did not switch to a new religion.”

Further examples of the Torah observant lifestyle of the apostles: Kefa (Peter) – prayed Mincha (afternoon) prayers and he kept kosher. (Acts 10) Rav Sha’ul (Paul) – said “I am (not was) a Pharisee…” He kept the traditions and customs of the Jewish people. (Acts 23:5-6, 28:17) He made an offering after Yahshua’s death and resurrection. (Acts 21:17-26) One day the temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will resume. During the millennial reign of Messiah everyone will keep the feasts. (Is.66:22-24) Yeshua said he didn’t come for the ones who were already keeping Torah. He came for the ones who didn’t keep Torah. (Mt. 9:9-13, Mk. 2:13-17, Lk. 5:27-32) These are but a few examples:

Daniel 2:21 and 7:25 is giving a description of the Anti (against or another)Messiah. “He shall speak great words against the Most High (How? By speaking against His Words, His Torah!) and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and think to change TIMES (the Feast of the L-RD) and LAWS (Torah) (Forbidding Sabbath observance and Biblical Festivals, and enforcing Christianized pagan holidays, like Christmas and Easter just like the “Christian” Roman Emperor Constantine did! May his name and memory be erased!), and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of times.” How many Catholics and Christians today are Torah observant? How many keep all of the Feasts commanded by YHWH in Leviticus 23? Almost none! Most Catholics and Christians keep Sunday, not Sabbath. Most Catholics and Christians go by a Roman solar calendar, instead of the traditional Hebrew lunar one. Most Catholics and Christians keep pagan rooted holidays (Christmas and Easter etc.) instead of the Feasts of the YHWH. The Anti-Messiah (Anti-Christ) is called the man of lawlessness or we could say, Torahlessness. (2 Thess. 2:3-12) Because of this, I believe many Catholics and Christians will be deceived. He’ll agree with the majority of Catholicism and Christianity and say that the Torah has been done away with. Remember, sin is anything against the Torah, (I Jn.3:4) Elohim’s standards for holiness. Matthew 24:24 tells that the Anti-Messiah (if it were possible will deceive the very elect!) will not show up with horns, pitchfork, pointed tail, with 666 blazing across his forehead. He couldn’t fool anyone like that. No, he’ll look just like the “Jesus” of Catholicism and Christianity, working miracles, making peace everywhere, changing laws and holy day observances, making Temple worship to cease as if to say, “I am the Messiah. You don’t have to sacrifice anymore, I’m here, I have fulfilled it all!” (Mt.24:15, Dan. 9:27; 12:11). All because Most Catholics and Christians believe today that most, if not all, the Torah was done away with in the death of Christ. NO! The penalty of death has been done away with, NOT the LAW itself! (Rm.7:7-13; 24-25) Matthew 5:17-20 paints the TRUE picture of the Messiah, that non-believing Jews NEED and MUST see! Are you “Taking YHWH’s Name in vain” by 26

living like the Catholic and Christian “Jesus”, contrary to His Word, Thus Soiling His Name ? Or are you living like Yeshua, the Jewish, Torah observant Messiah? Will you, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may SEE YOUR good WORKS, and glorify your Father in heaven (Mt.5:16).” So, is “Jesus” the Anti-Christ? Well, that depends on how YOU present Him. Therefore Modern day Christianity confuses me. I must not understand who the Jesus Christ of Modern Christianity is, they claim He is the same as the one I call Yeshua the Messiah, yet I must be missing something vital in my understanding. I must not understand the new westernized meaning of the words; all, nothing and some. I have heard many Christians attempt to defend themselves in regards to their non compliance of the Torah when I purpose that they believe it has been done away with. “No, I never believed the Torah has been done away with. I believe it has been fulfilled (totally misunderstanding and taking out of context the words meaning in the Hebrew and Greek) in Messiah (meaning fulfilled so we don’t have to).” Hmmm, Okay, isn’t that another way of saying it has been done away with? Or they seem to think that G-d has one rule book and or expectations for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. That is not what the Torah says (Exd. 12:49, Lev. 24:22, Num. 15:16. Acts 15:19-21). I have also heard that because Yeshua didn’t bring up all 613 commandments within the Renewed Covenant it must mean we don’t have to keep the commandments not mentioned, such as the Feasts of Leviticus 23 and so on. Or that since He only really brought up the ten, that that is the exhaustive version of the two laws they hang upon (Mt. 22:40). What!? As I have said before, the “New Testament” is not “new”; there is nothing new about it! It is simply Renewed. Also, why would Yeshua have to reemphasis an established given, since He didn’t come to change Judaism or start a new religion. He came to fulfill (bring into its fullness) the old one. And the commandments He did re-emphasis, He only did so to bring greater clarity to them, to give His halachic ruling on them because some of the Pharisees was trying to find loopholes in the commandments to justify their inner 27

disobedience. It’s like if you built a new model of a car and introduced it to the world, the body may look different, yet it still runs and operates for the most part like all the other cars before it, and showing it to an experienced driver, you would go over the “givens” about the car, such as; you put the key in the ignition, you press the gas peddle to make it go, etc. No, you would emphasis the deeper details to established ideas and standards. For example, on this new car you don’t roll down the windows manually, they aren’t even power operated by a switch, now it rolls up or down by voice command! The concept of the car hasn’t changed, though greater detail and innovations have been made on a standard feature. The car has not been turned into something new; the car has just been renewed. Granted, as I have established on many occasion, not all 613 commandments apply to one person, some apply to Levites, some to Israeli kings, some to farmers in the Land of Israel, some to only men, some to only women, etc. But still many are universal that are not followed by Modern Christianity today, such as, Kosher laws, the wearing of tzitzit, celebrating the Feasts mentioned in Leviticus Chapter 23, and the like. I can’t seem to get Modern day Christians to understand that keeping Torah in and of itself alone is not a salvation issue per se, but an issue of love and obedience. Salvation is not and never has been the point of the Torah; it is one of obedience out of love and holy living and in this way is an inseparable part of the salvation experience as a whole. I can’t seem to get them to see that G-d is the same yesterday, today and forever, I can’t seem to get them to see that Yeshua and G-d is One, and that Yeshua’s commandments are no different than G-d the Fathers. I can’t get them to see how they have been viewed and understood for 4000 years, that they are more than just “laws” that they are more akin to marriage vows to a Holy Gd. Law is a loose translation of the word Torah, Instructions would fit more appropriately. So why would any one want to knowingly and purposely disobey G-d’s Instructions? We are navigating through 2000 years of history, linguistics, western thought, culture and re-interpretation layered on the Scriptures to get back to the eternal meaning conveyed by its Jewish and Jewish Converted writers and followers of the 1st century. How often I forget that I can only relay the message, and I cannot be the Holy Spirit to anyone. I cannot tug on their hearts, or convince them as the 28

Ruach Ha Kodesh can. I often forget that seeds take time to grow, and they might grow, be suffocated out or several other scenarios (Matt.13). All I can do is plant and walk away, and perhaps water every now and again. But ultimately the choice lies with the individual receiving the message. Is there such a thing as being too old fashioned? Yes, when you become so old fashioned that you blindly and ignorantly impose and peddle your cultural ideas, customs and traditions as if the whole world should hold to them. I know this and have seen this all too many times growing up in Protestant Christianity that has been influenced by the culture of the Southern United States. In sermons, preachers constantly impose Southern culture upon the Characters of Scripture and painted those from Moses to Paul as being Southern Baptist style Christians. Sadly, such foolish sayings and songs have emerged as a result: “If it was good enough for Paul and Silas it is good enough for me.” This is usually in reference to the King James Translation. “Give me that old time religion” as if Moses, David, Paul or Yeshua song southern style hymns and worshipped in a church. There is also a thing of not being old fashioned enough in that one refuses to look beyond their own cultural interpretation of the Scriptural and foundational absolutes and do not live and apply them from the ancient framework into an acceptable modern adaptation that does not take away from the core absolute. We must look upon our culture through the lenses of Torah and not look upon Scripture through the lenses of our culture. YHWH and His ways comes before any man made cultural standard. There is nothing wrong with ones indigenous culture as long as it does not contradict or twist the Commands of Torah. Ones culture can honor YHWH as long as we bend it to the ways of Torah and do not attempt to bend Torah to fit ones culture. This is especially important when ministering as a missionary in a foreign culture.

Catho-Christianity is classically known for syncretism in regards to its missionary, evangelistic activities. By this I mean molding ones culture and indigenous religion to fit the missionary’s religion. This is why we see such hybrid cults like Catho-Christian influence on voodoo that comes out of Haiti, Louisiana and Mexico. This trick has been used since the time of Constantine so as to have a unified Empire through religion, while at the same time allowing individuals to still practice their mother pagan religion by keeping the rituals but changing the names of the pagan gods with characters to Biblical ones. Their must be integrity and purity in bringing Torah and Messiah to other cultures Most Jews agree on observing all 613 Mitzvot, but we all differ on how, and to what extent we keep the Commandments. The way any particular Jewish sect keeps the Commandments is called, “Halakah”, meaning, the way one walks. Keeping Torah doesn’t mean one looses their cultural distinctiveness. I n Judaism there is Sephardic Jews, Yemenite Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Natsari Jews etc. These are all Jews who follow and keep Torah. Yet within these and other groups, there is enough room for them to keep Torah in their own way, and maintain their unique cultural identity, such as dress, food, music, customs etc. Each group has their own way of tying tzitzit, and laying tefillin. The Torah says to do them, but not how. Culture and custom help define this, as Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way!” And each group’s way of fulfilling the Commandments vary and are so pregnant with meaning and depth. Needless to say a Holy careful balance needs to be struck. We have to see faith through the original language and culture to which it was written in and find ways to adapt them today without compromising the original intent.

Circumcision and Personal Salvation I cover circumcision at this point because it is so closely related to the Law and was actually in practice before the Law was codified. Linking Law and Grace together as I have, we must deal with circumcision now, but it also comes up later in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament), after all Rav Sha’ul (Paul) extensively wrote about it and what it has to do with salvation is such letters as the one to the Galatians and the book of Romans. Many people misinterpret the writings of Rav Sha’ul and say we don’t have to keep circumcision. Okay, this is the crux of the issue. The Judaizers argued “You must be circumcised to be saved. Circumcise first, teach Torah later.” Rav Sha’ul said, “If you think your foreskin is your ticket to heaven you are sorely mistaken. What sense does it make to circumcise first, only to have the convert disagree with some of the commandments and say, ““This is not for me.”, and splits. In this instance the circumcision would have been all in vain, thus harming YHWH’s name and reputation, and our reputation among the goyim (gentiles) by publicly professing YHWH, His Torah, and His Messiah, then live contrary to that, no, teach Torah first then circumcise.” The reputation and responsibility of being circumcised is comparable to that of Christian baptism. A potential convert to Judaism under went a year of training in the Torah (Acts 15:19-21). Even today, when one converts to Judaism, if the convert disagrees with just one mitzvah, including circumcision, he can not become a Jew. This work is not meant to be an exhaustive expository on misinterpreted passages, but I will cover one for you. In Galatians 2:3 it speaks of Titus not being compelled to be circumcised. The reason I believe Rav Sha’ul statement for this is so as not to give into the false authority the Judaizers (Pharisaic believers in Yeshua who believed one must be circumcised to be saved) over the people. So it would not appear as if Rav Sha’ul was agreeing, or siding with the Judaizers. Rav Sha’ul wanted it to be Titus’ decision, and not a decision based on “peer pressure.” Not only that, but, if Titus were to under go brit milah (circumcision) under the Judaizers, this would display publicly that Titus had to follow and agree with the Judaizers authority and Halacha. This argument is similar to the modern day arguments by certain sects of Protestant Christianity, such as: “You’ve got to be baptized to be saved!” (By the way, infant baptism and baby dedications have REPLACED circumcision, with no Biblical grounds for doing so) Or, “You have to speak in tongues to be saved!” We all know nothing could be further from

the truth. Same with circumcision, Rav Sha’ul wasn’t saying it wasn’t important or unnecessary, he only said it doesn’t save you. People try to spiritualize the Torah command of circumcision, and says that since “Jesus” came we no longer have to do it outwardly but inwardly, basing that belief on Romans 2:28-29 and Colossians 2:11. This is what Rabbi Trimm had to say in his paper on the subject: “Physical circumcision was to be a required token of the covenant for all generations forever (Read Gen. 17:9-14). This "circumcision of the heart" is mentioned in the Ketuvim Netzarim in Rom. 2:28-29 and Col. 2:11. Many have misunderstood this circumcision of the heart as being a substitute for physical circumcision. However this circumcision of the heart was not a substitute for physical circumcision nor a substitute for Torah observance in general. In context here it seems to refer to removing the stubbornness in ones heart and making it open to Torah. This Torah tells us to circumcise our heart (Deut. 10:16) love YHWH with all our heart and keep his commandments (Deut. 11:1, 13) and place the Torah in our heart (Deut.11:18). Thus circumcision of the heart would seem to involve loving YHWH and keeping his commandments and placing the Torah in our hearts.”

Here is a portion of a letter I received regarding a very important issue “I am aware that Romans 11 says that we engrafted into Israel through Mashiach. I want to do everything possible for my creator and not just be a simple God-feared using Acts15 Noachide laws. When it say that Gentiles should remain as they are and Jews as they are, what does this mean? I am just confused over the whole conversion thing. Thank you in Advance!”

I Cor. 7:17-21 Only, as Elohim has distributed to each one, as the Master has called each one, so let him walk. And so I order in all the assemblies. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. The circumcision is naught, and the uncircumcision is naught, but the guarding of the commands of Elohim does matter!1 Footnote: 1Rom. 2:26-29. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? It matters not to you, but if you are able to become free too, rather use it. – The Scriptures Version

According to the Peshitta text the whole circumcision thing is dealing with the sect called "the circumcision" who tried to convince the people that if you were not circumcised, and in their way at that, means that you weren't saved. Sha'ul is reiterating that before the penis is circumcised the heart must be and the heart is more important than that of the flesh. He is not saying circumcision is not obsolete but that the heart comes first. In whatever state you came to Messiah is fine, do not feel obligated to change in this way, but if you want and can better yourself in such a manner do so, juts make sure the motive for circumcision is for all the right reasons. Circumcision is like having a Kroger plus card. Anyone can shop at Kroger, just like anyone can be saved. But, not everyone will get the same deals. Those who have the Kroger plus card will get the â&#x20AC;&#x153;perksâ&#x20AC;? of being a member, and get a discount, and benefit from certain bargains, just as those circumcised get the benefit of certain aspects of the Covenants; (entering the Promised Land Josh1:1-12; partaking in the Passover Lamb Ex.12:43-49; to name a few) and become part of the Common Wealth of Israel, which in its loosest definition, means for the common or public good, it can also apply to a group of nations that have a loose alliance for the good of all members of each nation. We, Jew and Gentile, under the banner of Torah and Messiah have this. To continue with the Grocery store analogy, just as those who do not have the Kroger plus card will not have certain privileges, likewise, with those who are uncircumcised. One may also liken it to a Permanent Resident of a foreign country, you have all the rights and privileges the laws and government can afford, you just can be involved with the politics of it all. Even though the Covenants, especially the Abrahamic Covenant of Circumcision are apart of the Torah (Law) there is a difference between the two. For the specific laws dealing with the covenant circumcision to apply, like certain feasts, one must be circumcised. The rest not circumcision specific apply to all. Some may argue that circumcision is only for those born a Jew. This is not true; circumcision is for anyone wanting to follow the Elohim of Israel and become part of the people of Israel. The Gentiles who came out of Egypt with Israel agreed to keep the Torah, and that included circumcision (Ex.12:38; 19:8). Besides, when circumcision was first instituted, not only the first Jew partook of it (Avraham, who wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even a Jew until he was circumcised), but his whole house hold which was made up of foreign

servants (Gen.17:9-14)! If circumcision wasn’t important, then why was YHWH ready to kill Moses’ over the issue (Ex.4:24-26)? Eddie Chummney in his paper about Circumcision concluded his paper in this manner: “…in context, we can come to the conclusion that Paul was NOT teaching AGAINST CIRCUMCISION or FOLLOWING TORAH but was making the argument that physical circumcision without faith in the Messiah has no eternal value. The Torah, Prophets and the NT teach us that the ideal is having faith in Messiah, have circumcised hearts and seek to follow Torah which includes physical circumcision. YHVH REQUIRES physical circumcision when you enter the land of Israel. If you have faith in Messiah and are circumcised in your heart, YHVH is more lenient toward you if you have been born in the wilderness (nations of the world) because the lands outside of the land of Israel have less sanctity than the land of Israel. However during the Messianic Era, those who live in the land of Israel and who desire to fellowship in the Temple will be REQUIRED to be circumcised in the HEART AND THE FLESH.”

Most men need to grow up and quit being so concerned with their own plumbing, and using that as an excuse for not fulfilling the commandments, and partaking in the Covenants, the blessings that HaShem has in store for us. Other religions and cultures have much more painful “rite of passage” rituals, such as branding, body tattooing, torture etc. Most of us were circumcised anyway at birth, and do not remember a thing. All we must do is partake in a ritual circumcision call “Hatafat Dam Brit”, where something like a diabetic lancet is used to draw one drop of blood which is put on a piece of gauze, in front of two male witnesses. This procedure is virtually painless (trust me I know first hand). It hurts even less than pricking your finger for blood work at the doctor. The blood is the whole meaning and purpose of entering into the Covenants. It is such a beautiful, meaningful and holy thing, such a beautiful, meaningful, and holy moment in time. For those who need a full circumcision, there are medications and salves to help alleviate the pain and speed the healing process. All that is possibly needed is time off work. In this day and age it has never been easier to partake in this holy act. This along with a mikvah (baptism) and the giving of your Hebrew name is how a male converts to Judaism. All women have to do is the Mikvah part. 34

The Levitical Priesthood: The Tabernacle and It’s Furnishings For us to truly understand about the sacrifices and their meaning regarding the issue of Personal Salvation we need to see Messiah and salvation in the people and the physical materials that are involved and which brings about the sacrifices. Shemot/Exodus 25:1-27:19 Summary: Chapters 25 and 26 YHWH instructs Moshe to start what we may know today as a “Building Fund” collecting precious metals and precious stones, skins, fabrics, and wood: in other words, building materials of which the Children of Israel no doubt plundered from the Egyptians as they left. YHWH lays out to Moshe the pattern/blueprint if you will, for the Tabernacle and all its furnishings. Chapter 27 deals with the plans for the Outer Court and its furnishings, mainly The Altar. Aharon is temporarily in charge of all Israel while Moshe is on Mount Sinai receiving the revelation we are about to study. Remember YHWH came down in a cloud on the Mountain and Moshe is within it for 40 days where Elohim is. Yehoshuah (Joshua) Israel’s future leader, Moshe’s apprentice, is camped just out side the Shekinah cloud. And if the Glory Cloud of YHWH was within the volcanic cloud, then after 40 days and nights it would be natural for Israel to assume Moshe and Yehoshuah was dead, that they must have burn up.

Exodus 25:1-9And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for 35

the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

“Just as the story of creation unfolded in six days, each beginning with “And YHWH said…” So to the instructions for building the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are found in six sections, each beginning with “And YHWH spoke to Moshe…” Then seventh section deals with the laws of Shabbat. This suggests that the Tabernacle marks a second creation – the creation of the Jewish people.” – Bedside Torah

“The Mishkan is the equivalent of the universe. Regarding the work of the first day of creation, it says, "He who stretches out the heavens like a curtain" (Psalms 104:2). Regarding the making of the Mishkan it says, "And you shall make curtains of goat's hair for a tent over the Tabernacle" (Exodus 26:7). Regarding the work of the second day of creation, it says, "Let there be a firmament... and let it divide between the waters and the waters" (Genesis 1:6). Regarding the making of the Mishkan it says, "And the veil shall divide for you between the Holy and the Holy of Holies" (Exodus 26:33). Regarding the work of the third day of creation, it says, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together" (Genesis 1:9). Regarding the making of the Mishkan it says, "And you shall make a copper basin, and the base thereof of copper, for washing" (Exodus 30: 18). Regarding the work of the fourth day of creation, it says, "Let there be luminaries in the heavens" (Genesis 1:14). Regarding the making of the Mishkan it says, "And you shall make a Menorah of pure gold" (Exodus 25:31). Regarding the work of the fifth day of creation, it says, "Let fowl fly above the earth" (Gen. 1:20). Regarding the making of the Mishkan it says, "The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward" (Exodus 25:20). On the sixth day man was created [to inhabit and cultivate the earth]. Regarding the Mishkan, G-d says to Moses, "Bring near Aaron your brother [to perform the service in the Sanctuary]" (Exodus. 28:1). Of the seventh day we have it written, "And the heaven and the earth were completed... And G-d completed His work... and G-d blessed... and G-d sanctified...

" (Genesis 2:1-3). Regarding the making of the Mishkan it says: "Thus was completed all the work of the Tabernacle... And Moses blessed them... And it came to pass on the day that Moses completed the Tabernacle... and sanctified it" (Exodus 39:32-43; Numbers 7:1).”-- Midrash Rabbah

Gold, silver, and copper... (25:3-7) “The materials donated for the Mishkan correspond to the components of the human being. "Gold" is the soul; "silver," the body; "copper," the voice; "blue," the veins; "purple," the flesh; "red," the blood; "flax," the intestines; "goat hair," the hair; "ram skins dyed red," the skin of the face; "tachash skins," the scalp; "shittim wood," the bones; "oil for lighting," the eyes; "spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense," the nose, mouth and palate; "shoham stones and gemstones for setting," the kidneys and the heart. Rabbi Shmuel said: The materials donated for the Mishkan correspond to the heavens. "Gold" is the sun; "silver," the moon; "copper," the western horizon at sunset; "blue," the sky; "purple," the clouds; "red," the rainbow; "flax," the seraphim; "goat," the constellation of capricorn; "ram skins dyed red," thunder; "tachash skins," lightening; "shittim wood," shooting stars; "oil for lighting," the seven planets; "spices for the anointing oil and for the incense," dew and rain; "shoham stones and gemstones for setting"--hail and snow. Said G-d: "My dwelling is in the heavens; if you make Me a Sanctuary on earth, I shall dwell in it."” -Midrash HaGadol

Chassidism explains that everything in this world has a spark of G-dliness, locked up in the everyday. We as Jews as believers, made in the image of YHWH, it is our responsibility to “make things holy.” All through out the Torah YHWH tells us over and over that He has given us the Power from Him to set things apart, to make them Holy. So when we use anything for YHWH whether it be food, tefillin, a Tallit, the materials for the Mishkan, we as the Chassidic Masters have said, “We penetrate its shell of mundanity, revealing and realizing its divine essence> Thus we elevate these “sparks,” reuniting them with their Source.” In other words, we have the ability to make things holy. Exodus 25:8 “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”

“LET THEM” Notice YHWH didn’t make the Mishkan, He just had the blueprints. He expected Israel to carry out the plan. YHWH wasn’t going to build the Mishkan for them. If the Children of Israel never acted, YHWH would have never come down to dwell with us and Yeshua Moshieynu never would have come. Exodus 25:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” (KJV)

We need to offer out Time, money, talents, blood sweat and tears or YHWH will NOT dwell among us. Our actions prove our desire to obey fellowship and be with HIM. It takes…. Exodus 25:3-9 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

SACRIFICE!!!! Time, money, talents, blood sweat and tears.

Exodus 25:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

The Mishkan was stationed at the center of the camp as a token of national unity for the people, a central focus for the people representing YHWH, His Torah ands His relationship to and with us. 38

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

The whole purpose of YHWH bringing Israel out of Egypt was so YHWH could dwell among them.

Exodus 29:46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God. Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Being â&#x20AC;&#x153;Temple-lessâ&#x20AC;? does not mean the Temple is now not important or replaced, Prophecy says it will be rebuilt one day and sacrifices will resume, and Messiah will be there reigning as King during that time too! But on a sod (spiritual) level the Tabernacle and the Temple, every detail, every piece tells of the Messiah, and Messiah came in the form of a human being to dwell among us as the Scripture says YHWH desires to do.

John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Let me repeat verse 14:

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The word dwelt in Hebrew is the same root word for Tabernacle! Yeshua came and “Tabernacled” among us! YHWH robed in flesh. For our Jewish Brothers out there let me clarify what I mean about YHWH being robed in flesh: I believe Yahshua Ha Moshiach of Nazareth is the prophesied Messiah of Israel. That He was FULLY YHWH to be able to redeem us from our sins, and FULLY man to have the right to redeem us from our sins, to be our Kinsmen Redeemer (Ruth, Jer.17:5-7, Jn.1). Yahshua is the perfect, holy, sinless Messiah, the figurative Son of YHWH, who is the Word that became flesh dwelt among us (Jn.1:14) who came to dwell in a mortal body that never saw corruption (Ps.14:10), a pure deity manifest in the flesh. He was not an incarnation, which would denote that 100% of YHWH came in the flesh. Yahshua was FULLY YHWH in the flesh, but not 100% YHWH. YHWH is so infinite that He is everywhere and fills everything, so it would be impossible for ALL of YHWH to be limited to a mortal body. In the words of Dr. Friedman, “If we were to go to the Mediterranean Sea and fill a glass with sea water, we can say that all the water in the glass is truly sea water. However we cannot call the glass, “The Mediterranean Sea.” There is much more to the Mediterranean Sea than the glass. Yet nonetheless, the water in that glass is truly Mediterranean Sea water through and through.” I believe that Yahshua is the Kohen Ha Gadol (High priest) who became the ultimate, once and for all atoning sacrifice Himself, for all mankind (Heb.4:14-5:10; 6:19-8:2). I believe salvation is only available through Him. I believe Yahshua came first as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) the Suffering Servant, and will be returning as Messiah ben David the Kingly Messiah. I believe that these two pictures of the Messiah, given in Scripture are one and the same.

So Yeshua is like a Temple that YHWH dwells in. Rav Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ul also said on a sod level that one, We as individuals are as a Temple and second Kefa (Peter) said that as unified believers in Messiah WE are a Temple for the Presence of YHWH to dwell in:

I Cor. 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

II Cor. 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people

I Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

So the subject of a Tabernacle and or a Temple is a multi-faceted thing.

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

hey shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell amidst them (25:8) The verse does not say, "and I will dwell within it," but "and I will dwell within them"--within each and every one of them. -- Shelah

If we as Natsari Jews are to show Christians the truth of Torah and our fellow Jews, the truth of Messiah Yeshua, WE MUST give all we got to make a Mishkan of believers as individuals and as a community so that the Spirit of YHWH will dwell among us and that we may draw people to the Torah and to the Messiah. 41

Just as all Israel had a part in making the Mishkan, so all of us, we make up the Mishkan of Moshiach. We are all, as Kefa said, “Living Stones” yet we are one Temple, and we are all a nation of priests (Ex.19:6). Exodus 26:6 says that the Tabernacle is to be a single unit. So it must be with us as it was in the book of Acts. Acts 2:44, 46 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;… And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT Exodus 25:10-22 SHITTIM WOOD: “Iron wood” resistant to heat and decay and has been described as indestructible. This typifies the incorruptible body of Messiah (Heb. 10:5, Ps. 16:106, Acts 2:27; 13:35) OVERLAID WITH GOLD: inside and out. Gold represents the purity and Deity of Messiah. Together the Ark which contained the Written Torah represents Yeshua our Messiah who on earth was the body that contained the Living Torah! DEMENTIONS: LENGTH: 2 ½ cubits = 5 half cubits. 5= Torah and Grace If you take the Hebrew word Chamesh, made up of the Hebrew letters Chet, Mem, Shin, meaning Five, a word sometimes used to refer to the 5 books of Moshe, the Torah, and you move the letters around you get Simcha, meaning Joy, and if you move the letters around again it will say Moshiach (Messiah) so to have Torah is to have Messiah and to have Torah and Messiah is to have true Joy! BREADTH AND HEIGHTH: 1 ½ cubits = 3 half cubits = Covenant and the 3 pillars of the Seforitic Tree, or the Tri-unity of YHWH, Let me explain: 42

Concerning what most of Christianity refers to as the “Trinity”, (I refer to it as a Tri-unity) I believe that Elohim reveals Himself in many ways, characteristics and Sefirot, including, but not limited to, Abba (the Father), the Word / the Ben (Son), and the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). And I believe that these emanations from Elohim are coeternal, coequal, and coexisting in one (Echad) Divine essence. The Seforitic Tree consists of many charts and formulas, and lists many of HaShem’s attributes, so I will not get into that. That is not the purpose of this work. However, I will say that there is a concept referred to as the “Three Pillars”, which consist of Binah: Understanding, Keter: Crown, and Chochmah: Wisdom. The Sages refer to them as: Binah as the Father/Abba, Chochmah as the Mother/Imma, and Keter as their Son/Ben. And these in turn would coincide with the concept of the Tri-unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is interesting to note that the word for Holy Spirit in the Hebrew is Feminine, which would lend credence to the “Three Pillars” of the Seforitic Tree of Binah being Mother/Imma. In another place of Kabalistic literature, there are references to the Lesser YHWH, which describes Yahshua Messiah uncannily. I DO NOT adhere to nor believe in tritheism or modalism, these beliefs are INACURATE and HERETICAL! “It is entirely tolerable to the Hebraic mind to accept a paradox. To the nonHebraic mind, the paradox is seen as blatant contradiction, and is summarily dismissed as nonsense.” – Bikurei Tziyon, issue 71, pg.29 VERTICAL GIRTH: 4 X 1 ½ = 6 cubits = man HORIZONTAL GIRTH: 2 X 2 ½ + 2 X ½ = 5 + 3 = 8 cubits = New Beginnings THE BIG PICTURE: YHWH gives Law and Grace to mankind so we may have a New Beginning! V. 21 CONTENTS OF THE ARK 1. THE STONE TABLETS

The Ark is actually a Throne. So G-d rules and reigns by the Torah and the One who will sit on the Throne is the World to come is Melek Yeshua Ha Moshiach ben Melek David (King Yeshua the Messiah son of King David) the Living Torah! Exodus 25:17-22: THE MERCY SEAT LENGHTH AND BREADTH: 1 ½ cubits wide = 3 cubits = 3 covenant, and YHWH’s “tri-unity” if you will. 2 ½ cubits long = 5 half cubits = Torah and Grace. 3+5=8 New Beginning LENGTH AND BREADTH = 2 ½ + 1 ½ = 4 = Earth’s 4 corners, it applies to the world, the one who will sit on it is the seed of the woman The thickness of the Mercy Seat is not stated suggesting the boundlessness and infinite depths of YHWH’s rule and reign. THE BIG PICTURE: YHWH’s covenant with mankind through the seed of the woman, through Torah gives us a new beginning and this covenant is eternal and boundless and His rule will be established on the four corners of the earth and will reign eternally on the New earth. Psalm 85:10 “Mercy (Messiah) and Truth (Torah) met together; Righteousness (Torah) and Peace (Messiah) have kissed each other.”

Exodus 25:11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.

G-d is our King and His rule through Torah should rule our lives. Since we are “Living Temples” our heart represents the Ark, the Throne: Psalm 40:8b “Yes, Thy Torah is within my heart.”

Just as the physical Ark being touched brought about death, so when we “dethrone” G-d from the throne of our hearts and violate the Torah we too instantly die spiritually. Exodus 25:23-30 THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD/THE BRAD OF THE PRESENCE Like the Ark it was 1 cubit wide, representing YHWH is Echad (One) 2 cubits long, representing G-d’s fellowship with man. After all a table is where people eat a meal together, and we talk, fellowship as we eat, thus the whole meaning of the Table of Showbread. And it was 1 ½ cubit high = 3 half cubits alluding to G-d’s “tri-unity” and His covenant with us. TABLE = G-d desires to fellowship with man. Down through history meals were used as celebrations, fellowship and sealing of pacts/covenants. BORDER AROUND THE TABLE = G-d enclosing hand of protection (for it was a hand breadth wide) around the 12 loaves representing the 12 Tribes of Israel. It represents an excusive dinner party for those in the club AKA: Covenant. THE BREAD/Challah (3 2471 Strong’s Concordance) “a perforated cake” = the Body of Messiah was crucified/perforated for us. Again the Messiah is the Bread of Life from heaven, who is sweet like cake, laid in a feeding troth (manger) in the City called the House of Bread (Bethlehem/Beyt-Lechem) here He lies on the table of fellowship. YHWH spares no expense; the utensils are gold symbolizing purity, heaven and royalty. Exodus 25:31-39 THE MENORAH BEATEN PURE GOLD = This is a picture of Yeshua as the Suffering Servant (Isa. 51) the light of the world. MADE TO LOOK LIKE ALMOND BRANCHES = Jewish Tradition states that the almond tree was the Tree of Life. It is said that Aharon’s rod that 45

budded was a branch from this very tree. This too represents the Messiah who was cut of and considered dead yet budded/arose again. The Torah and the Messiah are both called the Tree of life. Yeshua said of Himself: John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Psalm 119 is all about the Torah and also says that the Torah is a light (130). Yeshua is the Living manifestation of the Written Torah. The Scriptures also say the Word (Torah) is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105) David was speaking only of the Torah for the Prophets not to mention the “New Testament” wasn’t even written yet! It is also said of the Torah (Prov. 3:18) that it is a tree of life for those who grasp it. The Menorah had SEVEN LAMPS = Seven days of creation and the seven fold Spirit of G-d. Isa. 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Spirit of YHWH Spirit of Wisdom Spirit of Understanding Spirit of Counsel Spirit of Might Spirit of Knowledge The Fear of YHWH

Wick # 7 5 3 1 2 4 6 Spirit of: F M U YHWH W C K

Sketch of Menorah by Maimonides' hand from manuscript of his Mishneh Torah

The branches are set up to represent the verse in this way: Æ You enter the Holy Place and face the Menorah this way. The branches alternate: Fear, Might, Understanding, Center branch: Spirit of YHWH, Wisdom, Counsel, Knowledge You enter with reverential, respectful fear to get to knowledge. After Yeshua’s death and resurrection and after the temple curtain was torn in two, the records show that the priests couldn’t keep the branch representing Knowledge, the branch closest to the Ark, lit. The majority of Israel failed to obtain and comprehend the knowledge that the Messiah had come. OIL: Is used to light the lamps symbolizing the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit). We too cannot be lights to the Goyim (Nations/Gentiles) until the Ruach Ha Kodesh comes in contact with the Holy Spark with in every Jew and ignites it into a Holy zealous blaze! With the carnal mind alone, Torah seems dark and obscure. It is only with the light of the Ruach Ha Kodesh does the Torah become Life to us. 47

Exodus 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

We, just as the lamp need to burn continually, for we are priests too. It is up to us not to let our flame die out. Matthew 5:16 (Our Messiah said) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Exodus 27:20-21 THE OIL IS MADE FROM BEATEN OLIVES The Ruach Ha Kodesh can be grieved (Eph. 4:30) touched with our infirmities (Heb. 4:15) and vexed by our rebellion (Isa. 63:10) Exodus 26:1-6 THE CURTAINS FINE LINEN = This is symbolic of Purity, Holiness, and Righteousness, the Wedding Garments of the Saints. It took many linen sheets to make up the Tabernacle. So with us, it takes all of us saints to make up the Body of Messiah. Living stones as Kefa (Peter) said, yet one Temple. Verse six says so it will be “echad” one tent. One in plurality is the meaning of this Hebrew word; many sheets, but One Tent. BLUE YARN = Has Shemayim (heaven) is G-d’s throne room and it is blue, it is the same color of thread in out Tzitzit. It is to keep our focus on the will of YHWH. PURPLE YARN = Symbolic of Royalty SCARLET = Representory of the Atoning blood. All together this represents the Body of Messiah who was sinless, a King and a Sacrifice all in one! This was the prophetic meaning behind the curtains: King Messiah will come from heaven, pure and sinless to be our righteousness and atonement for sin.

All the curtains were brought together by 50 blue loops and 50 gold clasps symbolizing that our righteousness comes from heaven and this is what binds us together. And what is righteousness? Torah and the Messiah, they are what binds us together as believers. They’re also 50 years in a Jubilee. ANGELS/KERUVIM EMBROIDERED ON THE CURTAINS = They are guardians, holy and sober reminders that this is no ordinary place, this is no ordinary tent, this place is HOLY. If you remember the Menorah represents the Tree of life, and in Genesis a Kiruv (Angel) was placed in front of the tree of Life to guard it. Exodus 26:7-13 GOAT HAIR CURTAIN = The Goat was used during Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement, and represents a sin sacrifice. 11 SHEETS = Means, confusion, sin and chaos, incompleteness, illegitimacy. 5 = Grace for 6; mankind’s failures. BRONZE/BRASS FASTENERS = Brass is a symbol of Judgment, sin must be dealt with. The 6th curtain was doubled over the Mishkan door directly in front of the Brazen Altar = Sin and carnal flesh must die before we can enter into fellowship with YHWH. It’s always flesh that blocks and blinds our view of our need for forgiveness through an atoning sacrifice. EXODUS 26:14 RAMS SKIN DYED RED Rams were used for consecrating the priest for office. Yeshua sanctified Himself to be our High Priest and our Sacrifice at the same time (Heb. 7:2628, John 17:19) RED DYE – Symbolizes the blood of the covenant shed for the remission of sin (which by the way sin is breaking the covenant). There are no demetions given for this ram skin covering, and so Messiah’s atoning sacrifice is limitless and all covering. LEATHER/BADGER SKIN/SEA COW HIDE?

This was a durable skin used to cover and protect the Mishkan from the elements. This symbolizes the torture, ridicule and spiting Messiah endured for us. This also symbolizes the complete covering and protection for us. This leather must have been weathered and worn and very ordinary, if not ugly looking. Isa. 53:2 says that the Messiah had no form, comeliness, or beauty that we should desire Him. On the outside non-believers may see the Old, the Ancient, the “outdated”; it takes a believer to see the beauty on the inside of the Tabernacle. Exodus 26:15-37 THE TABERNACLE STRUCTURE UPRIGHT BORADS INCASED IN GOLD = This represents how we make up the body of Messiah. We must cut down and severed from our earthly roots, stripped of all branches and fruit of the world and be fallen at Messiah’s feet, to be stripped, clothed and incased in Him (Gold) then we can stand up right and fitted together. Each board was 10 cubits representing completion and confidence in Messiah. As the Ark was wood incased in gold, it represents Yeshua’s humanity and Divinity all at the same time. Each board stood upon two sockets of silver. At registration a solider gave ½ half shekel of silver as atonement money, everyone gave the same amount whether rich or poor the cost was the same for every soul (Ex. 30:13-15). 3,000 shekels makes one talent, the weight of each socket. Each board stood on two sockets the equivalent of atonement money for 12,000 men. 12 represent all twelve tribes of Israel. BARS OF SHITTIM/ACACIA WOOD OVERLAYED WITH GOLD = 5 on each side, symbolizing Grace and Torah. Exodus 26:31-33 THE VEIL, ITS SILVER SOCKETS AND 4 PILLARS BLUE, PURPLE, SCARLET AND FINE TWISTED LINEN. 50

Messiah is the Heavenly One, the Royal One, the Suffering Servant and the Righteous One, is the Door to the Life. 4 WOOD PILLARS INCASED IN GOLD = Yeshua the 4th generation, the seed of the woman, His mission on earth to bring people in fellowship with G-d and will one day rule over all the earth. SILVER SOCKETS = Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Atonement on earth, the reason for His coming. GOLD = Upon which the veil is hung suggests His support and origins from Heaven. Exodus 26:36-37 THE DOOR, 5 PILLARS, GOLD CHAPITERS, AND BRASS SOCKETS: Doorway to the courtyard and the Holy Place. And Yeshua said that He is the door (John 10:9). 5 = Torah and Grace Gold Chapiters = Written and Living Torah is King Brass Sockets = King of Judgment Yeshua said I am the Door, I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, no man comes to G-d the Father but by me (John 14:6) These were the actual names given to these entry ways: Door to the Courtyard = The Way Door to the Holy Place = The Truth Door to the Holy of Holies = The Life Exodus 27:1-8 BRAZEN ALTAR Was made of Shittim wood and as we mentioned earlier that it represents the incorruptibility and indestructibleness of Messiah. 5 CUBITS LONG AND BROAD = Represents Grace and Torah 4 SQUARED, 4 CORNERS = Horns represent power, and this Altar had power to atone over all the 4 corners of the world. 51

3 CUBITS HIGH = G-d’s “tri-unity” and His covenant with man. BRASS = Judgment THE BIG PICTURE: Messiah full of Grace and Truth (Torah) His sacrifice will have power over all mankind and satisfy G-d’s conventional requirements of judgment. Exodus 27:9-19 THE OUTER COURT 60 brazen pillars set is sockets of brass, crowned with silver, holding up the fine linen. Judgment comes first to the House of G-d (I Peter 4:17), the Body of Messiah made up of mankind (60) of atonement and therefore can wear righteousness and therefore Holiness resides on the inside. This is the first thing you see about the Tabernacle and therefore immediately advertised its meaning. • Golden Altar of Incense isn’t mentioned until Exodus 30:1-10. • Brass Laver not mentioned till Exodus 30:17-21 I hope you have enjoyed seeing the Messiah in the make up of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

The Levitical Priesthood and Their Garments It is imperative that along with understanding the Tabernacle and its furnishings and how they symbolize and apply to Yeshua and ones personal salvation we also need to explore the meaning of the Levitical Priests themselves and their garments. Exodus 27:20-30:10 27:20 PURE OIL: Was extracted by the pounding olives. This oil was used for the NER TAMID (the Eternal Light) 1. It was to burn continually Representing: a. G-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s covenant with Israel. b. Torah Written and Living. c. Our commitment to G-d. d. Our out reach to the Goyim (Nations). e. Torah study and the observance of Mitzvot (Commandments) V.21 The oil was refreshed with oil during the day so that it will burn all through the evening and morning and all through the night. This tells us we must keep our oil refreshed through Prayer, Torah Study and the Observance of the Commandments so we can be a light to this dark world. Our Messiah said: Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

V.21 It is commanded as a PERMENANT regulations which tells me that the Temple will one day be rebuilt and this commandment will once again be observed.

28:1-3 Speaks of Aharon and his sons to be Kohanim (Priests), and the commissioning for garments to be made for the priesthood. V.4-43 THE GARMENTS 1. Breastplate – Hoshen • 10 inches squared (hand span) attached by gold rings to the ephod. • 12 different precious stones with the names of the tribes of Israel inscribed on them. The 12 tribes were to be on the priests heart at all times. • Also contained the mysterious Urim and Thummim used to make decisions. The ephod represents G-d’s hand with all the names of Israel inscribes on His hand and only He knows the destiny and path for all of Israel. Isa. 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

2. Ephod/Apron • The Ephod was made up of gold, blue, scarlet, purple wool linen blend which this material blend is forbidden for non priest to ware (Deut. 22:11). a. Gold = Identity: Divinity b. Blue = Origin: Heavenly c. Purple = Position: Royalty d. Scarlet = Purpose: Atonement e. Linen = Result: Purity and Righteousness • It was attached at the shoulders by 2 onyx stones with 12 tribes; One priesthood with the weight of the entire nation of his shoulders. • Gold rings on the side to attach it to the breastplate. 3. Avnet/ Girdle/ Sash • To symbolically separate the sexual organs and urges from the head and heart. • Made of the same material as the Ephod. 4. Robe 54

• Seamless Garment made of Techelit, the blue we are commanded to put in our Tzitzit (fringes) that we ware on the 4 corners of our garments. • Alternating Golden Bells and Pomegranates attached to the bottom hem. • Reinforcing hem around the collar. 5. Tunic – Ku Honet / Turban – Mtznefet / Tzitzit – Frontlet “Holy to YHWH” • The tunic was embroidered, made of fine linen like wedding garment; the priests were symbolically married to YHWH. • The turban was a wrap made from 8 yards of material • The Gold Frontlet Plate was engraved with “Kadosh YHWH” (Holy to YHWH). It was like Tefillin to be a constant sober reminder of their sacred duties. 6. Undergarment • It was a doubled fine linen apron which comes to the knees. 7. Embroidered Coat • Diamond / Checker board like pattern • Embroidered with the precious stones set in it. 8. • • • • • • • • • • • •

Breastplate Gems (from left to right) Re’uven – Sardis Shimom – Topaz Levi – Emerald Yehudah – Turquoise Dan – Sapphire Naftali – Diamond Gad – Jacinth Asher – Agate Yissakhar – Amethyst Z’vulun – Beryl Yosef – Onyx Benyamin – Jasper

Exodus 29: Consecration of the Priest: Another 7 days symbolizing another creation. I will not get into the various sacrifices that were made but will focus on the way the priests were consecrated. V.1-9 Notice Moshe baths and dresses the priest reminiscent of G-d dressing Adam and Chavah (Eve) after the Fall. V.19-25 Notice the blood was put on the right extremities (Ear lobe, thumb, big toe) of Aharon and his sons. Representing Favor, Rule, hearing and doing G-d’s will. V.26-28 The Ram’s breast consecrated and established of the Levitical Share of every sacrifice (Heave offering). 30:1-10 GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE Q. Why introduce the Golden altar of incense until after the consecration of the Priesthood? A. The Golden Altar represents Messiah and his Mediatorial Role (I Tim. 2:5) It stood in front of the Ark of the Covenant, the Throne, the Mercy Seat. • The smoke of the incense represents the prayers of the tzadikim (the righteous). • The Horns of the Altar represents Messiah’s power to hear and answer prayer reaching to all 4 corners of the earth. • The Crown around the Golden Altar Shows that Divine Royalty is backing this Altar by Messiah is the Priestly King. • The Incense was a special blend not to be reproduced, this symbolizes our prayers are to be only for YHWH brought to Him the way He prescribes. • To offer “strange incense” unauthorized blend represents trying to come to G-d on ones own terms and not His. This results in death.

â&#x20AC;˘ The Incense was to be offered morning and evening representing the order or our prayers and proclaiming HIS Oneness according to Duet. 6:4-9

The Melchezideckian Priesthood and the Levitical Sacrificial System According to the Book of Hebrews This is perhaps one of the most mysterious and misunderstood priestly offices in Scripture; so much so that cults have been created based on their views and interpretations on this priesthood. The personage of Melchezidek has been confused with everyone from Yeshua to Michael the Archangel to Shem, son of Noah. It is my opinion, taking the whole of Scripture, Rabbinic Literature and Extra Biblical Texts into account that Melchezidek is Shem.

Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (KJV)

The only reason I bring Melchezidek up is because Yeshua, not being a Levite, but a descendant of Judah cannot be a Levitical Priest but according to prophecies in the Tanak and passages in the Brit Chadasha that Yeshua is the Priest after the order of Melchezidek which supersedes the Levitical Priesthood but does not do away with it. Many feel this is what the Christian world terms a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christophanyâ&#x20AC;? which is a physical manifestation of Yeshua the Messiah in pre-incarnate form. This very well may be true, but the text seems to indicate that Melchizedek was a real person. His name means King of Righteousness, and he was king over Salem, what is now known as Jerusalem, City of Peace. He could have been a relative of Shem, who according to Jewish tradition Shem was appointed the family priest after Noah and his sons departed from the ark.

Seeing as some believe, according the passages in Hebrews, that Yeshua will do away with the Levitical priesthood because he is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. I would like to tackle this issue briefly. In the Messianic and Christian arena’s the issue of Salvation and Levitical animal Sacrifice has caused charged heated debates and cause congregational and denominational splits. How were the “Old Testament Saints” saved? Will there be animal sacrifice during the Third Temple when Messiah reigns, and if so, why? Wouldn’t animal sacrifices slap Yahshua and his sacrificial atoning work on the cross in the face? Many like questions, circle, submerge and emerge continuously. As a Netzari Jew, let me put this weary animal to rest. If you don’t like the answer, take it up with HaShem and His Word. If it blows down your little theological house of cards, then maybe you should question the materials you have used, or the foundation it has been founded upon; YHWH’s Word, or tradition and doctrines of men? Let me first tackle the issue of salvation. It is the misconception of many that the “Old Testament Saints” were saved by works, keeping the Torah (law) in combination with the Levitical animal sacrifices, and “New Testament Saints” are saved by “Grace” and Yahshua’s death on the cross. How fair is that!? Christians say there is only one way of salvation. This view would contradict that. This is purely a Christian false doctrine; nothing could be further from the truth. Then how were the Believers before the death and resurrection of Yeshua, saved!? I believe the saints in the Tanak were saved the same way as the saints in the Renewed Covenant. The difference is perspective. Those in the Tanak looked forward to, and believed in the Messiah and His atoning work that was coming. The Renewed Covenant saints (us) look back and believe in the Messiah and His atoning work that already came, and is coming again! The sacrifices of the Tabernacle and Temple era, before Yahshua came, never atoned for or removed sin. In the Renewed Covenant, Hebrews 10:4 states “It is NOT possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” The sacrifices just rolled the sin back like a credit card debt until Messiah came to pay the debt in full, atoning for them all past, present, and future (Isa.53:6; IPt.2:24; IJn.2:2; Heb.1:3; 5-10). I believe that Yeshua 59

worked within the framework of Torah, and the sacrificial system set up therein.

Before Messiah: Looking Ahead

After Messiah: Looking Back

Then what is the purpose of the animal sacrifices? 1. It was to be a physical object lesson that pointed to the coming Messiah and what He would do. It acted as a credit card that covered, did not take away, and rolled back the sin debt until someone, Messiah, could come along and pay it. In the time of the Third Temple the sacrifices will be a reminder of the Messiah who came and what He did (Is. 56, 66; Zech. 14:16-21). The sacrifices that took place before Yeshua came, only pointed to the Messiah which was to come. The sacrifices that will take place after Yeshua, and that will take place in the Millennial Reign, point back to Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s atoning work. 2. It provided and will provide food, materials and income for the Priests and their families (Leviticus 5-10). In other words the Melchezideckian priesthood does not do away with the Levitical priesthood; it is simply a higher order of priesthood. The passage above lets us know this. For in the Book of Hebrews it says that Levi, the priestly tribe whom all Israel is required to give a tithe to, gave tithe to Melchizedek through Avraham because he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet born and was still in his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loins (Heb.7). In the Millennial reign both priesthoods will work side by side and hand in hand. The Greek text of the Book of Hebrews makes it uncertain who wrote it, however the Hebrew and Aramaic texts attribute the Book of Hebrews to 60

Rav Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul), who was a Torah and traditional obedient Jew and would never teach, right or practice contrary to Torah and traditions backed by Torah. There is no doubt that Rav Sha’ul is a misunderstood man, even in his day. Here is what Kefa (the Apostle Peter) a contemporary of Rav Sha’ul had to say about his writings. II Peter 3: 15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

And hence it continues today, even in Kefas’s day. Let us look into the Brit Chadasha and see what others and Rav Sha’ul has to say about himself. A TRUE JEW! PHIL. 3:5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; ROMANS 11:1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ACTS 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

WOAH! Did you catch all of this!? He said, “I AM” NOT “I was a Pharisee.” Not only that but he is from the tribe of Benjamin and is proud to be a full fledged “card carrying” Jew! CHILDHOOD EDUCATION:

ACTS 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Even today Rabbi Gamliel is one of the most revered and well read of the entire ancient Rabbiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, right up there with Rashi, the Rambam, and Rabbi Akiva. He is also quoted in a prominent Jewish section of the Talmud called the Perkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) Chapter 1 verse 16. Rabbi Gamliel was also said concerning the Nazarene Jewish movement in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament): ACTS 5:34-40 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

ZEALOUS FOR JUDAISM: GALATIANS 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

BECAME A BELIVEING JEWISH PHARISEE:

ACTS 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

ZEAL FOR HIS JEWISH BROTHERS: ROMANS 10:1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

WAS TORAH OBSERVANT AFTER BEING CHANGED BY YESHUA: ACTS 28:17And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Here Rav Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ul proudly proclaims that not only has he kept the Torah, but also the traditions and customs of the Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relating to the performance of the commandments! ACTS 21:17-26 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from

blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Here Rav Sha’ul was accused of teaching Gentiles and Jews that they didn’t have to keep the Torah, which was a total lie. So to solve the problem the Elder’s suggested an act on Rav Sha’ul’s part that would prove to the people his allegiance to the Torah, which was to take on a Nazarite vow (which is apart of the “Old Testament” Law) along with other believers and to have Rav Sha’ul fit the bill for the other believers in regards to the sacrifices. This meant he took on a Nazarite vow, and when the vow was completed he went to the Temple to offer the prescribed sacrifice! Why would Rav Sha’ul do this if he thought the Torah, the Temple and the Sacrifices were done away with, or if he actually was teaching others to forsake the Torah!? Either Rav Sha’ul was a Torah Observant Jew till the end or right here is proving himself to be a two faced liar, playing what ever crowd he was with at the moment. I say that the Scriptures are evident and clear that Rav Sha’ul never abandoned Judaism, the Torah, nor did he assimilate into the Roman culture at that time, nor did he convert to “Christianity”. Unfortunately As Kefa said in II Peter 3:15-16 that Rav Sha’ul’s texts has been and it is evident even now have been taken out of context to suit a bias Anti-Jewish and Anti-Torah doctrine in the majority of Christianity. Bottom line is, if your interpretation of Rav Sha’ul’s writings is anything but pro-Torah, you have sorely misinterpreted, misrepresented, and misunderstood this great Natsari Jew. Due to the fact most people read and study the Greek to English translation of the Book of Hebrews and because bias antinomians translated it, they naturally interpret Hebrews with an antinomian slant which one does not get if they go back to the Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts of the book.

“Eusebius in the fourth century referred to a now lost writing by Clement of Alexandria written around the year 200 C.E. which Eusebius cites as follows: "In the work called Hypotyposes, to sum up the matter briefly he [Clement of Alexandria] has given us the abridged accounts of all the canonical Scriptures, the Epistle to the Hebrews he asserts was written by Paul, to the Hebrews, in the Hebrew tongue; but that it was carefully translated by Luke, and published among the Greeks." (Clement of Alexandria; Hypotyposes (c. 200 CE) referred to by Eusebius in Eccl. Hist. 6:14:2) And Eusebius himself testified: "For as Paul had addressed the Hebrews in the language of his country; some say that the evangelist Luke, others that Clement, translated the epistle." (Eusebius (4th Cent.); Eccl. Hist. 3:38:2-3) Finally Jerome wrote of Hebrews: "He (Paul) being a Hebrew wrote in Hebrew, that is, his own tongue and most fluently while things which were eloquently written in Hebrew were more eloquently turned into Greek." (Jerome (4th Cent.); Lives of Illustrious Men, Book V)” -- Rabbi James Scott Trimm “In Defense of the Book of Hebrews”

Indeed this Book to the Hebrews proves Rav Sha’ul’s education as a Rav (a Master); it is similar, yet unlike his other works. Because of the other books were mostly written for a converted Gentile audience. Here, the book is mainly addressed to, as the title implies, the Hebrews, Jews and specifically to a possible group of Kohen (Levitical Priests) due to the nature addressing the subject of Torah, Melchezidek, Priests and the Levitical sacrificial system. Through out this work I have referenced passages from Hebrews and it is not expedient or the focus of this thesis to deal with all the passages

in Hebrews regarding Messiah and the Levitical Sacrificial system, that is a whole other book and a whole other commentary. I certainly will not dispute Messiahs superiority to angels, messengers (Heb. 1), Moshe (Heb. 3) and the Kohen Ha Gadol (the Great High Priest: Heb.410), but what I will dispute is just because Messiah is superior doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean angels, messengers, Moshe and the High Priest has no more relevance or place in the Scriptures, or the life of the believer. I WILL dispute the fact that the Torah of Moshe still stands and that because Messiah acts as our High Priest after the order of Melchezidek doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean the Levitical Priesthood has been done away as I have already touched upon. But due to the fact of Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dual nature and being a Priest of the Higher Order of Priesthood of Melchezidek He can be and is the mediating High Priest and Sacrifice all at once. Now that we understand the role and symbolism of the Priest, their garments, the Tabernacle and its furnishings and how Yeshua embodies them all, now we can discuss the Levitical sacrificial system and how Yeshua fits in to this in regards to ones personal salvation.

The Levitical Priesthood and the 5 Major Levitical Sacrifices The sacrificial system set forth in Leviticus can be a daunting task to comprehend and uncover in all its depth and meaning in the realm of Judaism. Some Rabbi’s spend their whole lives studying it and never fully exhausting the depths of its meaning and purpose. Believe it or not some things still remain a mystery and are left to theological speculation. This subject is difficult enough study and even moreso if you are a Natsari Jew trying to understand how Messiah Yeshua and His sacrificial death on the Roman cross at Passover time fits in to it all. But if we are to truly understand, appreciate and apply to the fullest the salvation Messiah Yeshua opened for us at the execution stake, it behooves us to go all the way back to Vayikra (Leviticus) and study the sacrificial system of the Torah in depth from the beginning. Vayikra is the handbook for the Levitical Priests and covers the protocol and the performance of rituals and sacrifices and thus begins our study of the sacrifices. The Talmudic Sages call the book, “Torat Kohanim,” meaning, “The Torah of the Kohanim (Priests).” The name of the book, “Leviticus” in Hebrew called, “Vayikra” is taken from the first line of the book meaning, “He Called,” further meaning that He called the Levites to be a separate tribe who had no inheritance in Israel but of YHWH Himself and His Service. Num 18:23-24 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer [as] an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Deut. 18:1-2 The priests the Levites, [and] all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD [is] their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

Now the whole nation of Israel had the opportunity to be priest but turned it down and thus Elohim (G-d) choose the Levites for they did not partake in the sin of the golden calf. Exd. 19:5-6, 19-20 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. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel…And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Exd. 32:27-29d he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

There are 5 major Offerings discussed in Leviticus Chapters 1-7. They are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The Burnt Offering The Meal Offering The Peace Offering The Sin Offering - For unintentional sins, sins of omission. The Guilt or Trespass Offering - For intentional, willful, sins, sins of commission.

We begin the book dealing with the general rules of offerings:

Leviticus 1: The Voluntary Burnt Offerings 1

And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.

The Word offering here is Korban which is difficult to translate and render the full meaning adequately. The word means so much more than an animal sacrifice or offering, it means, “to draw near.” Near to what? More like, to draw near to Whom; near to YHWH Himself, elevating the one offering and the one making the offering closer to Yah spiritually. To come near to the Holy One (Blessed be He) we must give up a little of ourselves each time. “A man who shall bring near you an offering.” It is the animal in man that must be “brought near” and elevated by the Divine fire upon the Altar. Sacrifices are not only for sins, but to raise ones spiritual level. It’s as if we are all clothed in an “animal soul” prone to sin, and sacrifices allows the grip and influence of the animal soul to be loosened from us and we are able to serve YHWH more freely.

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

The first obvious thing we see is that the animal must be one deemed as a food source, one that is a “kosher” or fit and proper animal to be consumed when slaughtered properly. It is an animal of the herd and by definition is one who chews the cud and has a split hoof, according to Leviticus chapter 11 which defines which animals can be used as a food source and which ones that cannot be, and this in some part defines what can be taken as a “Korban” to the Altar and what cannot. This verse (3) is speaking of male cattle, a bull, but the verses that follow permit those from the flock (sheep 69

and or goats). Secondly, it must not be blemished in any way; sick, lame, blind, cut, bruised or defected in any way. In other words it is to be the best of the best that we have to offer. Third, even though we are commanded to bring offerings and animal sacrifices they are to be brought as if we didn’t have to, with a voluntary and willing heart in public view of the whole community. The Stone’s Edition of the Tanak says:

“A burnt-offering may be brought by one who has intentionally committed a sin for which the Torah does not prescribe a punishment, one who has failed to perform a positive commandment, one who had sinful thoughts, and by everyone who comes to Jerusalem for the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. Similarly, it may be brought by anyone who wishes to raise his spiritual level.”

And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

The one bringing the offering is to place his hand on the top animal’s head that is to be sacrificed. According to the Rabbinic sources the hand is to be placed firmly yet calmly and reassuringly on the animal to sooth and calm it. The laying the hand on the head of the animal is to be understood as a symbolic transference of his sin, whatever it may be, to the animal. Where do sins begin? As a thought in the head that slowly takes root in the heart and is then preformed by the body and thus sin is committed. So by this ritual of laying ones hand on the head of the animal we acknowledge where sin starts. Thus we see early on that this animal in essence stands in proxy for the person making the offering. It is a substitutionary sacrifice. In other words, we should be the ones burnt on the altar for what we did or even in some cases did not do.

The phrase, “To make atonement” primarily means to cover. Meaning here to cover or hide the sin in question and then to bring “at-one-ment,” or to “draw near” that person to G-d and bring them back into a right relationship to the Creator. The word in Hebrew, “Kaphar” derived from “Kippur (Atonement),” later came to carry even more meaning such as to make reconciliation, to placate, to cancel. It conveys a sense of appeasement and cleansing. All of which separating the conviction and condemnation that the sin of the one bringing the offering is guilty of. Also note that the Hebrew doesn’t say the sin is taken away, just covered or canceled out. We get the impression that the sin is covered and laid aside by the act of sacrificing until it can be dealt with later, once and for all. The blood of the innocent animal covers the sin until it can be later taken away by a more powerful and appropriate sacrifice, which is Messiah. Here is a flawed analogy that I hope brings better to light what I am trying to say regarding the blood of animals and the blood of Messiah. You can, with some difficulty, screw in a Phillips screw with a butter knife or a flat head screwdriver, but you need a Phillips head screwdriver to properly drive in a Phillips screw. Likewise animal blood covers, will work in a pinch as a temporary fix, but is insufficient to remove sin. You need an innocent mans blood to not only cover but to take away the sin of a sinful man, and we see this in the divine sinless person of Messiah Yeshua. Let me put it another way, it is like a credit card pays for something immediately, but it incurs debt and the debt accumulates until one can come along to pay the debt in full with cash. The blood of Messiah is like the cash and the blood of animals is like the credit card. But I am getting ahead of myself here.

Heb. 10:4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

So very early on we undeniably discover that mankind needs a buffer, a buffer of a blood sacrifice to be able to approach, to “come near” to the 71

Living G-d. This idea has its origins in the Garden of Eden where animal skins were used to COVER Adam and Chavah (Eve) after they disobeyed Gd, in other words, sinned. An innocent animals blood had to be spilled, an innocent life had to be taken on account of a coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disobedience of YHWHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instructions. I would also like to point out that in the Hebrew, this drawing near means to draw near or close too, but not next to or beside, not to draw near all the way; these offerings draw us near to Yah, but does not take us all the way or intimately next to Him. This is another reason why we see the blood of animals is insufficient; this is why from the start the sacrifices pointed to a redeeming Messiah. Only through Messiah can we come near as in intimately next to G-d.

Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Again, I get ahead of myself and will deal sufficiently with the verses above at a later juncture.

And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The Hebrew implies (against what the Talmud says) that the Priests helps the “offeree” slaughters the offering. The Priests were well versed and trained in properly slaughtering an animal so as it becomes an acceptable sacrifice to YHWH. According to the Talmud the animal has to be slit from ear to ear in one stroke by a razor sharp blade. It is my and Rav YoshiYahu ben Shofar’s belief, because of the Hebrew grammar that the “offeree” actually did the slaughtering with the Priest helping him with his hand over the hand of the one making the offering. From the laying on of the hand upon the head to the slitting of the throat from jugular to jugular insures that the animal dies calmly and peacefully which is totally opposite of pagan method of sacrificing which made the animal suffer and prolonged the death as long as possible because it is thought that the energy of the animals lifeforce was transferred to the one sacrificing, thus making the person more powerful. This act must have been very hard for the person making the offering because the Hebraic heart was trained and taught to be kind to ones animals; herd and flock, and the best obviously received the most attention. Often the person grew attached to the animal and now they were giving it fully to YHWH to the point of no return, meeting its end by the hand of the very one who cared for it all this time. No doubt the thought must have crossed the mind that, “My sin or lack of observance caused this; I am responsible for the death of this animal. This animal must die so that I can live.” Likewise, Messiah was put to death by our hand; our sin put Him on that cross. The second half of verse 5 turns over the responsibilities to see that the sacrificial ritual is brought to its completion by the Levitical Priest and so we see that then Priest in verse 6...

And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.

It is cut in pieces to represent the Covenant Between the Parts between Avraham and YHWH ( Gen. 15).

And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:

According to Rashi Heavenly Fire was always on the Altar (9:24) yet the Kohanim had to add fire of their own as well.

And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:

We discover later in Leviticus that we are not permitted to eat fat (Lev. 3:17, 7:23), that the fat belongs to YHWH and is to be burnt on the Altar (Lev. 7:25).

But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.

The reason the innards and legs were washed with water was to remove any fecal matter or any other unclean substance form the sacrifice so as not to render it unacceptable. For upon death both man and beast will soil themselves. The act of obedience in sacrificing the prescribed offering in the prescribed manner and done with a heart of sincerity is what makes the sacrifice a “sweet savor” in the nostrils of Yah. To recap, this sacrifice spoken of in the verses above was a personal, voluntary Olah Korban (Burnt Offering) which is designated as a most holy offering to YHWH which was slaughtered at north courtyard of the Tabernacle, the blood of which was thrown, according to the Rabbis and Sages, north east and south west lower corners of the Altar. The meat was not eaten but whole consumed on the Altar. Lev. 1:10-13 deals with what we discussed above only with a male sheep or goat. Lev. 1:14-17 covers the same offering but with a bird and so it is handled a bit differently than a bull, sheep or goat. V.14 As long as one serves YHWH to the best of their ability, their offering; even a small inexpensive bird is rewarded. This is considered a poor mans offering. We see that even Yeshua our Messiah’s earthly parents, after His circumcision could only give one of the smallest and inexpensive offerings prescribed in the Torah (Luke 2:24). V.15 According to the commentary in the Stone’s Tanak regarding this verse, the phrase in the King James, “but shall not divide asunder,” means in the Hebrew to nip, which is a unique method of sacrificial slaughter preformed on offerings of kosher fowl with the Kohen’s thumbnail instead of a knife. Ordinarily fowl slaughtered by this method are forbidden as food. Offerings of Kosher fowl are ritually slaughtered by a method known in Hebrew as “Melikah,” in which Levitical Priests puncture the back of the bird’s neck with his thumbnail and cuts through to the front without severing the head completely from the body. Unlike the flock and herd offerings, the blood is not caught in a basin but applied directly to the Altar from the body of the bird by wringing instead of by the flicking of the fingers of the Kohen.

V.16-17 Just as the innards and hinder parts of the four legged animal sacrifice was washed to remove any uncleanness, so too the crop of the bird is removed. Rav Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ul said about the Messiah regarding Him being the ultimate sacrifice: Phil. 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Besorah (Gospel) says He voluntarily became the sacrifice. Matt. 26:39, 42 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Just as Messiah Yeshua was a willing, a voluntary sacrifice, so we ought so to be as well.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Leviticus 6 gives us further detail regarding this offering.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10

And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11

And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. 12

And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13

The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

There is a legend that somewhere Levites are even today guarding a flame which is a remnant of the original holy fire from the Altar and thus the flame, as commanded has never went out. How true this is I do not know. But what I do know is that the Scripture tells me that our G-d is a consuming fire, an eternal flame, and the Ruach HaKodesh is seen a fire:

Deut. 4:24 For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

RK Campbell said regarding the Voluntary Burnt Offering: 77

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here we have the highest aspect of the work of Christ where He is seen offering Himself up entirely to God to do His will even unto death. The whole offering, except the skin of the animal, was burnt upon the altar and all went up to God as a sweet savour. It pictures Christ who gave Himself as "a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour" (Eph. 5:2). Christ is not seen here as bearing our sins, but as accomplishing the Father's will, glorifying Him and vindicating the holiness and majesty of His throne. This theme is especially prominent in John's Gospel and in Psalm 40.â&#x20AC;?

This Burnt Offering was the only sacrifice that non-Israelites, a Gentile, a Goyim, were allowed to bring. The emperor Augustus had a daily burnt offering brought for him of two lambs and a bullock; and this sacrifice was regarded as indicating that the Jews recognized him as their ruler. At the commencement of the Jewish war, the high priest Eleazar rejected this offering, which was seen as rebellion against Rome. This concludes chapter one of Vayikra (Leviticus) and the meaning and requirements of the voluntary burnt offering. Now there was an obligatory form of the Burnt Offering called in Judaism the Tamid Offering that we will get into later. But basically here is when it was offered: 1. Every morning and evening (Exd. 29:38-42; Num. 28:3-8). 2. Each Sabbath day, double offerings (Num. 28:9,10). 3. At the new moon, the three great festivals, the Day of Atonement, and Feast of Trumpets (Num. 28:11-29:39).

There were also special occasions where the Burnt Offerings were mandatory: 1. 2. 3. 4.

At the consecration of Priests (Exd. 29:15; Lev. 8:18; 9:12). At the purification of women (Lev. 12:6-8). At the cleansing of lepers (Lev. 14:19). For removal of other ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. 15:15, 30). 78

5. On any accidental breach of the Nazarite vow, or at its conclusion (Num. 6:11, 14).

Leviticus 2: The Meal Offerings Here begins our discussion of the meal, or as the KJV puts it, “meat” offering. This too is a Korban offering, which consists of flour, oil, frankincense and sometimes a little water is added. This offering is brought by an extremely impoverished person to show us that no one is exempt from sacrifice.

And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:

Though this particular offering has nothing to do with atonement an antimissionary may point to passages that seem to indicate that other things could atone besides blood. For example, in Lev. 5:11-15 it speaks of the poor that are unable to bring the required sin offering of a lamb, goat, turtledove, etc, could offer flour instead. But a careful reading will reveal that the handful of flour burned as a memorial portion upon the altar is coupled with previous blood sacrifices already on the altar and that that blood atones for the poor person. Nowhere in Torah does it speak of or hint that flour has any atoning power for sin.

And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: 3

And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

As we can read, not all the wheat flour offered is burnt on the altar, but a memorial portion, which is said to be by the Rabbis and Sages and the translation of the Stone’s Tanak, using the fingers as a spoon, an index 80

middle and ring finger, three fingers full of flour. The rest is given to the Priests to use as food seeing as they have no inheritance in Israel but YHWH Himself. Despite ones poverty the Kohen (Priests) must live too. The lack of sacrifice not only hurts ones self spiritually, but dooms ones self by starving the Kohen. Some sacrifices that were not wholly consumed on the Altar provide food, materials and income for the Priests and their families (Leviticus 5-10). G-d said they (the sacrifices) are a sweet savor, all these sacrifices are the same in G-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes whether little or much.

Lev. 6:14-18 And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD. And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.

Now we move onto regulations regarding the meal offerings that comes oven baked, pan and deep pan baked.

And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5

And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. 7

And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.

And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar. 9

And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

It is to be unleavened, because this symbolizes purity, unblemishedness and sinlessness of the offering. Yeast, leaven always represents sin, we get this from the story of Passover in the Exodus:

Exd. 12:15-20 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day [there shall be] an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save [that] which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe [the feast of] unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

The symbolism is further backed up by the testimony of the Brit Chadasha.

Gal. 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

1Cor. 5:6-8 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let 82

us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

It is torn in pieces to represent an animal sacrifice and even brings to mind the Covenant Between the Parts between Avraham and YHWH (Gen. 15).

Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering.

Though Yeshua was not torn asunder the scourging acted as a knife and torn his flesh apart.

John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged [him].

The oil sets it apart as holy offering as does anything anointed with oil. Yeshua too was anointed prior to His sacrificial death.

Matt. 26:6-13 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat]. But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, [there] shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

And again we see the Priest are permitted to take what is left after the memorial portion has been taken an offered on the Altar and eat it. This is like Yeshua, was He not called the “Bread of Life” (John 6), was He not born in Beit Lechem (Bethlehem) being translated the “City of Bread” (Matt. 2:1), and was He not laid in a manger, a feeding trough usually filled with grain for animals to eat (Luke 2:7)? We begin to see, even in the early parts of the sacrificial instructions of Leviticus that Yeshua fits somehow into everyone of them.

“This offering typifies Christ as the perfect and sinless Man and presents to us His wonderful Person and His spotless life which was ever an offering of a sweet savour unto God. There was no shedding of blood in this offering so it speaks of the perfections of Christ's Person and life rather than of His death. The fine flour pictures His sinless humanity with its evenness of moral qualities, the oil pictures the grace and power of the Holy Spirit which characterized His life, while the frankincense is emblematic of the sweetness and fragrance of His Person and life.” – RK Campbell

And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire. 11

No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire. 12

As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.

As mentioned before, Leaven is symbolic of sin and in sacrifices represents a contamination rendering the sacrifice unacceptable. Honey, Leaven, Fruit represent it being processes, not pure, profaned and tainted by the human element. Not only that, but these things act as a leavening agent and cause such dough to rise, rendering the offering contaminated and useless. According to the Kotzk Rebbe, “Ultra-sweet

honey and ultra-sour leaven are opposite extremes; G-d does not like extremes.â&#x20AC;?

And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

Num. 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it [is] a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.

Historically and by tradition, salt was shared to seal a truce or a peace agreement between former enemies and or as a symbol of alliance between close friends. Treaties and or friendships were often formalized by the partaking of a lick of salt to seal the deal or heal the difference between them. Salt is a preservative and a purifier, it is and has been used to sanitize cuts.

Matt. 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

And we are to be the salt on the sacrifice and burn like the fire of such a sacrifice to produce light for all to see as well.

Matt. 5:14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Remember that we are to be a Living Sacrifice and our labor of love in this comes about by blood, sweat and tears, all of which contain salt.

Here is what the Rabbis and Sages say on this matter:

“All sacrifices must be offered with salt. We are not allowed to present a sacrifice or meal offering which does not contain salt. The Torah calls the addition of salt to the sacrifice "the covenant of your G-d." A covenant is a treaty or pact made between two parties. The Torah uses salt to symbolize HaShem's covenant with the Jewish people. Salt does not spoil and it retains taste for a very long time, so, too, HaShem's bond with the Jewish people will never be broken.” -http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/8750/jewish/Negative-Commandment99.htm

“When G-d separated the supernal waters from the lower waters (see Genesis 1:68), He made a covenant with the lower waters that their salt will be offered on the Altar.” – Rashi

“The world is one part wilderness, one part settled land, and one part sea. Said the sea to G-d: "Master of the Universe! The Torah will be given in the wilderness; the Holy Temple will be built on settled land; and what about me?" Said G-d: "The people of Israel will offer your salt upon the Altar."” -- Yalkut HaReuveni

“The korban, which was the vehicle of the elevation of the world to G-d, had to include "representatives" of all four sectors of the creation: the inanimate world, the vegetable world, the animal world, and the human world. Thus the korban was offered by a human being, and consisted of an animal, grain, and salt.” -- Rabbi Isaac Luria

When Yeshua was executed and martyred on the Roman cross, there was salt in His blood, sweat and tears and He being a sacrifice refused any sweet or bitter thing, or anything that may have been intoxicating by a leavening style process, so He would not become a tainted and unacceptable offering.

Matt. 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted [thereof], he would not drink.

Moving on…

And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears. 15

And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.

And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

According to the Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tanak this passage refers to the Omer which was taken from the new barley crop to the Altar to be burnt as an offering the second day of Passover. Prior to the given of this offering no grain from the new crops could be eaten.

Leviticus 23:9-14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Thus concludes our commentary on the second chapter of Vayikra dealing with voluntary grain offerings.

Leviticus 3: Peace Offerings Here begins the instructions to the Kohanim regarding the Shelamim or Peace Offering. 1

And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.

This time in regards to the herd we see the sex of the animal makes no difference because all of mankind needs peace, whereas the voluntary burnt offering hints to the fact that because it is a male animal only sacrifice that men can only sacrifice and minister in a priestly way and that it is the man, the head of the household that is responsible to bring voluntary offerings on behalf of the various members of his family. The bull represents leadership and strength as the Husband and Father of a home should be. Also, who is it that brings true peace between YHWH and us? Who is it that is called the Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6), why Yeshua the Messiah of course.

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. 3

And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 4

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 5

And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

The Peace Offering was not to make peace per se, but to give thanks for the peace that is already there hence maintaining peace. The Rabbi’s and Sages say that since the Temple is currently not standing that our prayers have temporarily replaced the offerings in the Temple. So we Jews traditionally pray 3x’s a day (sometimes more), and during Shabbat and Praise and Worship, this is all a type of Peace Offering. When we praise G-d through prayer or worship during tough and trying times; times when we really don’t want to, this is considered the time of our “Sacrifice of Praise”. A Peace Offering is voluntary and unblemished. The Fat of the Offering represents the richness of our lives. When we offer G-d the Fat, we offer Him the best we have. In street terms G-d wants the “Phattest of our Fat!” We have Peace and we all can offer G-d a Peace Offering because a Peace Offering is not dependant on our economic status, or herds and flocks. And a Peace Offering usually brings prosperity so we can eventually bring the other types of offerings required by G-d. We can offer a Peace Offering because Yeshua Moshieynu is our Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace). We discover that the sacrifice is slaughtered and offered in much the same manner as the voluntary burnt offering. Those Peace Offering sacrifices from the flock can be either sex, symbolizing that we all are of G-d’s flock and thus needs Peace with Him; for we are all like sheep and have gone astray and need reconciliation with Him (Psa. 119:176, Isa. 53:6, Matt. 18, I Pet. 2:25).

And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7

If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.

And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 10

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 11

And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD. 12

And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. 14

And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 15

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 16

And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD's.

“This was also an offering of a sweet savour to God. The blood, the fat and the kidneys of the offering were put upon the altar as "the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord" (Lev. 3:11). This was God's part. Then the breast was given to Aaron and his sons and the right shoulder to the offering priest. This was man's part. Thus God and man both fed on the same offering which speaks of communion and fellowship and typifies the communion which the believer in Christ enjoys with God on the ground of the work of Christ at the cross and His blood shed there for our sins. We are at peace with God through the work of the cross and can feed upon Christ in fellowship with the Father. Luke's Gospel and Psalm 85 especially present this theme.” –RK Campbell

We find later that the Peace Offering, specifically the breast and thigh is eaten by the Kohanim and their households and the remainder can be eaten by anyone anywhere in the camp with in a 2 day and 1 night time frame.

Lev. 7:15-20 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

What is eaten is the breast and right shoulder:

Lev. 7:28-34 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.

The last verse in chapter 3 is a biggie:

It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

This means no matter where we live, in Israel or in the Diaspora in exile, no matter how many generations pass, we are to never consume blood or fat, hence eat kosher, meaning the animal is Biblically acceptable to be eaten and it is slaughtered in a Biblical manner. Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

If Gentiles had only four laws to follow as some Christians try to prove by Acts 15, then why do they even today not follow the law set forth in Acts 15:29 which is actually taken from Lev. 3:17? I mean most everyone get their meat at the grocery store or butcher shop and it is saturated and packaged up in blood! Also, how many people when eating a steak will eat the fat too? A lot! Kosher meat is hard to come by if you do not live in a Jewish community and this is why some Jews have become vegetarians. If you live in a place that has no kosher meats find the nearest one and make a trip with a cooler full of ice and buy a monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supply of meat. If a Kosher meat store is too far one can always salt and soak the meat overnight, or one can always go vegan. Some go semi-vegan and eat chicken and fish because predominately they are slaughtered pretty much the same way in Jewish and Gentile communities. Up to this point the Offerings were voluntary. The following are Obligatory.

Leviticus 4: The Sin Offerings This if for anyone who has sinned without realizing it until later. Which means though at the time you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know it was a sin, you are still guilty of the sin itself. This is why King David prayed: Psalm 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

What is sin? Anything that breaks Torah. I John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

So an example of an unintentional sin, or a sin of omission would be if I ordered a salad, no bacon. However, I ate the salad in good faith only to discover later that it indeed had finely chopped bits of bacon in it. Though I ordered a salad with no bacon and it is not my fault that bacon was on it, I am nonetheless guilty of sinning through ignorance. Or if you said something jokingly innocent in good sport to someone and it hurt their feelings, but you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find out about it till later, that would be an example of a sin that requires a Sin Offering to be offered.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:

Any “soul” means, any human being with blood pumping through their veins. The last half of this verse shows that G-d realizes that it can be difficult to keep in mind all 613 commandments of the Torah that apply to any given individual, especially as back then you had no copy of the Torah for yourself. This is why it was commanded that kings write out a copy for themselves (Deut. 17:18) for they are held at a greater accountability and because of their position as a national leader needed a personal copy of the Torah to guide them along with Levites and Prophets to help expound on what the Torah says. Thank Yah for the printing press! Elohim in His great mercy knows of our finite frailty and provides for circumstances when one sins unintentionally. Though we sin in ignorance, this does not exempt us from the guilt of the trespass. Atonement still needs to be made. Similarly if I honestly didn’t know the speed limit on a particular stretch of road, or if it changed from highway speed to residential speed and I was didn’t see the change and was pulled over by a police officer for speeding I would most likely still receive a ticket for speeding. The punishment is more than fair; I should have been paying closer attention. The punishment (the fine) is a blessing in disguise which will cause me to be more attentive to where I’m driving and what the speed limit is. Because G-d forbid I am going 65 mph in a 35 mph and hit a child who runs out into the street after their ball or puppy! Bottom line is, though I was ignorant of the crime, when made aware of it I still must make restitution for the transgression. The next verse shows that even the ones who usually accept and make the sacrifices themselves are not above the Law when it comes to sin.

If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.

When a leader sins, whether prince of a tribe or clan, priest or king, this becomes as excuse for everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong doing and or when he makes a wrong ruling he unintentionally leads others into this sin. So a Bull is sacrificed a symbol of the chief of all the clean sacrificial animals. Also this is the animal the Priest has to offer for himself before he can atone for the sins of the nation on Yom Kippur. Sins of a leader fall on the people and this opens the door for the nation to fall into national sin and a national judgment of G-d upon them.

When a leader sins, this becomes the excuse for everyone else's wrongdoings. -- The Gaon of Lissa

Just look at all the Kings of Judah and Israel. The formula is a simple one. â&#x20AC;˘ Good King = Good People = A Blessed Nation. â&#x20AC;˘ Bad King = Bad People = A Cursed Nation, ripe for Judgment.

And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

This shows us that our repentance should be publicly evident. Yet no one necessarily has to know what specific details of the sins are. All one can draw from the sacrifice is the type of sin was committed, but not specifically knowing what sin was committed. For leaders this shows their humanity and keeps them in the hearts and accountable to the people in that the people are reminded that they can relate to their daily struggles and plights of the soul. This also breeds a healthy humility that is essential for any leader.

James (Ya’akov) 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Priest that are to make offerings on behalf of the Priests would be the High Priest, and he can only offer sacrifices for himself as we see him do on Yom Kippur before he atones for the sins of the Nation of Israel.

And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: 6

And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary.

This sacrifice is handled differently for a leader than for “Am Israel” (Laypeople of Israel), not because the leader is more special, but rather because they are more accountable (James 3:1). This sacrifice is handled similar to the sacrifice of the Priest himself on Yom Kippur. We point and direct with our fingers which symbolizes authority, so the Priest kippurs/covers his finger, his authority in the blood and in a flicking motion sprinkles the blood seven times, meaning completion and or absolution, before the veil that stands between the Priest and the Holy of Holies where the Ark of The Presence dwells because the Kohen Ha Gadol (High Priest) only entered to offer blood one day out of the year, which is Yom Kippur.

And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Next, the blood that had been captured in a bowl, some say golden, some say brass, is now put upon the for horned corners of the Altar of Incense that symbolizes the strength of prayers from all four corners of the globe ascending to YHWH like smoke of sweet incense. This symbolizes that his prayers be covered and atoned for as well if by change he even prayed for anything amiss. Afterwards he takes the remainder of the blood to the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice and pours the blood at the base of the north east and south west corners of the Altar.

The following is pretty detailed on how the animal is to be offered, as recorded, similar to a Peace Offering.

And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 10

As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.

Now as with the Yom Kippur sacrifice the skin and dung, etc. is taken outside the camp to a designated clean place where the ashes from past sacrifices of the Altar are taken and the skin and such is burnt to ashes. Now with a regular Burnt Offering the skin can be taken and used by the priests, but not so with a Sin Offering, select portions of the animal must be consumed by fire, the designated pieces on the Altar itself and the skin outside the camp. This too typifies Messiah and his death, for His blood was spilled in the camp (Jerusalem) via the scourging, yet His body (â&#x20AC;&#x153;skinâ&#x20AC;?) was 98

buried outside the camp, out side the city walls in a tomb, a clean place, a tomb that had never been used and therefore was clean.

And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12

Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

V.13-21 Deal with Communal Unintentional Sin, sins committed unknowingly by the community at large, maybe as a result of the Unintentional Sin of the Priest and or King. Again a Bull is offered. For instance maybe the people made a treaty or some transaction with a people the Torah has prohibited (Amalekites or such) only to find out later that they were deceived, for the people pawned themselves off as someone else. Another example maybe when David made the people participate in a census that HaShem had forbid David to do, because of Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentional sinful decision he caused all Israel to sin through ignorance by participating in the count that they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know was wrong (II Sam. 24, I Chron. 21), this example is however, admittedly is debatable, seeing as they were only following orders of an anointed king, so one could question whether the sin be totally upon David or not. Regardless, the people were made to suffer on account of Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willful sin. Or perhaps the local elders judged a matter wrongly and later it was made evident of the wrong decision.

And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;

When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.

Rashi says:

“The…community of Israel: This refers to the [Great] Sanhedrin [the Supreme Court of Israel, seated at the Holy Temple]. — [Torath Kohanim 4:241]: because a matter was hidden: [This means that the Sanhedrin] issued an erroneous decision regarding any matter in the Torah that incurs the penalty of excision, by declaring that matter permissible. — [Hor. 7b]: the congregation, and they and they commit: meaning that the community acted upon their instruction. — [Hor. 3a].”

Just as with the individual, the elders stand in proxy for all Israel and they collectively lay hands on the head of the bull to be sacrificed as symbolic confession and transference of the sin in question. The rest of the ritual is carried out as we have previously discussed above.

And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. 16

And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: 17

And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail. 18

And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood 100

at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19

And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.

And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21

And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.

In the death of Moshiach when we read the account we can see how the elders and authorities of the people had their hands all over Yeshua, symbolically transferring the sins of the people. Not only Jews but Gentiles touched Him, so the sins of the people of the world were transferred symbolically to Him in this manner and typifies this type of sacrifice. V.22-26 This describes the Kingly Unintentional sin and in this case a young he-goat must be sacrifices, like the goat sacrificed on behalf of the people on Yom Kippur, because the King is the embodiment of the people, He represents the nation; just as King Yeshua Messiah represents us all when he died on the cross. Joshua as leader in chapter 9 of the book which bears his name, even though not recorded, may have had to offer such a sacrifice as given below, for he sinned in ignorance by not consulting YHWH first and deceived into making a treaty with a people Israel was forbidden to make a treaty with.

When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;

101

Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: 24

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. 25

And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. 26

And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

The difference in procedure we see here is that the blood is not taken before the veil or the Altar of Incense, but only to the horns and the base of the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice, because the leader or king does not have the responsibility to pray on behalf of the people in the same manner as the Priests do. Because it is a sin offering the skin and such was taken outside the camp and burned (4:11-12). For no one can personally profit in a tangible from in anyway the use of any sacrificial Sin Offering, for example it would be wrong to use the skin of a sin offering to make a saddle bag. However the skin is permitted to be used in a Guilt offering, perhaps because in that instance the sin, the reason for giving the sacrifice is known up front, and in the Guilt offering it is known after the fact or never specifically known at all. Perhaps this is a remez or an allusion to the animals that were used in the Garden to clothe Adam and Eve when they were â&#x20AC;&#x153;trickedâ&#x20AC;? in to sinning. Since Yeshua was Prophet, Priest and King so these procedures typify Him as well.

V.27-35 Talks about the Individual Unintentional sin of a regular Joe of Israel, and in this case a young she-goat or female lamb is offered. Because the female us subservient to the male (and not in a negative anti-feminist sort of way either), and thus the people is subservient to a leader.

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And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28

Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. 29

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 30

And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. 31

And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. 32

And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34

And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: 35

And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 6 has more to say regarding this type of offering:

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Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy. 26

The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. 27

Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. 28

But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. 29

All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.

And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Some of this offering may be eaten by the Priests. This reminds me slightly of what in other cultures is know as a “sin eater”. This refers to a person who, through ritual means, would take on the sins of a dead person by means of food and drink thus absolving his or her soul and allowing that person to rest in peace or go to heaven. Though the Levites have no rites such as this, the person who is alive who offered the Sin Sacrifice has a portion of the Sin Sacrifice eaten by the Priests. RK Campbell sums up the sacrifices found in this Levitical chapter as such:

“We come now to the non-sweet savour offerings. The special feature of this offering is in the whole bullock being burnt upon the ground outside the camp of Israel after the blood and fat were put upon the altar for God. This offering was for sin and pictures to us Christ who was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) and endured the judgment and wrath of God against sin in our stead as our substitute. The holiness of God and the awfulness of sin are brought out in the bullock being entirely burnt up outside the camp. It pictures Christ, forsaken of God, as our Sin-bearer as given in Psalm 22 and Mark's Gospel.” – RK Campbell

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Leviticus 5-6: The Guilt or Trespass Offering These obligatory offerings for anyone who has sinned willfully, or knowingly; for instance giving into a sin via a fit of lust and committed adultery or fornication. It is called a Guilt offering because when you are guilty of something you know it; you feel the guilt unless your conscience has been seared (I Tim. 4:1-2). When you trespass, you usually know you have because you know when you’re on someone else’s property than your own. They may even have a sign saying, “No Trespassing.” When you sin against someone you violate a right or rights of theirs, you wrong them and thus are in some way indebted to them till you make the wrong, right. This is why Yeshua said things such as this: Matt. 6:9-15 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matt. 18:15-22 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

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Now these passages above opens up a whole other can of worms that I will only touch briefly on seeing as this is not the main thrust of this work. The latter passage quoted shows us steps to how to rightly handle one who sins against you which may, if the trespasser doesn’t repent and makes things right a thing called shunning may occur. In Christianity shunning can occur in various forms from: “You are not part of my denomination or see the same way I do doctrinally so I’m acting as if you have a disease or don’t exist.” To “Ew, you’re the town whore and your coming here to church!?” Or, “How can she dress like that!? Doesn’t she know she looks like a floozy!? Besides she should know our dress code as stated in our bi-laws!” Christians think of shunning towards a never converted sinner or their own kind when they "backslide". Rarely have I seen shunning used appropriately in the Christian Church. In the Amish community if you leave the community and go out into the world you have in a sense turned your back on the Amish way of life and you are seen as dead. Now that’s the way it is when a Non Believing Jew converts to Christianity, accepts Yeshua as Messiah or joins a Netzari Jewish sect. Shunning in Judaism is reserved for "their own kind" In other words, the Jew who shunned my friend was because they obviously knew she was practicing a form of Judaism and that Jewish Convert shunned her because she was a believer in Yeshua. The reason being is that when a Jew walks away from Judaism, or the norms of mainstream Judaism, they are shunned in an attempt to 1. Let that person know they did wrong. 2. To give them space to figure things out. 3. To show and remind them of the fellowship they are missing out on. Shunning is never done in a, “Humph!” Snotty kind of way, but in a quiet, mournful politeness. As if the person was terminally ill and you are speechless. And that is about like it is in the Spirit. It’s not, “Don’t bother calling us if your kid gets in a car wreck and you need someone to console you because we are shunning you!” G-d forbid something this horrid would happen, but most certainly this would be an opportunity to show even though you are shunning them you still love them and this might lead them to true repentance. But rather it’s refraining from social contact and interaction with them; like going bowling or out to eat, etc. As a Natsari Jew I have seen shunning used appropriately and it work. A family was in blatant rebellion against the Torah, we first approached 106

them on a one on one basis with no avail. Then we held a Beyt Din (Messianic/Natsari Sanhedrin) and confronted them before the Elders of the Synagogue. They listened and we gave them a time frame to clean things up. This time frame passed and nothing changed. So we held another meeting with them and decided to shun them, kick them out of the synagogue. Hey, Rav Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ul (Paul) told his congregations to do it when necessary. Anyway, they were gone for about a year then the wife came back in tears, confessed and admitted the wrong and she truly repented and came back and was restored, welcomed with open arms! Unfortunately the husband did not repent and return and it left a small rift in the family structure, but each individual is responsible for their own repentance, and sadly that was his decision. Restoration is the ultimate goal of shunning, not punishment a guilt trip or cruelty. Let us turn our attention back to the Levitical texts.

And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

This speaks of lying knowingly while under oath.

There was once a governor who used to put to death the purchasers of stolen goods and release the thieves, and all used to find fault with him, saying that he was not acting correctly. What did he do? He issued a proclamation throughout the province, saying: "Let all the people go out to the campus!" What did he do then? He brought some weasels and placed before them portions of food. The weasels took the portions, and carried them to their holes. The next day he again issued a proclamation, saying: "Let all the people go out to the campus!" Again he brought weasels and placed portions of food before them, but stopped up all holes. The weasels took the portions, and carried them to their holes, but finding these stopped up, they brought their portions back to their places. Thus he demonstrated that all the trouble is due to receivers.

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This then we learn from the governor; how can we illustrate our texts by an example? Reuben stole from Simeon, and Levi knew of it. Said Reuben to Levi: "Do not testify against me, and I will give you half." The following day people enter the synagogue, and hear the overseer announce: "Who has stolen from Simeon?" and Levi is present there. Surely The Torah has decreed: "If he does not testify, then he shall hear his iniquity." -- Midrash Rabbah

If a person witnesses a wrongdoing of his fellow, this is a message to him that he, too, is guilty of a similar failing. -- Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov

V.2-13 This deals with a person becoming unclean, realizing it, then getting preoccupied with something else and forgetting about it only to remember it after he engaged in a holy or ritual act. This requires a she-goat or sheep, and if one is poor; 2 turtle doves or if one is dirt poor, fine flour. HalleluYah G-d is no respecter of person and provides atonement and forgiveness on every level no matter or status! Rashi expound and gives us details regarding these verses and says: “Or if a person touches [anything unclean]: And after [consequently acquiring] this uncleanness, he eats holy things [namely sacrifices], or he enters the Sanctuary, [each of which] constitutes a sin which, if committed willfully, incurs the penalty of excision. Thus it is explained in Tractate Shevuoth (7a). Is hidden from him: i.e., the uncleanness was hidden from him [meaning that he knew that he was eating holy things or entering the Sanctuary; however, he did not know that he was in a state of uncleanness at the time]. — [Shev.. 14b; Torath Kohanim 5:303] he incurs guilt: By eating the sacred food or by entering the Sanctuary.”

Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

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Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

“The uncleanness of a human: This refers to the uncleanness of a [human] corpse. — [Torath Kohanim 5:304]. With any uncleanness: This [phrase] comes to include [in this law,] the case of uncleanness acquired by touching [a man or woman who has experienced a discharge (see Lev. chapter 15)]. — [Torath Kohanim 5: 305] [Through which] he may become defiled: [This phrase comes] to include someone who touches a man who has cohabited with a [a woman who is unclean because of a menstrual flow.]. - [Torath Kohanim 5:305] Through which: [This phrase comes] to include one who swallows the carrion of a kosher bird. — [Torath Kohanim 5:306] And it is hidden: i.e., [he knew] that he had forgotten the uncleanness. He has incurred guilt: By eating the sacred food or by entering the Sanctuary.” – Rashi

Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

“With [his] lips: But not in his heart [i. e., if he merely thought about it, he is not liable to bring a sacrifice]. — [Torath Kohanim 5:311] To do harm: to himself, or to do good: to himself. [That is to say, he swore:] “I will eat,” or “I will not eat,” or “I will sleep,” or “I will not sleep”. — [see Shev. 27a] Whatever [a man] may express [in an oath]: This [phrase] comes to include [an oath] regarding the past [i.e., if he swore, “I ate,” “I did not eat,” etc.]. — [Shev. 26a] And it is hidden from him: And [consequently,] he transgressed his oath (Shev. 26a). In all these cases [a person must bring an] offering-sliding-scale offering, as explained here [in this passage. The person brings a lamb or a goat, or two turtle-doves or young doves, or a meal-offering, depending on what he can afford]. However, [for lying in] an oath involving the denial of a monetary claim, he is not [liable to] this type of offering, but rather, a guilt-offering. — [see below, verses 24-25].” – Rashi

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And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 6

And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 7

And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8

And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:

“Who shall first offer…the sin-offering: A sin-offering must precede a burntoffering. — [Torath Kohanim 5:329] To what may this be compared? To an intercessor, who enters [the palace] to appease [the king]. Once he has appeased [him], the gift enters after him [i.e., first the sin-offering comes to appease, then the burnt-offering comes as a gift]. — [Zev. 7b] But shall not separate [it]: He cuts only one organ [either the esophagus or the trachea]. — [Chul. 21a] The back of its head: It is the high part of the head which slopes down towards the neck [i.e., the back surface of the head, at the level of the face. — (see Sifthei Chachamim on Lev. 1:15)].” -- Rashi

And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.

“He shall sprinkle from the blood of the sin-offering: In the case of a burnt-offering, Scripture requires only pressing out the blood (see Lev. 1:15), but for a sin-offering, both, sprinkling of the blood, and pressing out the blood, are required. He grasps the [or, as in some early editions and manuscripts: He grasps the bird. See Yosef Hallel] and sprinkles [the blood], and so, the blood spurts out onto the altar. —

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[Zev. 64b] This is a sin-offering: [If the bird was sacrificed] for the specific purpose [of a sin-offering], the offering is valid; however, if it was not [sacrificed] for the specific purpose [of a sin-offering], it is not valid. — [Torath Kohanim 5:335].” – Rashi

And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.

“According to the law: i.e., according to the ritual prescribed at the beginning of this parashah (Lev. 1: 14-17), regarding the burnt-offering of a bird which is brought voluntarily.”—Rashi

But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. 12

Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering. 13

And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

There is a great misunderstanding regarding the blood atonement in that the anti-missionaries will tell you that you can be atoned by things other than 111

blood. However, the blood atonement in Judaism is essential, foundational and irreplaceable, both the Tanak and the Brit Chadasha as well as Rabbinical sources state that without the shedding of blood there is no atonement. This we will cover this matter thoroughly later under the heading “Blood Atonement is Essential.”

Yeshua Moshieynu is our High Priest after the order of Melchezidek who offered himself once and for all. (Heb. 3:1; 4:15; 7:14-16; 23-28; 8:1-2).

Leviticus 6 (In Jewish Bibles this is Leviticus 5:20-26) 1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;

The word trespass in this verse can also be translated as betrayed, so could we possibly apply this to Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Messiah? If Kefa (Peter), who also verbally betrayed Yeshua by denying knowing Him committed essentially the same sin, but was forgiven, could have Judas? Because he was prophetically destine to betray Messiah and commit suicide, unfortunately we may never know for sure, but one can speculate given all the relevant Scriptures to draw a scripturally based conclusion. Though Peter denied Him, he didn’t murder Him. Judas on the other hand knew that death would have been the most likely outcome. Betrayal is one thing; betrayal that ends in murder is another. We see Judas is actually under the influence of satan, but we cannot use this as an excuse because satan cannot occupy a person with out permission by a sinful word or deed of that person that open’s the door for him to enter. We see when Judas comes to his right mind that he tries to rectify his wrong but to no avail, the blood money couldn’t be returned and the religious authorities has no intention on letting their revolutionary go. If Judas’ remorse didn’t end in suicide he could have, like

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Peter been forgiven according to v.6-7. But all this is but my opinion on the matter.

Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

That is to say for example that one found a wallet with I.D. inside it and it became know this particular man found the wallet and he therefore lies about it.

Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, 5

Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.

There is a rabbinical story that sort of fits this verse. It concerns a man who entrusted a stack of coins into the care of his neighbor while he left and returned at a later date to claim it. In the meantime the neighbor who was keeping the coins hollowed out his staff and hid the coins in it and when the man returned to claim that which was his, the neighbor denied ever been given the coins to guard. This matter eventually made it to the court and when the deceitful neighbor was called to testify he had the man hold his staff containing the coins, so he deceitfully, yet truthfully said that he returned the coins to the man. The man pounded the staff on the floor in 113

objection to his neighbor’s false testimony and the staff broke and out came the coins. The jig was up; the neighbor who was entrusted to guard the coins was found out and punished.

And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: 7

And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

In Chapter 6 we see the true meaning of fighting fire with fire. The Olah. What is burned on the Altar of the fire from G-d and men? The Burnt Offering, the Olah, which is entirely consumed by the fire. R. Shimon Bar Yocha said: “The Olah is brought for contemplation of the heart.”

Olah means to ascend. It is meant to bring us closer to G-d. The Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 8:7, 45b says that the Olah brings about Kappara “atonement” for thoughts of the heart. From a Western Gentile perspective thoughts being private are not sinful but even healthy. Torah says:

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Num. 15:39 “And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:” James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Midrash Tanchuma Tzav 13:13 says: “The Olah is completely holy because it was not brought for sin of theft but rather for thoughts of the heart.”

The Olah was brought to the door of the Mishkan in front of everyone, so everyone knew you had sinned in some way. The type of sacrifice would at times indicate the type of sin but without disclosing any details. Even Kings and Priests were not exempt. What do we derive from this? TESHUVAH (REPENTANCE) MUST BE SHAMELESSLY PUBLIC! The Renewed Covenant says to confess your sins one to another and bear one another’s burdens. As the old saying goes that confession is good for the soul. Our Olah must be sincere or it doesn’t count, it will actually be an abomination to G-d if we sacrifice out of sheer cold ritual or obligation. That’s what this weeks Haftarah is all about. It must be true Teshuvah, with the Goal of purging out sin and getting closer to G-d. This is what it means to be “On Fire” for G-d. Being a “Living Sacrifice” means the fire must be perpetual so we can sacrifice anytime when necessary.

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Selfish Pride says, “No one has to know, I’m only hurting myself anyway, If I make Teshuvah publicly I’ll ruin my reputation, G-d and I can handle it.” LIES! 1. People can pick up that something is not right. 2. Your sin has a ripple effect because of conviction you lash out and hurt others. 3. True Teshuvah elevates you in everyone’s eyes. 4. It’s not just “You and G-d,” G-d set up an order and procedure for Teshuvah based on the Mishkan. There’s got to be outward fruit of Teshuvah before you can really be free. Thinking, “This isn’t about me, it’s about someone else.” This is a lie that shows we are numb to the burden of guilt and conviction. So How do we keep our minds, our thoughts pure after we make Teshuvah? TORAH! We need to keep our minds on the Word, and: PRAYER! Rav Sha’ul tells us to keep our being in a constant state of prayer, to “Pray without ceasing.” The Talmud says that we must occupy ourselves with two things and you won’t have time to sin, and that is to throw yourself into your job and the Torah. You need the job so you will know how to live out the Torah. It’s time to make Teshuvah and give our Olah Offering. Yes, Yeshua has made Kippah (Atonement) for our sins. But we must receive it by making Teshuvah. Yeshua can’t make Teshuvah for you. Some wonder where the church got the “altar call” at the end of a service, some say that it is not “Jewish.” Well I disagree; Moshe and Ezra both made a public, national “altar call”, a call to make Teshuvah after they spoke. YHWH has spoken through His Torah. Will you answer His “Altar Call”? 116

RK Campbell has this to say summing up these two chapters of Leviticus and their theme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here sin is looked at as a trespass (guilt) against the government of God. Amends had to be made for the wrong done and the fifth part added to it. Atonement was made by the blood of the offering, and the trespasser was forgiven. This offering presents Christ who died for our sins and trespasses on the cross restoring that which He took not away (Ps. 69:4). He has not only answered to God for our sins and paid our debt by His shed blood, but has added the fifth part, as it were, bringing more glory to God and more blessings to man than were had before sin was committed. This is the first view the sinner gets of the Cross of Christ. Psalm 69 and Matthew's Gospel present this aspect of the offering of Christ.â&#x20AC;?

Leviticus 7 gives us further details regarding the Trespass/Guilt Offering, that the skin can be taken and used and part of the meat eaten.

Leviticus 7 1

Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.

In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. 3

And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, 4

And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: 5

And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. 6

Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. 7

As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.

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And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.

This concludes the study of the five major offerings given in Leviticus 1-6.

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The Daily Sacrifices Ex. 28:1-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil. It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering. And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Ex. 29:38-42 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even: And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering. And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD. This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

Other Scriptural references among some are: Psalm 5:3, 92:1-5, 141:2. The daily sacrifice, offered morning and evening consisted of: • One yearling lamb, for a burnt offering. • A portion of flour, for a meal offering. • 1 1/4 pints of wine, for a drink offering.

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2 yearling male lambs; the first was tied to the altar at dawn (1st hr) & sacrificed 9am (3rd hr). The second lamb was tied to the altar at noon (6th hr) & sacrificed at 3pm (9th hr Hebrew time) Both lambs included libation of 4.5 liters fine flour mixed w/ 1.87 liters wine poured inside the sanctuary. This sacrifice was doubled on the Sabbath. In Judaism this is usually called the “Tamid Offering,” meaning the “standing, perpetual or continual offering.” So it goes without saying this offering was a communal, obligatory offering. It was a whole burnt offering, meaning nothing was taken from it and used or consumed, but all of it was reduced to ash. In the Scriptures it called in Hebrew, “Bayin Ha Erev,” literal translation = between the twilights = 12 noon. It is referenced in Dan. 12:11 as well as in Non-Biblical References such as; Mishnah: Tamid 1-4; Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus 14.4.3; Special Laws I and Philo, XXXV, just to name a few. The purpose of such sacrifices was for a daily sin offering for the Covenant people.

Basically here again was when the Obligatory “Tamid” Burnt Offering was offered: 1. Every morning and evening (Exo. 29:38-42; Num. 28:3-8). 2. Each Sabbath day the offering was doubled (Num. 28:9, 10). 3. At the new moon, the three great festivals, the Day of Atonement, and Feast of Trumpets (Num. 28:11-29:39).

The Tamid Offering outlined in the passages above were offered everyday, seven days a week, every day of the month, 365 days a year and was totally unrelated to the inauguration ritual. The Torah mentions it here to tell us that 120

it was offered even before the Tabernacled assumed it’s full sanctity. Ibn Ezra and Chikzuni said, “Not that the Tamid, like the other offerings of the inaugural week, was offered by Moses, and the Kohanim assumed their responsibility for it on the first of Nissan/Aviv.” – Stones Tanak V.38-39 Two male yearling lambs were to be obligatorily offered as an Olah/Burnt Offering by the Priests during Shacharit (Morning) and Mincha (Afternoon) ever day, even on High Holy Days along with their special offerings. Since the Temple currently isn’t standing and thus the sacrifices has ceased and because according to the Torah we are forbidden to sacrifice anywhere but the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, our prayers have temporarily replaced them and Yeshua’s blood sufficiently covers the absence of blood of any offering. Here is what an anti-missionary may say in response to my statement above, “Okay, for the sake of argument, let’s say Yeshua is the Divine Messiah; His so-called “atoning death on the cross” is meaningless, for we know since the Temple has been destroyed that out prayers replace the sacrifices. Besides, the G-d of Israel does not condone human sacrifices. Also I don’t think you understand the nature of the ancient blood sacrifices.” This is a classic argument to skirt around the issue at hand. The antimissionaries will tell you that that the prophets clearly states that G-d did not care for their blood sacrifices and that since the Temple was destroyed that prayers have replace the sacrifices and that is sufficient means for atonement today. Okay, first off, if the blood sacrifices are of no importance, why was it done in the past and way is it looked forward to in the future with the rebuilding of the 3rd Temple and why do Ultra-Orthodox Jews sling a chicken over their head and say something to the effect, may the blood of this chicken suffice for my atonement and then they butcher and eat it after Yom Kippur? If sacrifices are not important anymore why is there a Temple Institute that are training up Priests to perform such sacrifices when the Temple is rebuilt? The prophets did say G-d did not care for their blood sacrifices, He also said He didn’t care for the Feasts that they observe that He Himself instituted in Leviticus 23! Does this mean that G-d changes His mind, is wishy-washy? 121

No way! G-d forbid! Then we must seek the context of such claims and passages to explain this issue. Isaiah chapter one is perfect for this, for in it G-d tells Israel that He loathes their Feasts and Sacrifices. Why? Because they perform it out of religious rote and not with true intent and sincerity of heart. What makes the sacrifices effective is the intent and motive in which they are preformed. G-d wants the heart of the individual before the sacrifice of the animal. G-d says continually over and over that a sacrifice given in the right manner is a pleasing aroma to Him, a sweet smelling savor in His nostrils. This is why G-d prefers mercy and not sacrifice (Hos. 6:6). If you say that G-d replaced the sacrificial system and did away with it you are worse than Christians who says that the Torah has been done away with. For you are making G-d a liar and one who changes which He emphatically says He does not (Mal. 3:6, Titus 1:2, Heb. 13:8). It is true however that prayer has temporarily replaced the sacrifices, but has not done away with them, this was even prophesied, and it was prophesied that they would again resume (Hos. 3:4-5, 14:1-2). This was cause Israel to repent and desire the things of G-d and His Torah once more. Besides, even if we did have the Temple today the majority of us could not sacrifice because we live in the Diaspora and cannot go to the Temple to sacrifice. So what is the function of the sacrifices then? Many Christian and Messianic believers mistakenly believe that since the Temple is not standing and we have not functioning Levitical priesthood and that Yeshua came to die on the cross that the Temple and its sacrifices have become obsolete. Many Jews believe that because we no longer have a standing Temple and that prayers have replaced animal sacrifice that sacrifices are no longer important. We see that after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Yeshua that the Nazarene Jewish believers still participated in worship at the Temple. Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They continued,â&#x20AC;? which means that despite Yeshua being Messiah and dieing for our sins, despite that not everyone accepted Yeshua as Messiah, 122

the early Jewish believers still attended and participated in religious functions at the Temple. This was a normal, regular part of their religious life. When Yeshua was on earth he respected the Temple and revered it as His Father’s house (Lk. 2:49, Jn. 2:16), so it is natural that His followers would have that same zeal and respect for the Temple. This did not change because Yeshua came on the scene and died on the cross for our sins. Acts 3:1-2 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

We see in this passage that it was customary for Kefa (Peter) and Yochannon (John) to go to the Temple and pray at the time of Mincha (Afternoon) prayers. It didn’t say that they went to heal or evangelize, they went to pray, and it just so happens that on their way they say a lame man and healed him in Yeshua’s name. This caused quite a stir and in Acts 4 we see Kefa and Yochannon speaking to the people about what happened and ended up telling the people about Yeshua and the resurrection. This caused such a disturbance they arrested them and incarcerated them. Acts 5 records their miraculous escape and we see them back at the Temple preaching. The Sadducees held power over the Temple and yes, the authorities had an issue of them proclaiming Yeshua as Messiah, because they say many Messiah’s come and go and they didn’t want a crazed following. But I believe the Sadducees took more issue with them speaking about the resurrection because one of the major doctrines of the Sadducees is that they didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, not just Yeshua’s resurrection, but the phenomenon of resurrection period. I realize I repeat myself a lot in this thesis but I do so to drive the point home, for relevance and that repetition helps to solidify learning. Let us look once again at Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) and his views in regards to the Temple and its service. Let us first make clear that Rav Sha’ul, even after “conversion”, accepting Yeshua as Messiah, didn’t change his Jewish practices, affiliation and or beliefs to a radical degree. GALATIANS 1:13-14For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 123

And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

BECAME A BELIVEING JEWISH PHARISEE: ACTS 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

ZEAL FOR HIS JEWISH BROTHERS: ROMANS 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

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We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Here Rav Sha’ul was accused of teaching Gentiles and Jews that they didn’t have to keep the Torah, which was a total lie. So to solve the problem the Elder’s suggested an act on Rav Sha’ul’s part that would prove to the people his allegiance to the Torah, which was to take on a Nazarite vow (which is apart of the “Old Testament” Law) along with other believers and to have Rav Sha’ul fit the bill for the other believers in regards to the sacrifices. This meant he took on a Nazarite vow, and when the vow was completed he went to the Temple to offer the prescribed sacrifice! Why would Rav Sha’ul do this if he thought the Torah, the Temple and the Sacrifices were done away with, or if he actually was teaching others to forsake the Torah!? Either Rav Sha’ul was a Torah Observant Jew till the end or right here is proving himself to be a two faced liar, playing what ever crowd he was with at the moment. I say that the Scriptures are evident and clear that Rav Sha’ul never abandoned Judaism, the Torah, nor did he assimilate into the Roman culture at that time, nor did he convert to “Christianity”. Unfortunately As Kefa said in II Peter 3:15-16 that Rav Sha’ul’s texts has been and it is evident even now have been taken out of context to suit a bias Anti-Jewish and Anti-Torah doctrine in the majority of Christianity. Acts 22:17-19 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony

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concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

We see from this passage that the Temple was still a very important place to Rav Sha’ul and the 1st century believers (It was obviously used and important to mainstream Judaism at the time as well). So important that we see Rav Sha’ul going there to pray and receives a vision from G-d. This even lends validity that even after Yeshua came and went that G-d’s favor and power still resided in the Temple and G-d expected the followers of Yeshua to go there when appropriate. I believe it is abundantly clear that the first century believing Nazarene Jews still went to the Temple to sacrifice and worship during the pilgrimage festivals and to pray and even give money in support of the Temple (Exodus 23:17, Acts 2:46, Acts 24:14-18). As for today the Temple and a working Levitical priesthood does not exist, and most Jews would agree it is on account of our sin and disobedience to the Torah. So obviously the Commandments regarding our duties and obligations in regard to Temple service has been temporarily suspended until the 3rd Temple is rebuilt and I believe prophecy is clear that the Temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will resume. I believe similarly to Maimonides of the 11th century who said that we do not need a Temple in order to worship the G-d of our Father’s. I can worship G-d any where. But, if there was a fully functioning Temple that met all Torah requirements to be legitimate, I would not have to think twice about going up to the “House of the L-rd” and do what the 1st century believers did before the Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., which is to pray and offer sacrifices to YHWH. Once again let me repeat for you the reasons sacrifices we still offered even by the Apostles after Yeshua’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

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1. It was to be a physical object lesson that pointed to the coming Messiah and what He would do. It acted as a credit card that covered, did not take away, and rolled back the sin debt until someone, Messiah, could come along and pay it. In the time of the Third Temple the sacrifices will be a reminder of the Messiah who came and what He did (Is. 56, 66; Zech. 14:16-21). The sacrifices that took place before Yahshua came, only pointed to the Messiah which was to come. The sacrifices that will take place after Yahshua, and that will take place in the Millennial Reign, point back to Messiah’s atoning work. 2. It provided and will provide food, materials and income for the Priests and their families (Leviticus 5-10). From the accounts in the book of Acts we can clearly see the first century Nazarene Jewish believers in Yeshua meet “daily” and during appointed festival times at the Temple and offered “offerings”, “sacrifices” and “gifts” as practiced by all Jews at that time. The first century believers in Yeshua clearly saw no conflict with this and their belief in Yeshua being the ultimate atoning sacrifice. There was no problem or issue with belief in Yeshua and participating in Temple activities and having both coexist simultaneously. There were also special occasions where the Burnt Offerings were mandatory:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

At the consecration of Priests (Exo. 29:15; Lev. 8:18; 9:12). At the purification of women (Lev. 12:6-8). At the cleansing of lepers (Lev. 14:19). For removal of other ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. 15:15, 30). On any accidental breach of the Nazarite vow, or at its conclusion (Num. 6:11, 14).

According to the Midrash when Abraham bound Isaac for a sacrifice, G-d instituted the offering of two lambs daily, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It is said that, “When man is young, he is full of zest, and pursues

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his aspirations of wealth and success. Scaled to the day, this stage of life is the "morning services" the morning period. Many times, unfortunately, he claims that this preoccupation does not allow time for Torah study and service of G-d. When man passes the mid-years of his life, which corresponds to the afternoon he claims that he lacks the strength to study Torah due to physical weakening. At the binding of Isaac, Abraham was an old man of 137 years and Isaac was a young man of 37. Regardless of their respective ages, the two of them dedicated themselves entirely to the service of G-d. At that time, G-d instituted the two daily sacrifices, to teach man that, regardless of his age, he must serve G-d every day.” -http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/349086/jewish/Tetzaveh-QA.htm

Spiritually speaking we see that Messiah is the Standing (Tamid) Sacrifice. Now we have already discussed the procedures of how a Burnt Offering is made and how it points to Messiah, so I will not going much into that here. His death on the execution stake during Pesach occurred in the same time frame as the “Tamid” Daily Sacrifice: • At dawn He was condemned (Mat 26:66-75). • At 9am He was crucified (Mk 5:25-6). • At 12 the sun turned dark (Mat 27:45). • At 3pm He died (Mat 27:46-50).

Yochannon (John) sees Yeshua as the Standing Sacrifice in:

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Rev. 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

And yet He is also our Kohen Ha Gadol (High Priest): Heb 8:1-3 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 the Lord 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.

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The Flour of the Tamid Offering Let us speak of the other two components of the Tamid Offering, that of flour and wine. V. 40-41 These Lambs were to have with it a Meal and Drink Offering.

Seeing as this was a daily obligatory offering on behalf of the community according to the Artscroll Stones Tanak, the type of four was wheat, 2 Issaron which was an ancient Hebrew unit of dry capacity, which 1 Issaron was = 1⁄10 ephah, about 2.2 liters (4 U.S. dry pints). This 2 Issaron of wheat flour was mixed with 3 log of oil, which a Log is an ancient Hebrew unit of liquid capacity = 1⁄12 hin, about 320 milliliters (0.67 U.S. liquid pint). This wheat and oil mixture was burnt up entirely on the altar, for it two was considered a whole burnt offering. Spiritually speaking Yeshua Ha Moshiach called Himself the “Bread of Life” all through out John chapter six. Ironically and Divinely intended He was born in Beit Lechem (Bethlehem) “The City of Bread,” and at birth was laid in a feeding trough! He even taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” The flour was to be unleavened and represents Messiah’s sinless nature, because leaven is always associated with sin.

1Cor. 5:6-8 Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. Gal. 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

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Leaven was also associated with false or man made doctrine, further symbolizing Messiah is pure truth.

Matt. 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Yeshua was the total package of the Daily Tamid Offering the lamb as well as the Bread. Now the Oil has always been symbolic of the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) and we know because Yeshua was and is the Messiah that HE was full of the Holy Spirit as was indicated and hinted about at His Baptism when the Ruach HaKodesh came down upon Him in the form of a dove and by evidence of the prophetic words He spoke and the Miracles He preformed.

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The Wine of the Tamid Offering Num. 28:3-8 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil. It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering. And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

V. 40-41 These Lambs were to have with it a Meal and Drink Offering.

We see that a “hin” of fermented wine was used for each lamb. A hin is an ancient Hebrew unit of liquid capacity = 1/6 bath, 3.66 liters (3.86 quarts). We Jews have a special blessing for wine, “Baruch Atah Adonai, Elohaynu Melech Ha Olam, Borey Pri Ha Gafin (Blessed are You Adonai King of the Universe Who brings forth the fruit of the vine).” Wine is the symbol of ones zest and joy in life, giving ones all, pouring oneself fully into someone or something. And although Yeshua never referred to Himself as a Drink Offering, He nonetheless was one. Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) referred to himself as a Drink offering on more than one occasion and we can see the context as he speaks of this.

Phil. 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 2 Tim. 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.

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We see that during Yeshua’s death on the Roman cross that his fluids flowed like wine; and wine is considered the blood of grapes and thus our blood is symbolic of wine. John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

V.42 The flour and wine, It does not say, “You will offer it when the Temple stands, until Messiah comes at which point the sacrifices will be done away with forever.” NO! It says, “A continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tabernacle.” Meaning, as long as the Temple stands on Mt Zion in Jerusalem and as long as there are Jews and Hebrews on this earth whether Messiah be here or not, these offerings are to be offered. PERIOD. Vv. 43-44 This is bout one of the ways YHWH meets with His people and sets them apart, meaning, makes them holy. Vv. 45-46 This is like a daily breakfast and lunch date inviting YHWH’s Presence among His people to commune and fellowship with Him. These daily offerings are also to be a daily reminder that we are free to worship and to sacrifice. After all, was this not the reason for the Exodus!? Ex 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Ex 7:16 And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Ex 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Ex. 8:8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.

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I can quote on and on, but I feel I have made my point. As mentioned earlier the liturgical morning and afternoon prayers are prayed in commemoration of the daily sacrifices and prayers for the rebuilding of the 3rd Temple and the restoration for the daily oblations. When Messiah returns to rule as Messianic King, He will supervise the activity of the Levites as the Melchezideckian Priest, which does not replace the Levitical order in any way but is simply an older and higher form of YHWHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Priesthood.

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The Sabbath Sacrifices also known as The Mussaf or Weekly Sacrifices Num. 28:9-10 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

The Sabbath Sacrifice was the same as the Daily â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tamidâ&#x20AC;? Sacrifice but was doubled, the lambs, the flour, oil and wine, partially to represent the Double Portion of Manna YHWH provided Israel prior to Shabbat.

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The Monthly or “Rosh Kodesh (New Moon)” Sacrifices Num. 28:11-15 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. See also Lev. 23:24

This, like the Tamid Offering was a Whole Burnt Communal and Obligatory Offering made by the Priest on Behalf of all Israel. Israel went by a lunar calendar and so every New Moon began a New Month and the sacrifices mentioned in the above passages were offered. Here again is the run down of what was offered and their measurements: • 2 young bulls with cereal offering of 3/10th of an ephah of fine flour missed with oil. • 1 ram with cereal offering of 2/10th of fine flour mixed with oil. • 7 yearling lambs with cereal offering of 1/10 of fine flour mixed with oil. All were to be without spot or blemish and in addition to the Tamid sacrifice a goat offered as a sacrifice for sin with its accompanying libation. In the Brit Chadasha it is referenced by Rav Sha’ul in Colossians 2:16 “…never let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or about (or because or your) observance of annual festivals, New Moons or Sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what was coming: the reality is the body of Christ.” All the Torah commanded blood sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God. And just because they were a 136

foreshadowing doesn’t mean that because the One who made the shadow had come He didn’t take away the shadow itself, no, it still remained along side the One who made the shadow as a constant reminder of Him and what He did for us, because He again is gone and will return. Two bulls symbolizing morning and afternoon mimic the Tamid Offering and also the moon cycle at the 1st and mid part of the month. Bulls are used to symbolize the head of the new month, just as bulls are offered when a priest sins because they are a type of head or leader among the people of Israel. They lead them or head up their journey to commune with YHWH. Three times as much flour, oil and wine is offered, symbolizing the increased increment of time, the increased blessing as the weeks turn into months. On a practical level it could be set up as such so as not to be confused with the Mussaf or Tamid Offerings. A ram with a double portion of flour oil and wine is offered perhaps in memoriam of the Akeidah. Because a double portion s given like in memory of the provision of manna we are reminded G-d provided for Avraham. A devout Jew reads this passage every morning during Shacharit (Morning) prayers. It’s called the Akeidah (The Binding): It begins as such: Our G-d and G-d of our forefathers, remember us with a favorable memory before You, and recall us with a recollection of salvation and mercy from the primeval loftiest heavens. Remember on our behalf – O HaShem, our G-dthe love of the patriarchs, Avraham, Yitzhak and Israel, Your servants; the covenant, the kindness, and the oath that You swore to our father Avraham at Mount Moriah, and the Akeidah, when he bound his son Yitzhak atop the altar, as it is written in Your Torah: Gen. 22:1-19 22:1 “Tested” comes from the Hebrew word for a banner that you lift up for all to see. Thus, the Sages of Blessed memory, Peace be upon them, said, “G-D “elevated” Avraham, trial upon trial, greatness after greatness.” Rabbi Jonathan said, “A potter does not examine defective vessels, because he cannot give them a single blow without breaking them. What then does he examine? Only sound vessels, for he will not break them even with many 137

blows. Similarly the Holy One, Blessed be He, tests not the wicked but the righteous.” (See: James 1:2-4; 12-13: About trials and tests) G-D tests, not tempts. V.2 “Only” (Read Jn.3:16). “bring him up there as an offering…” Literally: “Lift him up” Jn.8:28 says: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he…” Didn’t Yeshua say in Jn.12:32 that if He be lifted up, He’d draw all men unto him? “…one of the Mountains” G-d is VERY specific. He was referring to Mt. Moriah, because Mount Moriah IS Mt. Calvary, the same place the Red Heifer was reduced to ashes, and the same place Yeshua was crucified! V.3a (See: Mt. 21:6-9: The Triumphal Entry) “This is the same donkey Moses rode into Egypt (Ex.4:20) and the same one Messiah will arrive on (Zech. 9:9).” - Mishnah “Two young men” Traditionally said to be Eleazar Avraham’s servant, and Ishmael his son by Hagar. They were in essence the two witnesses, and represented the two thieves on the cross next to Yeshua. V.4 Despite what G-D told Avraham in verse 2, he believed Yitzhak would return with him. Notice the “WE” statements. (Read Heb. 11:17-19) 3 days: Traditionally it is said that Satan tempted and tried to trick Avraham and Yitzhak to try to either stop or invalidate the sacrifice. Same thing happed to Yeshua in the wilderness after his Mikvah. “Afar off”: Avraham saw the future sacrifice of Messiah. (Read Jn. 8:56-58 V.6 Jn19:17 Isaac carried his own “cross” so to speak, when he carried the wood that would feed the sacrificial fire. “And He (Yeshua) bearing his cross went forth into the place called: the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha…” This is the same as Mt. Moriah. “Went together” Amos 3:3 “How can two walk together unless they be in agreement?” V.7-8 Mt.26:39 “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” When Yitzhak knew he’d be the sacrifice he said, “As the L-RD lives and as thy soul lives, there is nothing in my heart to cause me to deviate either to the right or left from the word that G-D has spoken to thee. Neither limb nor muscle hath moved or stirred on account of this. But I am joyful and 138

cheerful of heart in this matter, and I say, “Blessed is the L-RD who has this day chosen me to be a burnt offering before Him.” “G-D will seek out (take out “for”) HIMSELF, THE LAMB for the offering.” Here G-D says not only that He will provide, but He Himself will be the sacrifice, and indeed He was in Yeshua Ha Moshiach! “And the two of them went together.” They are still in agreement. V.9 “The place…” G-d again is VERY specific to where He wants this done. G-D must have been a realtor, “Location, Location, Location” was so important in all He did. “Built and altar there…” “Avraham did build, while Yitzhak handed him stones and mortar until they finished erecting the altar.” -Legends of the Bible “He bound Yitzhak…” Avraham 137 yrs. Yitzhak 37yrs. Yeshua 30’s also Yitzhak MUST have been a willing sacrifice. A 37 yr old can easily overtake and escape from a 137 yr old if he wanted to. We too must be a willing sacrifice for G-D. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto G-D which is your reasonable act of worship.” Rom.12:1 Legends of the Bible says that Yitzhak said this: “Father, make haste, bare thine arm, and bind my hands and feet securely, for I am a young man, but 37 years of age, and thou and old man. When I behold the slaughtering knife in thy hand, I may perhaps begin to tremble at the sight and push against thee, for the desire unto life is bold. Also I may do myself injury and make myself unfit to be sacrificed. I adjure you therefore my father, make haste, execute the will of the Creator, and delay not. Turn up thy garments, gird thy loins, and after thou hast slaughtered me, burn me to fine ashes.” As in verse 3, Yitzhak was to be a “Burnt Offering” an “Olah” the highest order of Levitical sacrifices. 1. 2. 3. 4.

The throat was slit. Blood was caught and sprinkled on the Altar. The Body was divided into pieces as prescribed by Oral Torah. The pieces were placed on the Altar. 139

5. The pieces were wholly consumed by fire and reduced to ashes. None of this, “Plunging the knife into the heart” stuff you see in Christian paintings of the Akeidah. Avraham was not only going to slit his son’s throat from ear to ear, but was going to disembowel and dismember his own son, THEN he was going to burn him to ashes! And as it says in Hebrews 11:17-19, Avraham believed G-D would resurrect Yitzhak from that! The Shulamite woman in II Kings 4 believed that through Elisha HaNavi her boy (who like Yitzhak and like Yeshua was of a miraculous birth) could be resurrected! Before the Akeidah, Avraham was said to have asked G-D: “Am I fit to perform the sacrifice, am I a priest? Ought rather the High Priest Shem to do it?” G-D replied: “When thou wilt arrive at THE place, I will consecrate thee and make thee a priest.” Ps.110:4, Heb.5:6; 6:20; 7:17, 21 says that Yeshua is the High Priest forever after the order of Melchezidek. We as Netzari know that the Melchezidek priesthood DID NOT replace the Levitical priesthood, but is rather a higher order of priesthood. So, could Avraham have been a Melchezideckian priest? After all Yeshua IS! V.10 “Avraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slaughter his son.” NOT raised it to plunge it into his chest, BUT simply reached to grab the knife. And or STRECHED out his hand to make a baracha (Blessing) as would be traditional before a sacrifice. And or STRECHED out his hand in preparation to slit his sons throat. V.11-12 “Avraham, Avraham…” Rashi says his name was repeated twice to express love and urgency. Could be: Avraham? (As in, where are you? I need your attention.) Avraham! (As in, to get his attention.) V.13 Rams often feed in thickets and while feeding it was easy for them to get their horns tangled up in the branches. The Ram had to have had his horns caught in the thicket. Why? Because if the ram would have been cut or gouged by the ticket, it would have rendered 140

the ram blemished and invalid as a sacrifice. This is a foreshadowing of Yeshua, he was that substitute sacrifice in our place and He wore a crown of thorns on is head! The Ram’s horns: Legends has it that after the sacrifice G-D too the two horns of the ram to heaven and made shofars out of them. One was bigger than the other. The smaller one was blown at the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Which was on Rosh Hashanah, as was the Akeidah. The Bigger One will be blown when the Messiah returns! This too will occur around Rosh Hashanah. (I Cor.15:52; I Thess. 4:16) V.14 “YHWH Yireh” Shem called the place “Salem” Avraham called it “Yireh” Which was the same place the red Heifer was burnt, the same place Yeshua was crucified. You put the two names together you get; “Yerushalayim”! I Kings 9:3 “And YHWH said to him (Sholomo Melech/King Solomon) I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before Me: I have hallowed this house which thou has built, to put My name there FOREVER (not until Messiah comes); AND MINE EYES AND MINE HEART SHALL BE THERE PERPETUALLY. V.15-18 V.19 “Avraham” NOT “Avraham and Yitzhak” There are two traditions concerning this verse. 1. Yitzhak ascended to heaven for 3 years. 2. He went to go study Torah with Shem. I believe the second tradition. For another tradition says that when he went to take Yitzhak from Sarah, he told here he was taking him to study Torah with Shem, but did not tell her about his intentions to sacrifice Yitzhak so as not to worry Sarah, and or cause her to refuse to let Yitzhak go. 1. So, He believed G-D would resurrect Yitzhak from ashes. 2. He was a Godly man and kept his word to Sarah and sent him to study Torah with Shem after the Akeidah.

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Shem died at 600 yrs of age, and was only 390 when Avraham was born. So Shem would have been 527 when Avraham sent Yitzhak to study Torah with him. Remember that a devote Jew recites this passage every morning, and we began this reading with the start of the traditional prayer? Now that the passage has been recited the recitation ends with this prayer. Master of the Universe! May it be Your will, HaShem, or G-d, and the G-d of our forefathers, that You remember for our sake the covenant of our forefathers. Just as Avraham our forefather suppressed his mercy for his only son and wished to slaughter him in order to do Your will, so may Your mercy suppress Your anger from upon us and may Your mercy overwhelm Your attributes. May You overstep with us the line of Your law and deal with us – O HaShem, our G-d- with the attribute of kindness and the attribute of mercy. In Your great goodness may You turn aside Your burning wrath from your people, Your city, Your land, and Your heritage. Fulfill for us, HaShem, our G-d, the word You pledged through Moshe, Your servant, as it is said: ‘I shall remember My covenant with Ya’akov, also My covenant with Yitzhak, and also my covenant with Avraham shall I remember; and the land shall I remember.’ And I say, “Thank You for doing so in Yeshua Moshieynu, Ba Shem Yeshua Moshieynu, Ameyn! While I am on the subject may I add the little know fact that Ishmael had a type Akeidah. Everyday in prayer, once a year in our Torah Portion and every Yom Teruah (Rosh HaShannah) we read of the Akeidah. Avraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac upon G-d’s command and we know Isaac was spared becoming a burnt offering because of the Ram that was caught by it’s horns in the bushes and Avraham ended up offering the Ram instead of his son. All of this because Isaac is the Promised One and the Covenant made by G-d with Avraham was destined to be carried on through Isaac and his descendants. However, we know of is first born through Hagar named Ishmael. If one reads the Torah carefully you will see Ishmael too was loved by G-d, regardless of what is descendants may have become today and all the promises given to Isaac, save the Covenant, was given to Ishmael:

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Gen. 17:17-21 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

We see that: • • • • •

Ishmael’s Akeidah happened before Isaacs. Instead of Avraham it was Hagar, though Avraham too was grieved. Instead of a burnt offering it was death by thirst. Instead of a Ram as salvation it was the water well. Tradition says Isaac went to study with Shem after the Akeidah, we see Ishmael becomes and Archer • Isaac marries shortly after the Akeidah, as does Ishmael. • Isaac was in his 30’s and Ishmael was in his teens. Gen. 21:10-21 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad;

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and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

According to the Book of Jasher, Avraham went into the wilderness to visit Ishmael several times and Ishmael still loved and followed after the ways of Avraham and his G-d and took his counsel. We see in the Torah that Isaac and Ishmael reconcile at the death of their Father.

Gen 25:8-10 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Ishmael is thought and is claimed to be the Muslim people. Ishmael is our cousin, Oh to G-d that we may bring him back to the G-d and faith of Avraham Avinu! So be it L-RD! So be it! Ameyn! Next in the Rosh Kodesh Sacrifices was seven male lambs, representing each day of the week and the same amount of flour, oil and wine is offered as is with the Tamid offering. We also see that there was one male goat, reminiscent of the Yom Kippur sacrifice that is offered as a Chahat/Sin Offering. Chahat means we do not measure up, we fall short, we miss the mark, the goal. This is all in addition to the Tamid (Daily) Burnt Offering. With the New Moon and its offerings we are reminded monthly of creation (Ps. 8:3-4, 81:3), the Akeidah, the Exodus, the manna, shoot, the whole historical beginnings of our people. And we see Messiah in this because HE is the Creator (Gen. 1, John 1). He is the Death and Guiding Angel (Ex. 12; 23:20). He is the Ram caught in the thicket (Gen 22). And He is our Yom Kippur Sacrifice (Book of Hebrews) that gives the increase when we fall short. 144

The Red Heifer Sacrifice Since there is no Temple or Levitical Priesthood and most of us do not live in Israel it is merited to us as if we preformed the necessary requirements of the Red Heifer by studying it. When the Temple is Rebuilt and even when Messiah comes this ritual will be instituted once again (19:10). Even now the Temple Institute is breeding Heifers until a pure completely red female cow is born. There have been recent close calls, but upon further examination some faint white or black hairs were found therefore eliminating that particular cow unfit to make the ashes of the Red Heifer (19:2). You see: “In Yochannon (John), he speaks about how the Jews were coming up to Yerushalayim to purify themselves before the Passover. This is one of the things they did; this is why they did it seven days before Passover, to be cleansed. They had to wait to be sprinkled with the ashes on the third day, and sprinkled again on the seventh day. After they were sprinkled on the seventh day, they remained ritually clean and they could enter into the Dwelling Place to bring the sacrificial lamb for the Passover. They had to go to Pesach seven days before it fell. We have the cycle of seven in this ritual.” -- Rabbi Edward ‘Levi’ Nydle of Bnai Avraham

The Red Heifer is still so very important to Judaism today, it is said that from Moshe’s time till 70 A.D. when the Temple was destroyed, there were nine red heifers slain. The rabbis teach in the Mishneh Torah that when the tenth red heifer is found and slain, Then Moshiach will come. Do you see why the red heifer is so important? After the tenth one, Moshiach will appear! No doubt this passage is difficult and strange even for the most wise of scholars to wrap their minds around, even King Solomon who wisdom was given to him by G-d, it is said:

In reference to what did King Solomon say (Ecclesiastes 7:23), "I thought to be wise to it, but it is distant from me"? He said: All of the Torah's commandments I have

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comprehended. But the chapter of the Red Heifer, though I have examined it, questioned it and searched it out--I thought to be wise to it, but it is distant from me. (Midrash Rabbah)

Numbers 19:1-22 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever. He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him. This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean. And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation,

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because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean. And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even. And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

In everything that G-d taught Moses, He would tell him both the manner of contamination and the manner of purification. When G-d came to the laws concerning one who comes in contact with a dead body, Moses said to Him: "Master of the universe! If one is thus contaminated, how may he be purified?" G-d did not answer him. At that moment, the face of Moses turned pale. When G-d came to the section of the Red Heifer, He said to Moses: "This is its manner of purification." Said Moses to G-d: "Master of the universe! This is a purification?" Said G-d: "Moses, it is a chok, a decree that I have decreed, and no creature can fully comprehend My decrees." (Midrash Rabbah) â&#x20AC;&#x153;One thing you will come across in the Torah and that is also in the Brit Chadasha is the commandment of ritual purity. It is found in the four Good News of accounts of Yahshua; a topic of His teachings, and also found in the book of Acts and in the letters of Rav Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ul. It is the Torah of ritual purity, and preparation for the Passover. According to the Torah one of the most common things that would cause ritual uncleanness was any contact with the dead. Anyone who touches a dead body or carcass, touches a grave or a grave stone, walks on a grave, comes in contact with the bones of the dead, and even anyone who the saddle of a dead person touches, becomes ritually unclean. This is why Yahweh established this chaqqaq of the Parah Adumah or the Red Heifer. Chuqqim are the commandments decreed by Yahweh that do not seem to have any logic or reason for them. Kashruth, the dietary laws are laws that do not seem to make any sense. We have had the mishpatim or the moral laws are easy to understand. The edoth or the remembrances such as the Feast Days, and tzitzit, help us to remember who we are as Yisrael. They are very easy to understand. The chuqqim seem so illogical. How can the burning of the red heifer in a fire, taking a bundle of hyssop and wrapping it in scarlet, throwing it into a fire, grinding the bones into a powder, mixing it with mayim hayim [living water], and then sprinkling the mixture upon an unclean person make them ritually clean? Totally illogical captain.

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Everything in the Torah is according to the pattern given to Moshe at Sinai. Everything in the Torah symbolizes something about Moshiach. Every commandment, law and decree, and judgment, Yahweh has given us in the law has a deep spiritual truth behind it. Many of the chuqqim have not been revealed to us by Yahweh. Perhaps in the kingdom, when we totally understand some of the chuqqim.” -- Rabbi Edward ‘Levi’ Nydle of Bnai Avraham

The mystery about the ashes of the Red Heifer lie in the fact that if touched it makes a clean person unclean and an unclean person clean! The same also goes for inanimate objects too. Death is the focus of the Red Heifer. Death makes one unclean and separates one for G-d.

The clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean person... and he shall be clean at evening... [But] he that sprinkles the water of sprinkling... shall be unclean (19:19-21) All who are involved in the preparation of the Heifer from beginning to the end, become impure, but the Heifer itself purifies the impure! But G-d says: I have made a chok, decreed a decree, and you may not transgress My decrees. (Midrash Tanchuma) The fact that the ashes of the Heifer "purify the contaminated and contaminate the pure" carries an important lesson to us in our daily lives: If your fellow has been infected by impurity and corruption, do not hesitate to get involved and do everything within your power to rehabilitate him. If you are concerned that you may became tainted by your contact with him, remember that the Torah commands the Kohen to purify his fellow Jew, even though his own level of purity will be diminished in the process. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe) “When a child of Yisra’el comes in contact with death it separates them from Yahweh. Why? Because Yahweh is Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh. He is set-apart. Yahweh is total life! YHWH was trying to teach Yisra’el that contact with dead things separates you from Him. The wages of sin is death; therefore death has that connection to sin. YHWH was teaching them to stay away from sin. Yahweh is holy and without holiness, no one can see Yahweh.

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He established this ritual to cleanse the children of Yisra’el from impurity; and everyone, not matter who they were, even Yahshua, had to participate in this ritual of the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer. When the Temple stood, anyone who walked through the gates had to be sprinkled with the ashes of the red heifer. It was precautionary measure. Why? It has to do with Passover. There are the Sholesh regulim, the three pilgrimage feasts at which the men of Yisra’el were to go up to Yerushalayim to keep the feasts: Passover, Shavuot, Tabernacles. What were they going to do in their traveling to Yerushalayim? There was a possibility that in their traveling that they could have unknowingly walked over some ground that held a dead body. There may have been battle there, or there could have been people buried hundreds of years before underneath that ground, and by walking on that ground they became ritual unclean. Yahshua called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones. One of the things the Yehudim did to prepare for the Sholesh regalim, is they went out and they painted all the tombs white so that no one could accidentally touch them or walk over them. The Master was playing on this ritual to speak about the hypocrisy of some of the Pharisees because people who came in contact with them would become unclean.” -- Rabbi Edward ‘Levi’ Nydle of Bnai Avraham

But what of this cedar and hyssop and scarlet that is burn with the Red Heifer? It is said that the cedar represents the proud man, and a certain form of pride is a sin, and when a prideful man is “burned”, like cedar this gives of a sweet fragrance to G-d, it pleases Him and makes Him happy. The hyssop is what we call oregano today and is a humble plant that is said to have antiseptic and healing properties, representing a lowly and humble man. The scarlet came from a worm’s larva and a woolen cord was stained in this dye from the worm larva. We are to see ourselves as a worm in G-d’s eyes in need of cleansing whether we are prideful, humble or something in between.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says Yahweh. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

The Red Heifer is a righteous parallel to the Golden Calf:

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“We are told that when they ground up the golden calf and put it into the mayim hayim, the springs that flowed underneath Mount Sinai turned red. Then Moshe made them drink it. The red heifer was to be a calf that had not had a yoke put upon it. This is the picture of the children of Yisra’el casting off the yoke of Torah.” -- Rabbi Edward ‘Levi’ Nydle of Bnai Avraham

Obviously we can see the shadow and picture of the redeeming work of Messiah Yeshua in the texts dealing with the Red Heifer. Hebrews 9:12-18 Entered into the Most Set-apart Place once for all, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit [Ruach] offered Himself unblemished [without spot or wrinkle] to Elohim, cleanse your conscience [the inner part of you] from dead works to serve the living Elohim? And because of this He is the Mediator of a renewed covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. For where a covenant is, it is necessary for the death of the covenanted one to be established. For a covenant over those dead is firm, since it is never valid while the covenanted one is living. Therefore not even the first covenant was instituted without blood. For when, according to the Torah, every command had been spoken by Moshe to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people. II CORINTHIANS 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim. “The spotless Lamb of Yahweh, Who knew no sin, had no blemish, the One who was ritually pure, became unclean for us. He became sin; He became unclean for us, so that we could become the righteousness of Yahweh our Elohim. The Clean became the unclean in Moshiach. Yahweh, in this ritual or ceremony of the red heifer, has given us a picture of the future work of Messiah Yahshua for the children of Yisra’el so that they will not defile the Dwelling Place. The people who were cleansed with these ashes all came in contact with death. The Mount of Olives, the Mount of Anointing, was where the red heifer was slain. In this ritual of the red heifer Yahweh was giving us a picture of the resurrection. When that last shofar sounds on Yom Teruah and Yahshua returns, and the first resurrection takes place, where is He going to touch His feet? The Mount of Olives.” -- Rabbi Edward ‘Levi’ Nydle of Bnai Avraham

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Even in preparing this Drash I walk away still scratching my head knowing there is so much that is left uncovered and it is indeed a Divine Mystery to me that has its fullness in Yeshua Ha Moshiach.

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What Physical Conditions Required What Sacrifice There were situations which render a person unclean and in need of a sacrifice. Lev. 12:6-18 speak of Child Birth and how this requires a Burt and Sin Offering. Lev. 13-14 deals with Tzara’atz/Leprosy which is similar to the sacrifices during the inauguration of the Levitical priesthood (Ex 28-29), a Guilt/Sin/Burnt Offering was to be made. Chapter 14 deals with the ritual response and restoration of one and home that has been afflicted with Tzara’atz (Leprosy). I will put the plague of tzara’at in a house (14:34) So is it when leprous plagues come upon man: First they come upon his house. If he repents, it requires only the removal [of affected stones]; if not, it requires tearing down the entire house. Then the plagues come upon one's clothes. If he repents, they require washing; if not, they require burning. Then the plagues come upon his body. If he repents, he undergoes purification; if not, "He shall dwell alone." -- Midrash Rabbah

Chapter 15 talks about any and all forms of bodily discharge ranging from sexual to those that occur with injury and illness. 14:1-32 The Purification of one who had been afflicted with Tzara’atz is like Yom Kippur and the inauguration of the Kohanim combined. The Kohen goes outside the camp to where the former leper is. Yeshua Kohen Ha Gadol and Messiah comes to meet us when we are at when we have been infected with sin and have made Teshuvah.

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2 birds, one slaughtered and one set free. Kind of like the 2 goats on Yom Kippur. One represents Yeshua’s atoning cleansing sacrifice and the other represents our new found freedom. Birds represent a poor mans offering. It shows when Tzara’atz infects a person, we are all equally decimated, and we are all spiritually bankrupt. We are all on the same footing in YHWH’s Eyes. In other words there is no favoritism. Birds also represent our tongue and spirit; free, restless, darting here and there with practically unrestrainable squawking! “Because the plague of tzara’at comes in punishment for evil talk, which is an act of chatter, therefore birds are needed for his purification, because these chatter continuously with a twittering sound.” -- Rashi; Talmud

The Cedar represents how our tongues can destroy like a forest fire. James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

“Because he has exalted himself like a cedar... he should humble himself like a grass.” -- Midrash Tanchuma

We got in this mess by the spoken word and one will be delivered by the spoken word.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

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The Crimson thread symbolizes our sin.

Isa. 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

The Crimson thread is like our cry for attention, mercy and deliverance; like Rahab’s scarlet cord was put out the window to signal to the Israelites to spare her life because she spared the lives of the two spies.

Joshua 2:18 “Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.”

The Hyssop was and aromatic cleansing instrument of atonement. The Aroma of the Hyssop is like the incense burned in the Tabernacle and like the incense of our prayers. Hyssop was used to apply the blood of the Pesach lamb on the door post during the Exodus. It was used at the execution of Yeshua to relieve his thirst.

John 19:29 “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

Cedar and the Hyssop are aromatic to cover up symbolically the smell of rot of sin and death.

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Cedar is an absorbent to receive the water and the blood. Our souls need to receive the blood of Yeshua and the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26) so we will not commit LaShone Hara (Evil tongue) again. All of the four elements (except for fire, this is used as a last resort) is used for the purification ritual of Tzara’atz. Because when one has Tzara’atz one has the potential to infect all around them; themselves, others, clothes, homes, etc. And sometimes it can only be purged by fire. Birds represent air for they fly. They also represent earth and water for this is what they were created from. The Hyssop and the Crimson thread also represent the earth from which they were made. All these things are put together and waved similar to the lulav and etrog (palm branches) on Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). Water in the earthen vessel symbolizes how we are washed by the water of the Word as sited above, and we can be defiled or cleansed by words, cursed or blessed. The blood of the bird represents the blood the Messiah shed for us. The blood of the bird was shed over the water. Blood and water flowed from Yeshua Himself.

John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

Questions: • How do you put out a fire? With water and earth. • What is Tzara’atz? LaShone Hara, the Evil Tongue. It is a physical manifestation of a spiritual malady. • What is LaShone Hara likened too? FIRE!

If the Tzara’atz of clothes or leather or such was too bad and couldn’t be cured the contaminated article was burned in the fire. Fight fire with fire. 155

See how this all fits together? The ritual of the purification from Tzara’atz was and 8 day process which indicated in Hebrew numerology a rebirth, a new beginning. For being cured / healed of Tzara’atz was like returning from the dead. Fire is used in the final sacrifice on the 8th day. Then the person delivered from Tzara’atz was sprinkled with the water and the blood from the bird, hyssop, thread and cedar. Then the 2nd bird was set free in an open field. Next the person washed their clothes, shaved all their bodily hair, and then was immersed in a mikvah (baptized themselves). The shaving and the mikvah was symbolic of the rebirth; for we are born of water and come our naked and (usually) hairless. They had to spend 7 days (representing completion) outside the camp and then the 8th day was the new beginning, the rebirth, the reentrance into the community. Two male lambs, 1 female lamb, or 1 male lamb and 2 doves, flour and oil were sacrificed. And like the anointing of the Kohen blood and oil was applied to the right ear lobe, the right thumb, and the right big toe of the one that had been delivered from Tzara’atz. The right ear represents rededication of the 5 senses to YHWH and the Torah. The thumb is one thing that separates us from animals and symbolized the dedicating of our hands for the service of YHWH and His people. The right big toe represents our balanced walk with YHWH in His Torah. For one cannot walk or balance themselves properly without a big toe. This symbolizes the rededication of our walk with YHWH and his way of Torah. The Talmud calls Messiah, “The Leper Messiah” based on Isaiah 53. Indeed the cure for LaShone Hara id the Living Manifestation of the Torah, Yeshua the Messiah.

Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

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Cleansing the Leper, the one afflicted with Tzara’atz is one of the signs of the Good News of the Malkut Shamayim (Kingdom of Heaven). 14:33-47 LaShone Hara is a form of idolatry and selfish pride. Hasatan in Ha Shamayim (Satan in Heaven) was selfish, prideful and worshipped himself. He spoke LaShone Hara against YHWH and contaminated those angels around him. And just like the Maccabees cleansing the Temple, tearing down idols and the contaminated altar and stones and taking them to an unclean place so too the tov malekim (good angels) removed hasatan and his cohorts from the Heavenly Temple. So when we speak LaShone Hara we contaminate very thing around us and WE MUST be removed, excommunicated so we can not contaminate further, so we can collect ourselves so we can think about and repent of what we have said and the ruin we have caused by our words. The 7 days out side the camp is like a child being sent to their room or “naughty corner” to have time alone to reflect on what they did. Sometimes the damage we cause is so bad, we’ve gone too far and no matter what how much purging, scraping, cleansing and carrying away of the rubble that we do, everything around us must be destroyed and burned. Just as hasatan and his hosts will one day be cast into the Lake of Fire, and just as the earth that he (and we) have contaminated will be purged with fire and renewed because a cleansing with water, a flood just can’t fix it anymore. 14:48-57 If a house and or garments is salvageable it is purified the same way a person that had Tzara’atz is. The cycle of contamination that emerges is self, garments, dwellings then finally other people. The negative spiritual residue of our sin whether blatant or secret leaves a negative spiritual energy others can in time sense, and at first it’s personal, then it actually rubs of on what we handle and where we go, then finally if not nipped in the bud it can effect others around us in a negative way. This is why people and places creep us out, because we sense the negative evil energy that surrounds them.

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Num. 32:23 “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Now here is Exodus 29: Consecration of the Priest which is similar to the cleansing of the Leper we discussed earlier. I will not get into the various sacrifices that were made but will focus on the way the priests were consecrated. V.1-9 Notice Moshe baths and dresses the priest reminiscent of G-d dressing Adam and Chavah (Eve) after the Fall. V.19-25 Notice the blood was put on the right extremities (Ear lobe, thumb, big toe) of Aharon and his sons. Representing Favor, Rule, hearing and doing G-d’s will. Similar to how a Leper is cleansed! V.26-28 The Ram’s breast consecrated and established of the Levitical Share of every sacrifice (Heave offering). Leviticus 15 deals with bodily discharges and required a Sin/Burnt Offering. Lev. 15:1-33 Deals with the body discharges of all kinds and the purification thereof. Bodily discharges regarding men are found in Lev. 15:13-18. Bodily discharges regarding women are found in Lev. 15:19-30. Folks if we are serious about being Natsari Jews, if we are serious about being Torah Observant. If we say we believe the Torah, that every commandment is true, allies and is relevant for today, we need to practice what we preach then. We need to find away to fulfill the Mitzvah of a Mikvah. After we perform the mitzvah of sex with our wife we must seek out a mikvah. A Mikvah is not just for a woman after her period of Niddah. If you cannot use or do not have a Jewish Mikvah in your community seek out a clean private body of water or stream in your area to take a mikvah. If both are 158

impossible because of location or weather then you can take a shower or immerse yourself in your bath tub, SEPARATE from your regular bath or shower time. After all, G-d understands and in instances like these He understands our intentions and is overjoyed when we look for ways to honor Him by keeping His commandments. To fulfill the commandment of taking a mikvah to the best of ones ability you must fill the tub up, then when almost full open the drain while keeping the water running. This is because a mikvah needs to be Mayim Chaim (Living Waters) in other words it must be flowing; even ancient mikvah’s that were built in Israel were built to be as such. This begs the question; are we looking for ways to fulfill commandments or excuses not to keep them? No one said a Torah Observant life would be easy or simple. Yeshua said that we would be hated (Matt.10:22; 24:9). In most cases a Burnt Offering and Sin Offering are prescribed, the Burnt Offering Symbolizes a rededication of ones whole self to YHWH (Rom. 12:1-2) the Sin Offering on account that we live in a fallen state and some things we are guilty of but have no control over, such things as monthly flows and nocturnal seminal discharges which is simply a part of the human experience. Not that these things are sinful, it’s just that they came about as a result of Adam and Chava’s (Eve’s) sin. These experiences make us unclean but not “sinful,” however these conditions came upon the human race as a result of sin. So the sacrifice for unintentional sin is offered. Another reason it is offered is on Hebraic thought the loss of blood or semen is considered a loss of life, for life is in the blood (Lev. 17:11) and we know seminal fluid carries the seeds of life and thus a sacrifice is given, life for life. An additional offering, Guilt/Trespass Offering is offered for the leper on account that it is believed that because Miriam, Moses’ sister contracted leprosy after speaking bad about him; that leprosy is a physical affliction brought about by a spiritual malady. This being La Shone Hara (the evil tongue) meaning slander, gossip and such. So thus being the case a Guilt Offering is given because in some ceases the leper can think back ands speculate when he contracted it and why. Others may not know specifically what brought about the leprosy and so both offerings, the sin Offering for unintentional sin or sins you are unaware you committed and a

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Guilt/Trespass Offering because some do know (as in Miriamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case) what brought it on. Let us look at this specific case of leprosy which Miriam contracted. Tzaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;atz is a spiritual malady with a physical manifestation.

Numbers 12 1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

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12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. 13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. 14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

Miriam a Leader in Israel, Moshe’s Sister contracted Tzara’atz because of LaShone Hara (Evil Tongue) Speaking evil about Moshe. Two main examples of LaShone Hara taken from the Booklet, “Guarding the Tongue” by Dean and Susan Wheelock based on the works of Chofetz Chaim is: • Making a remark that in any way puts down or belittles another person. • Making a remark which causes another person to feel bad or be hurt physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually or financially. We can commit LaShone Hara not only by what we say, but what we write or say with our attitude, actions, and or body language. And it is also a sin to listen to, believe and or repeat the LaShone Hara of others.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We can bless or curse it’s all in the delivery: Here is an example of a curse: “Darn it son! You can’t do anything right! You’ll never amount to anything! How can you be so stupid?” 161

Here is an example of a blessing: “Whoa son, what happened buddy? You gave it a good try and I appreciate your desire to help but let me show you another way to do it.” See the difference? One is considered a curse, and the other is a blessing and an encouragement. We can make and break our kids by what we say. Let us see what The Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant) has to say about LaShone Hara (Evil Tongue). Yeshua’s brother in his VERY Pro-Torah book that bears his name Ya’akov (James) has a lot to say on the subject. James 3 1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

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10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

James 4 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

The person afflicted with Tzaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;atz and confirmed by the Priests was put outside the camp for a week (7 days) to give the person with Tzaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;atz a chance to think about what they have done and to make Teshuvah (Repentance). Leviticus 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

All this describes what should be signs of mourning and repentance of their sin of LaShone Hara.

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LaShone Hara takes our heart and minds off Torah and other true important things. Let’s see what Messiah Himself said about the issue of LaShone Hara: Matthew 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

And no, this is not giving us permission to eat unkosher foods. This is talking about what comes out of the mouth makes one unclean, in other words what we say. Our mouth is hasatan’s (Satan’s) #1 tool of destruction that he uses. A Jewish General Rule of thumb is not to listen to gossip but to give people the benefit of the doubt and to always believe the best about someone unless you have undeniable proof that that person did was said they did. So you see because Messiah Yeshua healed the woman with the issue of blood and lepers as well, we can easily see why His voluntary, yet obligatory necessity to save the human race, His substitutionary, atoning, sacrificial death is symbolized in such offerings mentioned above.

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The Passover Sacrifice (Spring Time) Lev. 23:5-8 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Num. 28:16-25 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

Deut. 16:1-7 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

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Because Pesach is considered a “Rosh HaShannah (New Year)” (Ex. 12:2) it is listed in Numbers 28 as the sacrifices build upon intensity. The same offering for Rosh Kodesh is given all seven days of Passover and the week of unleavened bread. All this is, as always, in addition to the Daily Burnt offerings and Sabbath. The matter of Passover could easily become a book in and of itself with all of its symbolism and richness. Countless books and articles have been written on the subject, but I will forgo the symbolism regarding the Seder meal and just focus on the sacrifices mentioned and how they apply to Messiah. I will mainly focus on the activities of Passover in the Second Temple Era, the time Messiah Yeshua walked the Earth. Deut. 16: 5-7 speaks prophetically of this time when all Passover sacrifices could be slaughtered and sacrificed in one specific place and that being the Temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. During Yeshua’s Day Jerusalem had 20-30,000 people in population but at Passover there were approximately 1-2 million pilgrims in attendance along with their animals to be slain from either the flock and or herd. It was THE pilgrimage festival of choice for Jews living in the Diaspora. Jews from all over would have witnessed Messiah’s sacrificial death on the cross. Deut. 16:2 Notice that this passage speaks of a sacrificial animal from not just the flock, meaning sheep, bout also the herd, meaning a cow or a bull. The reason why is because some families were so big, one lamb would not do and so a secondary animal would be ritually slaughtered also as to provide enough meat for the festival for that particular family. This secondary sacrifice was called, “Chagigan” and was permitted to be kept overnight and eaten the following day. You see, there was a communal Passover Lamb for the Nation of Israel and an individual Passover Lamb for each family, which was ritually slaughtered at the Temple then taken back to the place of residence to be, as the Torah commands (Ex. 12:9) roasted. The tradition was to roast the Lamb on an upright pomegranate stake, an allusion to Yeshua’s exposure to the sun on the upright execution stake called the cross.

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On the 10th day of Nissan people, Jerusalem residence and pilgrims alike would secure the Passover Lamb of their choice which was in age ranging from eight days old to a year. From the 10th to the 14th of Nissan the lambs were carefully inspected and scrutinized to make sure none came down with an illness and so that there was plenty of time for a blemish to be detected is there were any, G-d forbid, on that lamb to cause a disqualification of the sacrifice, forcing another lamb to be bought or chosen. Between there dates Yeshua was from afar and up close inspected and scrutinized by Jew and Gentile alike right up till the moment of His execution. What is also fascinating to learn is that the National Passover Lamb was marched through the streets with a sign about its neck that declared that this was the Passover Lamb, and Yeshua too was marched through the street and because of Roman law wore the sentence they nailed on the cross above His head round his neck as He carried His own cross and was marched through the street to be for all to see. On the 14th of Nissan the prescribed time for the Passover Lambs to be slaughtered, the regular evening sacrifices were offered so as to make sufficient time to slaughter all the pilgrims’ lambs before sundown. And so at approximately the 9th hour (3pm) the Kohen Ha Gadol slain the first Paschal Lamb which was chosen to be slaughtered on behalf of all Israel. The High Priest would slit the Lambs throat from ear to ear and declare, “IT IS FINISHED!” And this is precisely when Yeshua said those every same words from the cross. Matt. 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

All 24 courses of priests were present for this event, they would have to be; all hands were needed to assure all the lambs were slaughtered before sundown. The people gathered outside the Temple with their sacrifices and were split up into three groups. At the Nicanor Gate that separated the Court of the Women from the Court of Israel the first division was let in and as the Temple gates were shut the shofar sounded. The stones of the Altar and the

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ramp leading up to the Altar had been freshly whitewashed and plastered for this very occasion. There were the priests who slit the throat of the animal and there were priests who stood in rows of two. Those in one row carried silver basins; the other row had gold ones. The water brigade type line up of priests extended to the Altar and the blood was passed from priest to priest until the last poured the blood at the base of the Altar below a red line marked around the middle of the Altar defining the limit of the sacrificial blood tossed above the line from hat tossed below the line; such was the practice at Passover during this time period. All the Kohen wore special scarlet robes so if any blood spilled or splattered on then it wouldn’t be noticed. The bowl was then passed back up the line to be used again and in this conveyor belt fashion it allowed a multitude of lambs to be slaughtered simultaneously because there were many of these double rows which were very long that stretched to the Altar. Men who came to offer the sacrifices usually came in threes and as soon as their lamb was slain they would step aside so the persons behind them could offer their lamb. Once to the side the slain lamb would be suspended on a pole between the shoulders of two men while the third skinned the lamb and give it to the priest as a Torah required payment. Then the Lamb was disemboweled and specific parts were given to a designated priest to burn on the Altar. Recall that Yeshua was stripped before put on the “pole” (cross) and his garments; specifically His undergarment tallit was gambled over, thus the allusion to payment of the one who was doing the slaying. All the while the above was taking the Levitical Choir was singing the Hallel (Psalm 113-118) and each group of people who came in to sacrifice would hear these Psalms chanted up to 3x’s. There is a record of 255,600 lambs being sacrificed at one Passover by individuals and households during Yeshua’s lifetime! All these sacrifices only covered sin, but never removed them (Heb. 10:4) only Messiah could do that (John 1:29). Seeing as there is no standing Temple or working priesthood Jews no longer slay lambs at Passover, However even today Samaritans having a hill of

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their own that is holy, still slay Passover Lambs in such a manner that predates the Temple, as they would have done it in the wilderness. The Brit Chadasha, what Christians call the “New Testament” in most Bibles comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew and Aramaic texts into English and thus can be problematic. So not only do you loose things in translation, but ones who translated the Greek were far removed from the Hebraic culture and was so steeped in their own brand of Christianity which was antinomian, anti-Semitic and culturally bias and as a result that becomes apparent in English translation of the Greek texts. So it’s almost like a double whammy. Not only that, but with the Arba Besorah, the Four Gospels you have four separate accounts regarding the same man, Yeshua Messiah, written with a different emphasis to different audiences, highlighting different things and this can appear at times to produce contradictions. It can be likened to four blind men at four different points of an elephant, one at the trunk, one at the tail, one at the foot and one at the belly, all touching the same elephant but all coming up with different and seemingly contradictory reports of this one thing they are touching. Or take a car accident at and intersection witnesses by a four persons, one at each quadrant of the intersection seeing the same accident but each given a slightly different account of the same event. Such is like some seeming contradictions we encounter in the Arba Besorah (Four Gospels) in regards to Yeshua’s last Seder with His talmidim. Reading the four different accounts this begs the question, did Yeshua eat the Passover early? We find that the night before Passover (Jn. 13:1) Yeshua was having His Passover Seder with His Talmidim because He knew what was about to ensue regarding His death, and this is why they had their Passover meal early. This actually wasn’t all that uncommon to have a pre-Seder, Seder before the actual Seder at Passover, almost like a dry run or rehearsal. Matt. 26:17 would seem to contradict this in the English, but the DuTillet, Munster and Shem Tov Hebrew text of Matthew and the Aramaic Peshitta 169

text both read, “On the day before” which would place the crucifixion on Pesach in agreement with John 13:1 and 19:24 as well as Sanhedrin 43a of the Talmud, contradicting the Greek Synoptic Gospels, but returning to the Hebrew and Aramaic versions we see the problem rectified as I explained with Matt. 26:17. Also knowing that the sundown of Nissan/Aviv 14 which officially begins Passover, is a High Holy Day and treated as and considered as a Sabbath with all the prohibitions that go with it. So one could understand Luke 22:7 to mean, and a paraphrase, “The came the part of the season of Unleavened Bread when the Passover Lamb must be slain.” Why? Because only a Cohen at the Temple you cannot slaughter or cook on Passover Itself because it is reckoned and treated just as a Sabbath. Since they had their Seder prior to Pesach Itself this is why John 13:21-30 records Yehudah (Judas) leaving the Seder to possibly buy something for tomorrows Seder or to give tzedakah (Charity/Alms) to the poor, which is a very common practice in Judaism even today. Why did Yehudah have the money bag? He was like the treasurer of the group. Why would you give your funds to a “zealot” to hold, like a Muslim extremist isn’t their a fear he would funnel the funds into his insurrectionist causes? Here again is another issue Christianity has confused. In the HRV footnotes regarding “Judas the Zealot” it says the Hebrew reads “Canaanite” or “Merchant” while the Aramaic reads “Zealot” complicating the issue is that the root word in Hebrew “zealous” in the Aramaic means “to purchase”, so it is very possible Yehudah was a “zealous merchant” and therefore perceived as good with handling money. Back to the whole Passover issue at hand, because Messiah and His Talmidim had Their Seder beforehand, this is why it reads in John 18:28 that the Jews who arrested Yeshua and was bringing Him before Pilate would not enter the Goyish rulers home for fear of becoming unclean and therefore would be unable to participate in the Passover Seder that evening. In like manner before Kefa’s (Peter’s) vision wouldn’t have gone to Cornelius’ house for fear of becoming unclean. Let is talk about briefly Yeshua’s Crucifixion and Resurrection according to Mark 15-16.

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In 2006 the “Holy Week” fell just as it did when Yeshua was crucified. We must remember that Passover goes by the G-d ordained, commanded and created lunar calendar and Easter which has its roots in Babylonian and Roman pagan religion and NOT Jewish or Christian in origin in any way. and goes by the man made Gregorian solar calendar and so Easter and the week of Passover rarely falls together. 2005 they were almost a whole month apart! • Nissan 13 after sunset Yeshua had His Passover Seder early with His Talmidim because He knew He was to die the 14th of Nissan when the Passover lambs were slain for Passover that night. That night after their Seder he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and betrayed by Yehudah (Judas) and the kangaroo court with the Sanhedrin. • Nissan 14 6am-8am: Yeshua sent to Pilate. • Nissan 14 8am-9am: The Scourging. • Nissan 14 9am: Shimon from Cyrene carries Yeshua’s cross. Yeshua is led to the Place of the skull and is crucified. This is also what Scriptures call the 3rd hour. • Nissan 14 9am-12pm: Yeshua is mocked. • Nissan 14 12pm-3pm: Darkness until the 9th hour. • Nissan 14 3pm-5pm: The women keep vigil at the cross. • Nissan 14 5pm-6pm: Yeshua’s body is removed from the cross. • Nissan 14 6pm-7pm: Yeshua’s body is prepared and put in the tomb. • Nissan 17 He was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits (Nisan 17) which happened to fall on Saturday night, Sunday day that Year (Hebrew years are not the same as Gregorian). - The Women discovered the empty tomb on Sunday morning (Nissan 17) - Yeshua appeared to some of the Talmidim (disciples) that day (Nisan 17). - We know He celebrated Passover before the crucifixion. - We know that is was to be 3 days & nights. - We know that the first day of Passover is Nisan 14 - We know that Hebrew days begin at sun down, to sundown. Using these facts, the count is pretty straight forward:

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- His Last Passover evening (Nisan 14), - Executed Nisan 14 9-3pm, buried before sundown (day 1), - In grave sundown to sunup (night 1, Nisan 15), - In grave sunup to sundown (day 2, Nisan 15), - In grave sundown to sunup (night 2, Nisan 16), - In grave sunup to sundown (day 3, Nisan 16), - In grave sundown to resurrection before sunup (night 3, Nisan 17) - Tomb empty Seen resurrected (day 4, Nisan 17) In Short the Crucifixion was on Thursday, day 1 and buried at approximately 6pm. He was in the Grave Thursday night to Saturday night equaling 3 days and 3 nights and was Resurrected Sunday slightly before the sun was up and was then seen by the Women. The above count fits with scripture perfectly. Thus Yeshua was mostly likely crucified on Thursday, not Friday!

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Why Passover and Not Yom Kippur or Sukkot? Although we see Messiah’s atoning death typified in every offering on the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice, we know He was sacrificed on Passover; but why Passover instead of Yom Kippur? Why Passover and not Sukkot when the Sacrifice were made with 70 Bulls on behalf of the 70 Nations? Also, why a human sacrifice, seeing as YHWH abhors such a sacrifice? The simple answer is that Yom Kippur is only for the National Atonement of Israel, the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob and the 70 Bulls sacrificed at Sukkot is only for the Nations, whereas Passover, all the world is included because not only Israel received their deliverance and freedom, but so did the 70 Nations, for they, in the guise of the “mixed multitude” that left with and Israel received the Torah with them at Mount Sinai. This typifies our outer physical and spiritual freedom to worship YHWH, but Messiah’s Passover Sacrifice gives us our inner spiritual freedom from the effects of the Fall of Mankind from sin which all plays a role in the ultimate redemption and restoration of all things.

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The Shavuot Sacrifice (Summer Time) Ex. 34:22-23 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. Thrice in the year shall all your men-children appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.

Lev. 23:15-22 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Num. 28:26-31 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

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Deut. 16:9-12 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

This passage deals with the Shavuot (Pentecost/First Fruits) sacrifices, held 50 days after Passover, which in some instances are identical to the Pesach Offerings with the daily Tamid and Sabbath Offerings. Shavu’ot, Pentecost, Feast of Weeks. It is a High Holy Day, but it doesn’t seem to be as well known or as popular as Passover or Yom Kippur, but it is in some ways the central Feast, because without Shavu’ot, there would be no Sabbath, or Passover, or Yom Kippur, because Shavu’ot is first and foremost the commemoration of the giving of the Torah which tells us about and commands us to celebrate the High Holy Days as recorded in Leviticus 23. It also commemorates the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh who shows us how to live out the Torah correctly. It is traditional to hear the reading of the 10 Commandments and it is also traditional to read the Book of Ruth which is all about harvest, but also hints about Acts, when Gentiles would be welcomed into the Body of Messiah because Ruth was a Gentile who converted to Judaism and married Boaz, a Jew and is also in the linage of Messiah Yeshua. Because Torah is seen as our spiritual food that was given to the fledgling nation of Israel in the Wilderness, it is seen as milk given to a baby and so it is traditional to consume dairy products on this day as well in commemoration of the Torah. Since it’s about first fruits it is also traditional to decorate the home and synagogue with flowers and harvest-y type things.

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Three days prior to Shavuot it is traditional to abstain from sexual relations and carries some of the restrictions of Yom Kippur, because G-d commanded the Israelites to purify themselves 3 days before He came and gave the Torah at Sinai. The night before it is traditional to stay up all night and study the Torah with friends, since the Holiday is focused on the giving of the Torah. Because it is a Harvest Festival, the grain offering has the greater emphasis. Two leavened loaves of Shavuot of one Issaron and two Shelamim Lambs that are eaten by the Kohen. It says in Lev. 23:18-20 that with the two loaves that seven, one year old lambs, one young bull and two rams are to be offered as a Burnt Offering with their prescribed flour, oil and wine libations which have already been discussed in great detail earlier in this study. Then, one young goat for a sin offering is to be offered and two lambs for a Peace Offering are to be offered when the two loaves of v. 17 are offered. There were communal as well as personal offerings made during this Feast. Leviticus spoke of the communal offering made by the Priest on behalf of Israel. It was considered most holy and it was slaughtered in the north courtyard and the blood was applied on the northeast and southwest corners of the lower part of the outer Altar and the blood was thrown 2-4 times in those spots. The Breast and thigh of the Offering was eaten by the Kohen and his household. The rest was eaten by anyone, anywhere in the camp with in a two day and one night time frame. Deut. 16 tells us of the Offerings the people themselves ought to make, which is a voluntary â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free Will Offeringâ&#x20AC;? so as not to (Deut. 16:16-17) appear before YHWH empty handed. This meant a voluntary Burnt and Peace Offering of sheep, goat or cattle with all that goes with it (for details please see the sections on the Burnt and Peace Offerings at the beginning of our study). Pesach (Passover) through Shavuot (including the Feast of First Fruits) should be seen as a continuous process. If you have accepted the true Passover Lamb (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7), you are promised resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-23) because He Yeshua is the first fruits of the greater resurrection harvest, and you are part of the body of the Messiah (Acts 2;1 ; 1 Cor. 12:13). 176

Yeshua Messiah is the first fruit of the resurrection; He is also the Living Manifestation of the Written Torah. These are some ways Shavuot teaches us a little more about the Messiah; because He died and lives, we can be resurrected and live also. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

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The Sacrifices of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yom Teruahâ&#x20AC;? the Feast of Trumpets (Autumn) Numbers 29:1-6 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

These offerings are virtually identical to the ones in Shavuot, the number of animals may vary slightly but all the animals and types of offerings we spoke of before seem to be present and so it would only be a rehashing to go over them once again when those types of sacrifices have been thoroughly discussed in detail on the literal and spiritual level in several places in this study prior to this entry. As one can read one bull, ram and goat is offered along with seven lambs and the Tamid and Rosh Kodesh Offerings. The measurements regarding the amounts of flour, oil and wine is the same as in the sacrifices regarding Passover and Shavuot. Having thus established these things I will now focus the remainder of the subject of Yom Teruah on why it is considered, as well as three other dates, a New Year. Yom Teruah, this was considered a New Year along with Pesach and it commemorates the creation of the world, the Akeidah and the inauguration of kings. Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), some times called Rosh HaShannah is considered a New Year along with Pesach. Honestly, I am a little weary of well meaning, yet uninformed Messianics and Natsari Jews who hound me and others for calling Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) Rosh HaShannah. I 178

understand their well meaning intent of placing Pesach (Passover) as Rosh HaShannah as the Scriptures tell us plainly. However, what these people do not realize is that BOTH are a New Year. Allow me to quote this article that I feel explains well why both Passover and Yom Teruah are New Years as well as two other dates. So please, do not condemn other people who call Yom Teruah, Rosh HaShannah. There is no reason why we have to make this an issue that separates us even further from our Non-Believing Jewish counterparts.

“How Many New Years?” In ancient times there were four new years on the Jewish calendar. By Michele Alperin

“Time, in its essence, is an unceasing flow on which human beings have imposed meaning with arbitrary divisions and markers--years, months, weeks, days, minutes, and seconds. These units of time serve as measures for human activity in education, commerce, leisure, agriculture, and religion. Jewish time grew out of God's imposition of order on the primeval chaos. First, God separated the light from darkness, creating day and night. Then, as a reflection of God's cycle of creation and rest, the work week was differentiated from Shabbat. Later, at the time of the Exodus, God mandated that the Israelites mark the new moon of Nisan, thereby establishing a monthly and yearly cycle.

As the body of Jewish law developed, the Jewish calendar has served to demarcate both holiday observances and numerous time-bound obligations. To ensure that certain commandments were completed at their appointed times, four different Jewish new years were established to provide boundaries and markers for these activities. For example, since the Israelites were required to contribute a tenth of the current year's produce, they had to know exactly when the current agricultural year began and ended.

The four Jewish new years specified in Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1 are 1 Tishri, 15 Shevat, 1 Nisan, and 1 Elul. 179

1 Tishrei The first of Tishrei serves as the New Year for several purposes, the best known being the New Year for the civil calendar, or "the new year for seasons." Rosh Hashanah literally means "the head of the year." Jewish years are traditionally figured from creation (for example, this year is considered the 5763rd year from creation), with the New Year beginning on 1 Tishrei. Although Rosh Hashanah is not a well-defined holiday in the Torah, distinguished mostly as "a day when the horn is sounded" (Leviticus 29:1), the Talmud expanded its religious connotations to make it the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of creation. Rosh Hashanah 8a explains, "For R. Zeira said [that Tishrei is considered the New Year for years in relation] to the seasons. And this [opinion of R. Zeira] is [in consonance with the view of] R. Eliezer, who said that the world was created in Tishrei." In fact, the rabbis focused particularly on the creation of human beings, without whose perceptive ability the physical creation would go unappreciated.

As the beginning of the civil calendar, 1 Tishrei is also considered the new year for measuring the reigns of foreign kings, necessary because legal documents were dated by the current year of a monarch's reign. Rather than measuring a king's reign from the date he took office, 1 Tishrei served as a standard anniversary marking the end of a full year of rule, even if that "year" had only been part of a year.

(Since the first of Nissan is considered to be the New Year for calculating the years of the reign of the Kings of Israel this would mean that if a king was anointed in the month of Adar, the following month of Nissan would be considered to be the beginning of the second year of his reign.)

The new year for setting the Sabbatical year, during which land may not be cultivated, is also 1 Tishrei. The command for observing a Sabbatical year appears in Leviticus 25:2-5, "When you enter the land that I assign to you, the land shall observe a sabbath of the Lord. Six years you may sow your field and six years you may prune your vineyard and gather in the yield. But in the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath of complete rest, a sabbath of the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyardâ&#x20AC;Śit shall be a year of complete rest for the land." Plowing and planting were forbidden from 1 Tishrei of the seventh year in the Sabbatical cycle, and people were allowed to gather only what the land could produce on its own, without cultivation. 180

Similarly, 1 Tishrei is the new year for setting the Jubilee year, the fiftieth year following seven cycles of Sabbatical years. Sowing was also forbidden during the Jubilee, but, in addition, all indentured Israelites were allowed to return to their homes and all tenured land was to be returned to its original owners. The laws of the Jubilee required that all land sales in Palestine be considered leases, with land costs computed in terms of the number of crop years remaining until the next Jubilee, which would begin on 1 Tishri.

1 Tishrei is also the new year for figuring the yearly tithe (ma'aser), or ten percent tax, on vegetables and grains. The Levites and priests were supported by these tithes, because they did not own land. The tithe for a particular year had to be paid with produce from the same year, thus requiring a standard date to begin and end each fiscal year. Tithing involved three steps: (1) The owner separated out the first tithe, or ma'aser rishon, and paid it to the Levites. (2) The Levites then separated out one tenth, called terumah, for the priests. (3) After separating out the first tithe, the owner had to put aside a second tithe, or ma'aser sheni, from the remainder of his produce. In the first, second, fourth, and fifth years of the sabbatical cycle, the owner was required either to consume this tithe in Jerusalem or sell it and purchase food to be eaten in Jerusalem. In the third and sixth years, the owner distributed this second tithe to the poor as a ma'aser ani, tithe of the poor.

(Thus Yom Teruah would be more likened unto the civil fiscal year of business and agriculture.)

15 Shevat The second new year is 15 Shevat, the New Year for trees. Most Jewish sources consider 15 Shevat as the New Year both for designating fruits as orlah (that is, forbidden to eat, because they have grown during the first three years after a tree's planting) and for separating fruits for tithing. (Some sources, however, consider 1 Tishrei to be the new year for orlah and 15 Shevat for tithing.) This date was selected "because most of the winter rains are over" (Rosh Hashanah 14a), the sap has begun to rise, and the fruit has started to ripen. Fruits that have just begun to ripen--from the blossoming stage up to one third of full growth--are attributed to the previous year, whereas fruits that are more mature on 15 Shevat apply to the upcoming year. As with vegetables and grains, fruits that budded during one "fiscal year" could not be used as tithes on those that budded in another year.

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(Sort of like a Jewish Arbor Day or Earth Day.)

The 15th of Shevat has become a minor holiday, Tu Bishevat. On this day, it is customary to eat, for the first time, a fruit from the new season, particularly one typical of the Land of Israel, and to say the Shehecheyanu blessing. In Ashkenazi communities in Europe, it was customary to eat 15 different kinds of fruits. The Sephardic mystics of Safed in the 16th century expanded the Tu Bishevat observance with a seder that uses the symbolism of fruit with and without shells to enact the process of opening up to God's holiness. In modern Israel, Tu Bishevat has come to symbolize the redemption of the land and the awakening of environmental awareness through the planting of trees. 1 Nisan The third Jewish new year is 1 Nisan, which corresponds to the season of the redemption from Egypt and the birth of the Israelite nation. This particularistic national event defines the nature of the New Year celebrated on 1 Nisan. The Torah's command that "this month [Nisan] is for you the beginning of the months, it shall be the first month of the year to you" tied all counting of Jewish religious festivals to the Exodus from Egypt, and this special religious counting system distinguished Israel from other nations.

The first of Nisan is also the New Year for the reigns of Jewish kings (in line with the national emphasis of the season), the renting of houses, and the counting involved in the prohibition against delaying the fulfillment of vows. When a person vows to dedicate an object to the Sanctuary, he must fulfill the vow before three festivals, beginning with Passover, have passed. 1 Nisan is also the due date for using the half-shekel contribution described on Shabbat Shekalim to purchase communal sacrifices for the Temple.

(This is the True Scriptural, Spiritual New Year. The REAL Rosh HaShannah)

1 Elul

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The last new year, 1 Elul, is the New Year for the tithing of cattle. The tithe for cattle had to be made from cattle born in the same fiscal year, between 1 Elul one year and the next.

-- Michele Alperin is a freelance writer in Princeton, New Jersey. She holds a master's degree in Jewish education from the Jewish Theological Seminary.â&#x20AC;? (brackets: my commentary)

As far as making a fresh start at Yom Teruah and celebrating our physical and spiritual deliverance at Pesach the REAL Rosh HaShannah; heck, I find EVERY High Holy Day, even Non-Leviticus 23 Holidays like Chanukah a chance at a fresh start, every Holiday has a repentance aspect to it, at least I have found that it has. Now that we have established the REAL Rosh HaShannah, let us focus our attention of when Shavuot should be observed. So the Head of the Year (Rosh HaShannah) is when the first crescent sliver of the Rosh Kodesh (New Moon) is physically sighted from the land of Israel after the Barley in the Land has become Aviv, which is why the Hebrew calendar is not a truly lunar one as this solar event seems to regulate the calendar and keeps the Feasts falling at their proper time (And there is even much controversy over this which we will not get into here). This sets in motion the Spring Feasts which are Pesach and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (sometimes referred to as one Holiday) and the count of the Omer and Shavuot. You cannot truly and Scripturally determine these Feasts until the Real Rosh HaShannah is known. Similarly, the new moon of the seventh Hebrew month when it is sighted sets in motion the Fall Festivals and the dates cannot truly be determined because ultimately G-d controls the weather. But again, I stress that the formulated Rabbinical calendar was essential and necessary for us Jews in the Diaspora because many Jewish communities may not have had close ties with Israel and thus not know when the new moons in Israel were sighted. Now days with the advent of the internet even the most remote Jew with a modem can find out exactly when the new moon was sighted in Israel. However, I still feel we cannot truly go back to the old and right ways until we officially have a legitimate Nazarene Sanhedrin to perpetuate the calendar. Besides, because of exile and other events through out history, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know the true Hebraic year. This 183

will all be rectified at Moshiach’s coming. Maybe this is a further indication of Yeshua’s words that we will not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I suppose one or a community could do their best to go by the new moon sighting in Israel, but it might become difficult to follow and do we at this point truly want to separate ourselves further from our lost Jewish counterparts? I suppose I will leave that up to individuals and local Beyt Dins to decide. If you’re able to keep both reckonings of the Holy Days more power to you! Numbers 10:10, 29:1, Lev. 23:23-25 tells us of Yom Teruah (The Feast of Trumpets) also known in Rabbinic Judaism as Rosh HaShannah. Interestingly enough this Feast is sometimes referred to as ‘the feast which no man knows the day or the hour’, on account like the REAL Rosh HaShannah, we cannot know in advance the day or the hour it will take place. Instead we must wait until we actually visibly see the first sliver of the New Moon fro Jerusalem. Because it is called, ‘the feast which no man knows the day or the hour’, some feel that Yeshua was referring to this as the time and season of His return (Matt. 24:36-44, 25:1-13); that Yeshua Ha Moshiach returning on Yom Teruah would be a type of Messianic fulfillment of this Feast. This is also possibly hinted at by Rav Sha’ul in 1st Corinthians 15:50-52 because he talks about we will be changed at the last trump when Messiah returns. Also an abundance of passages in the Revelation that talk about trumpets in reference to Judgment which is the theme of Yom Teruah. Now in regards to Shavuot, we find this described in Leviticus 23:10-11, and we “count 50” (Pentecost) to get to Shavuot/Pentecost/Feast of Weeks. But the trick and the controversy lies in when and where do we start counting? According to the passage in Leviticus 23 we are told that the Levitical Priesthood waves the Omer before YHWH on the day after the weekly Sabbath, not after Passover as some has liked to interpret it, because any High Holy Day is also called and considered a Sabbath. And since the High Holy Days goes by the Lunar calendar G-d set forth in the first several chapters of the book of Genesis this can get a little tricky for the Sabbath falls differently each year. Leviticus 23:14 tells us that we are not allowed to consume the produce of the land till after the Omer is brought before YHWH. Since the climate varies in Israel and the barley can ripen at different times during the year we declare the Aviv when the first shoots of barley domestic become Aviv in the precincts of Jerusalem, and Leviticus 23:15-16 tells us to begin the count of 50 days from the Omer Wave 184

Offering which was made the day after the weekly Sabbath, which would be Yom Rishon. (Sunday), not the Passover as has been practiced since the advent of the Rabbinical calendar by Hillel II. It can’t be after Passover, if so we’d have a problem on our hands, because if you substituted the word Sabbath with Passover through out this particular text then we’d be waiting seven complete Passovers (seven years)! But wait! Here is the lynch pen to the whole controversy that honestly I cannot full answer; It does say Sabbath and not Pesach, but doesn’t Sabbath simply means the day of rest, and in being so all High Holy Days are considered a Sabbath? Now in Joshua chapter 5 it says that the children of Israel ate the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, this obviously must have been one of those years that Passover fell on the weekly Sabbath, thus the first seven days of the Omer coincided with the first seven days of Unleavened Bread. Again, this only happens about once every seven years. But if Sabbath doesn’t fall on the day after Passover we must wait till after the weekly Sabbath falling after the day of Passover. You see, if YHWH wanted the Omer the day after Pesach regardless of when it fell, G-d would have instructed us so when he spoke about the days of Unleavened Bread, but we find in the Torah that the instructions for the Omer are listed separately in a different section. But if you go by the calculated Rabbinical calendar, nothing really prophetic was fulfilled by Yeshua, but when you go back to the G-d ordained original rendering of the Hebrew Calendar it all fits like a glove. We know that Yeshua was resurrected either on the Sabbath or at the beginning of Yom Rishon, the first day of the week (Sunday) when Sabbath ends and the week starts. Regardless of the exactness of the time we know that He was fully resurrected on the first day of the week when the Wave Sheaf of the Omer was to be offered. In John 20:17 After the resurrection Yeshua tells Miriam not to hold on to him because He still has to ascend to the Father in fulfillment of the offering of the Wave Sheaf at the beginning of the week after the Sabbath, not necessarily Passover (I Cor. 15:20-23, Rom. 8:29, Rev. 1:5). Now let’s look at how Shavuot unfolded for the 1st century believers in Acts. Acts 2:1-2 tells us that YHWH met the believers and fulfilled prophecy in the Upper Room according to His calendar, not Hillel’s. For by this time Philo and Josephus tell us in their writings that the practice of beginning the 185

Omer count right after the day of Passover set by the Rabbinical Hillel calendar was already a prevalent practice by then (Philo: De Specialibus Legibus 2:162. Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews, iii, 10:5). Historically this adds up when you consider that in Acts 2 there was only one day between the Rabbinical Shavuot and the coming Sabbath. Since this was a pilgrimage festival and many out-of-towners were in Jerusalem for the Feast, Instead of going home after the Rabbinic Pentecost and Sabbath was just a day away most people stayed put until after the Sabbath services in at the Temple in Jerusalem. So on the first day of the week when everyone would be packing up to head home or start their week this was when YHWH poured out the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) upon the Nazarene Jewish, Torah Observant believers in the Upper Room recorded in Acts Chapter 2. Indeed this is probably why it says in the text about the day “fully” (and the translation is better translated “truly”) coming so as to make a distinction to the readers between the Pharisaical Pentecost and YHWH’s Pentecost. Anyway, we see despite the Rabbinical calendar everyone was pretty much where they were suppose to be when the REAL Shavuot came and witnessed the fulfillment of prophecy and Scripture in the first several chapters of the Book of Acts. “Let us continue by answering the first question. Which calendar did Yahshua follow? According to the four gospels, we see that Yahshua attended all the Feast days that the Jews of His day kept. John 7 – 13 recounts the events of the Fall Festival period proceeding Yahshua’s final days. In fact in John 7 verse 37 we read about Yahshua keeping the Last Great Day as follows: “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Yahshua stood and cried out, saying: ‘If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, “From His innermost being shall flow rivers of living waters.’” Reading from John 6 - 13 we see that this is a continuous account of the last year of Yahshua’s life on earth. Now let us answer question two: Which calendar did Yahshua say we should use? In Matthew 23: 1- 3 we read; Then Yahshua spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair

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of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.” In John 4:22 Yahshua said to the woman at the well: “You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for Salvation is from the Jews.” Yes, Yahshua meant that He being a Jew is the Salvation of Yah – our Savior. However, He meant much more than that. Paul explained what Yahshua meant, in addition to being our Savior in Romans 9:15 saying: “I am telling the truth in Messiah, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Ruach HaKodesh, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Messiah for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh (meaning his fellow Jews), who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple (or worship) services and the promises, whose are the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), and from whom the Messiah is according to the flesh, who is over all, Elohim blessed forever. Ameyn.” This confirms that: 1. Both Yahshua and Paul were Jews; 2. Yahshua is Elohim; and 3. The glory of the covenants, the giving of the Law and the worship service, i.e. the timing of worship services, are to be left to the Rabbinical Jews to determine. Point three above also answers our third question, namely: Who did YHWH entrust with authority to make calendar decisions? A second witness to this can be found in Romans 3: 1& 2 which reads as follows: “Then what advantage has the Jews? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect, First of all, they were entrusted with the Oracles (words or standards) of Elohim.” In Psalm 147: 19 & 20 we read “Declaring His Word to Ya’akov, His laws and His right-rulings to Yisrael. He has not done so with any nation; And they have not known His right rulings! Praise Yah!” This is talking about the Israel that King David ruled. Yes it included both houses of Israel, but remember that Ephraim were taken captive around 721BCE and became the lost tribes of Israel, due to them forgetting about the Sabbaths of YHWH as well as most of the other commandments applicable to Israel. In Exodus 49: 10 we read that ruler ship will remain with Judah, until Yahshua will come to rule. The first advent of Yahshua was to bring Salvation to all mankind and

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to die - to be able to remarry His bride - United Israel. His second advent will be to come and rule the world from Jerusalem That leaves us with the final question, i.e. Which calendar did Paul and the other Apostles follow? Did Paul keep different Set-apart days to the other Jews of his day? I do not think so. In Act 27 in verse 9 we read that Paul fasted as required by the Law (Torah). In my Scriptures – the New American Standard Bible a side note to verse 9 reads: Leviticus 16: 29 – 31, i.e. Day of Atonement in September or October. In Philippians 3: 5 Paul confirmed that he was Jewish and followed the Pharisee way of life, saying: “Circumcised the eight day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee.”” – The Genius of the Hebrew Calendar” By Jim Coetzee

But as my Rav; Rav Yoshi ben Shofar Nassi of Ha Derek Natsarim says regarding the Jewish principle, “We observe the lesser until the greater truth is established”. So I must say that until the greater truth is fully, truly and firmly established and or a legitimately official Natsari Sanhedrin and or Moshiach comes to set it all straight, I will go by the Rabbinical calculated calendar we have today. So Judaism Today is not denying that Pesach is Rosh HaShannah. I am sure Yeshua was well aware of these New Years and for they were known in His time, and if He had an issue with Yom Teruah being a Rosh HaShannah, I am sure He would have addressed it somewhere in the Brit Chadasha. But instead He said.

Matthew 23:1-4 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

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What our Messiah is saying is that it is okay to follow Jewish Tradition as long as it doesn’t nullify the Word of G-d or put and unnecessary burden upon the common people. Even Rav Sha’ul kept tradition.

ACTS 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Here Rav Sha’ul proudly proclaims that not only has he kept the Torah, but also the traditions and customs of the Father’s relating to the performance of the commandments! For now, in exile and seeing as we do not have a working Temple or Sanhedrin I believe in celebrating the Feasts of the YHWH within the framework of the calculated Hebrew calendar set up by the Sanhedrin just before they were forced to disband, so that Jews through out the Diaspora could observe the Feasts of the YHWH together in unity. If Yeshua had a problem with the decisions concerning the calendar and the celebration of the Feasts, He had ample opportunity to do so, though he may not have been privy to how they were cumulating it at that time. I agree that the Hebrew year is wrong (Some say it’s 57something, others say its 6000 and something) and not correct, as we do not celebrate the Feasts days on the exact days because there is no standing Temple, active Levitical Priesthood or authoritative Nazarene Sanhedrin that can set the Calendar aright, what ever that may be. Let us not even get into the philosophical conundrum, “Are even the days of the week as we know it correct? Is the first day of the week (Sunday / Yom Rishon) really the first day of the week, is Sabbath really Sabbath?” Or “Do we count the dark moon or the full moon as the new moon?” Because of these facts, it furthers the reasoning Yeshua said that we may know the season but not the day or the hour of his return. So as to not separate ourselves from Judaism by as much as we already have by being Natsari Jews, I will agree with my Orthodox brothers and admit the

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shortfalls of the current calendar yet wait for the 3rd Temple and for the Moshiach to return and set the calendar right. The Calendar we have now is a blessing as such for us in exile, for we would have no idea on when to celebrate in the Diaspora. Since we are not in Jerusalem we cannot count on the moon in our regions of exile. One of the reasons the calculated calendar was instituted was because once the New Moon was sighted in Jerusalem a fire on a hill top was lit and started a chain reaction of mountain top fires to alert Jews all around that the New Moon has been sighted, but because of travel time sometimes Jews wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the message in fire until a day after thus two festive days for the High Holy Days were instituted in the Diaspora. But this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a fool proof method of alerting Jews world wide of the New Moon because antiSemites would light false fires or stop the real ones and thus mess up the Holidays for many exilic Jews. So the Rabbinical calendar was calculated and put into use as we have it today. So really, it was a life saver for us Jews. But the time is soon coming when we will be able to go back to strictly setting the calendar by direct sighting of the New Moon. So is Yom Teruah really Rosh HaShannah? Yes! But one of four.

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The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sukkotâ&#x20AC;? Feast of Tabernacles Sacrifices (Autumn) Ex. 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Lev. 23:34-43 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Num. 29:12-39 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams, And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the 191

first year without spot: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings. And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

â&#x20AC;˘ The Feast of (Sukkot) Tabernacles there were a total of 71 bullocks, one for each nation and one for Israel. â&#x20AC;˘ 15 rams, the number fifteen symbolizes the Completion of God's Grace, and His Kingdom. The Completion of God's Grace 3 x 5. The fifteenth day of the first month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the symbol of the sinless body. The fifteenth day of the seventh month is 192

the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles marks the end of the sixth day of man and the beginning of the seventh day of the Kingdom. • 105 lambs. The number 105 is make up of three Hebrew letters, Ayin, Lamed and Hey, and it creates the word meaning to rise or to go up. Going up is always referred to as going up to meet G-d on the Temple Mount to sacrifice and fellowship with Him. This speaks to us that YHWH is King and we are created to serve and worship Him. This testifies to the obligation of the word to recognize and follow through with these facts.

• 8 goats offered during the feast, with accompanying meal and drink offerings. Eight is the number symbolizing new beginnings, speaking of a new week and a New Era, a New World, a Heavenly Divine Kingdom Age to Come. Goats also remind us of Yom Kippur and alludes to the fact that this new rule and world will be without sin and will be forever new.

Deut. 16:13-15 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

Allow me to touch on Yeshua and the Oral Laws; Traditions of Sukkot and how Messiah even fulfilled and gave true meaning to Rabbinic Tradition. “He who has not witnessed the rejoicing at the water-drawing huts has, throughout the whole of his life, witnessed no real rejoicing.” (Sukkah 53b). So what, that’s not in the Torah right? So what does it have to do with us or Yeshua for that matter? This is just a man made tradition! 193

Hold up! Yeshua wasn’t against man made traditions or Oral Torah as long as it didn’t nullify the Written Torah. For in the Brit Chadasha we find Yeshua keeping holidays and traditions not commanded in the Written Torah. During the “Last Supper” Yeshua went by the Haggadah, the liturgy of the Passover Seder. We find Him at the Temple during Chanukah, the “Feast of Dedication” and in John chapter seven we find Him at this Water Pouring Ceremony (Simchat Beit HaShoava) during the last day of Sukkot ('Hoshana Rabbah' - 'The Great Salvation’) mentioned in the Talmud in the text above!

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."” John 7:3738 (NKJ)

If one carefully studies Talmud and Jewish traditions you will find where Yeshua even added himself into those things as well as the prophecies in the Torah and Tanak. So how did this water pouring ceremony become such a fixed part of Judaism, even to this day?

“When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, one of the special Sukkot observances was to pour water on the Altar. The drawing of water for this purpose was preceded by all-night celebrations in the Temple courtyard; on the 15 steps leading to the azarah (inner courtyard) stood Levites while playing a variety of musical instruments, sages danced and juggled burning torches, and huge oil-burning lamps illuminated the entire city. The singing and dancing went on until daybreak, when a procession would make its way to the Shiloach Spring which flowed in a valley below the Temple to "draw water with joy." "One who did not see the joy of the water-drawing celebrations," declared the sages of the Talmud, "has not seen joy in his life."

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While water was poured each day of the festival, the special celebrations were held only on Chol Hamoed since many of the elements of the celebration (e.g., the playing of musical instruments) are forbidden on Yom Tov. Today, we commemorate these joyous celebrations by holding Simchat Beit HaShoeivah ("joy of the water drawing") events in the streets, with music and dancing. The Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the custom of holding such celebrations on Shabbat and Yom Tov as well -- without musical instruments of course. The fact that we cannot celebrate as we did in the Temple, said the Rebbe, means that we are free to celebrate the joy of Sukkot with singing and dancing every day of the festival.” – www.chabad.org

And why was this ritual so significant, especially in Yeshua’s time? Well, first off the Kohanim (Levitical Priests) had a special schedule during Sukkot: The Kohanim were divided into three divisions and each day of Sukkot there was a special ritual. Division one sacrificed the animals and items prescribed out in Numbers 29. Division two went to the East Gate of the Temple and headed to the Motzah Valley where they would discard the sacrificial ashes at the start of Shabbat. While there they would cut 25 foot willows and they would line up across the road holding the willows. About 30 feet behind them would be another row of priests with willow branches. They would then begin to march waving the willows in a swooshing motion creating the sound of the Ruach (Wind), symbolizing the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit. Division three in the meantime would be heading down to the pool of Siloam, meaning “peaceful flowing waters” (John 9:7, 11). The Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) was in this third group and he had a golden flask and drew the water called mayim chayim (living waters) because any water that was flowing was considered “living”. The High Priests assistant had a silver flash of wine. Both Groups would return to the Temple with the sound of the Shofar upon their arrival. One man would play the flute, the flute player was called “the pierced one” and symbolizes the Messiah (Psa. 22:16, Zech. 12:10, John 19:34-37, Rev. 1:7) and the flute players led the procession of the “wind” and “water” carrying priests. The Willow carriers would circle the Brazen Sacrificial Altar seven times while singing Psalm 118:25-26; the sacrificial division of priests would lay the slain sacrifices on the altar. Then the Kohen HaGadol and his assistant the ascended the altar and all Israel gathered into the Temple courts and sang a song called “Mayim (Water)” 195

based on Isa. 12:3 according to Mishnah Sukkot 5:1. Then the High Priest poured out the water on the southwest corner of the altar on the horn, and then the wine was poured out as the Willow holders leaned their branches against the altar and made a sort of Sukkah. According to the Mishnah Rosh HaShannah 1:2f says that it is during Sukkot that G-d decides who gets rains for next year and how much. Sukkot is also that time after Yom Kippur when it is said that the fate of each human is decided for the next year and the books in heaven are closed. So this is probably another reason for the water pouring ceremony, a type of supplication for rains. These rituals and ceremonies are no where commanded in the Torah but the Rabbis and Sages feel by the spelling inconsistencies in Numbers 29 that spell the word ‘mayim” they nonetheless base the tradition of the water pouring ceremony on the Torah itself. Rabbi Akiva (Ta'anit 2b) asserted that the water libation was alluded to in the Torah with the use of the plural form nesakhehah ("drink-offerings thereof") on the sixth day (Numbers 29:31), reflecting that one of the two libations consists of water.

“On Succoth even the humblest of all has its place on the Altar: water. The Midrash tells us that at the time of creation, the waters cried out to G-d that everyone has a place on the Altar -- oxen, sheep, wheat, barley, oil, wine. All except for water. The waters threatened to engulf the world until G-d promised them that on the festival of Succoth, Israel would offer a libation of humble water on the Altar, accompanied by SIMCHAS BEIS HASHO-EVA, "the Joy of the Water Drawing", which was so great that it brought people to prophecy. The water libation on Succoth is not written explicitly in the Torah but only allusively. Three seemingly minute anomalies in the Hebrew phrasing of the laws of the offerings of the second, sixth and seventh days of the festival of Succoth, enable us to trace the letters of the word Hebrew word MAYIM -- WATER -- running through the Hebrew text (see Rashi on Numbers 29:18).” – Gil Marks

Three anomalies are derived from looking at how words are rendered differently on the second, sixth, and seventh days of the Festival:

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1. Second day - "their libations" (Heb. niskeyhem ‫)םהיקסנ‬, where there is an extra "yod" (‫ )י‬and an extra "final mem" (‫ )ם‬in the usual rendering of "its libation" (Heb. niskah ‫)הקסנ‬. 2. Sixth day - "its libations" (Heb. niskeyhah ‫)היקסנ‬, where the usual rendering of "its libation" (Heb. niskah ‫ )הקסנ‬has an extra "yod" (‫)י‬. 3. Seventh day - "after the manner" (Heb. KaMishpatam ‫)םטפשמכ‬, which has an extra "final mem" (‫ )ם‬when compared to the other instances of "after the manner" (Heb. KaMishpat ‫ )טפשמכ‬in this passage. These anomalies actually gives us two extra "mems" and two extra "yods", however the Hebrew word for "water" (Heb. "mayim" ‫ )םימ‬only needs one of the "yods". What are we to do with the extra "yod"? That lies in the realm of the Kabbalah and we will not delve into that here. And obviously Yeshua had NO PROBLEM with it and included Himself with in the derived tradition. A custom, a tradition, something that the Pharisees and Sadducees did; something that made it into the Talmud that Yeshua did not oppose but participated in and used to proclaim His divine Messiahship! Therefore it stands to reason His own talmidim were there and participated too and the believers that came after his resurrection and ascension. We see now why He said: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." A further fulfillment was when Yeshua was executed on the Roman cross and blood (symbolizing the wine) and water flowed (John 19:34). YHWH the Father obviously didn’t have a problem with this man made ritual for HE told Yeshua to go and deliver such a message, for Yeshua speaks only what the Father bids Him to (John 5:19, 30; 8:28; 14:28). Sukkot is by far my most favorite of the High Holidays. It has some of my most favorite things. Camping, Earth tone colors of the leaves, the cool crisp air of Autumn, Harvest foods: Pumpkin pie! Theologically it deals with some of my favorite topics: Messiah’s birth and return. The more I learn about it the more I love it and I have perhaps learned more about it this year 197

than any other! I am about to tell you another reason why it is my favorite High Holy Day. It is a Holiday for the Goyim (Gentiles, The Nations)! Israel remembers their obligation to be a light to the nations on this High Holy Day. They Sacrifice 70 bulls, one for each nation! Also, think about it. Israel was to be a Missionary Nation from the get go, they had 70 elders appointed to them. An elder for each Nation! “Regretfully, many in the Christian churches tend to dismiss this celebration as "just another Jewish holiday." This day is a day in which there were sacrifice offerings in the Temple for each of the Gentile nations. According to the Rabbis, there were 70 Gentile nations in ancient times. Beginning in Numbers 29:13, you can read about the sacrifices that were offered on each of the days of Sukkot. On the first day, 13 bullocks were offered as a burnt offering. On the second day, 12 bullocks, on the third day, 11 bullocks, until finally on the seventh day, only 7 bullocks were offered, making a total of 70 bullocks-one for each of the Gentile nations.” – Rick Aharon Chaimberlin, Litt. D. “Sukkot: Feats of Tabernacles”

“This concept of focusing on the positives of others is also learned from the order of sacrifices that is brought on Sukkot. Throughout the holiday, we bring 70 sacrifices, corresponding to the 70 nations of the world. (The Torah views the nations of the world as 70 roots with many other nations as branches.) This is because we see all nations of the world as important. Each has a specific role to fulfill in God's world and we pray to God, through these offerings, that He inspire them to true service of Him. It is especially on Sukkot that we do this because, as mentioned, it is called "The Season of Rejoicing." When we are happy with ourselves, we look at the world positively and can see good in others, even other nations, even if those nations are presently our enemies.” – Rabbi Baruch Leff

In the Time to Come Gentiles will celebrate Sukkot along with Hebrews and Jews. Zechariah 14 1Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

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These two verses along with verse five indicate that the Battle of Armageddon and the Return of Messiah happens all in one shot. Prophecy points to it being around the time of Sukkot, possibly the last day when traditions says that the books of judgment in heaven are sealed for the year and the fate of the world and everyone on it is set for the coming year.

3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

These verses speak of Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical return to earth.

5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Survivors and the Remnant flee to safety.

6And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

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9And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 10All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. 11And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

We take back occupied Israeli Land and Jerusalem is safe and secure.

12And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. 14And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

Here we see Jerusalem smite their enemies and the enemy is plagued. Could be a flesh eating virus or the result of radiation poisoning, or it could be entirely something else. All we know is that no matter how you slice it, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look good for the bad guys.

16And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

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17And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

When Messiah returns, goyim will convert and keep the festival of Sukkot. Those who don’t will not get rain for the coming year and be plagued with famine and drought.

“Prophetically, we learn that in the Messianic Kingdom Age (the Millennium), it will be a biblical commandment for Gentile nations to observe Sukkot. The nations that choose to disobey this commandment to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship YHWH will be cursed with draught. In fact, instead of Judeophobia, we read: "In those days, it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all the languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the kanaph of him that is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" These Gentiles are literally grabbing hold of the tzitzit (ritual fringes) of Jews. I would assume that these are Messianic Jews. It might be good for Messianic Jews to have these fringes in order for a literal fulfillment of this prophecy to take place. For those who "just want to be like Jesus," it should be noted that Yeshua observed all the Biblical holidays, including even Chanukah, which is a Jewish tradition, not a biblical commandment. It was at the Feast of Sukkot that Yeshua's own unbelieving brothers mocked Him, urging Him to make Himself known publicly. Presumably, they hoped to see their Brother arrested.” – Rick Aharon Chaimberlin, Litt. D. “Sukkot: Feats of Tabernacles”

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Monte Judah says this about the Future Sukkot to Come:

“The Scripture definitely says much about the Feast of Tabernacles and our future. The reference to the tribulation saints described in the Book of Revelation is about the Feast of Tabernacles. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; Revelation 7:9 And I said to him, “My Lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them.” Revelation 7:14-15 The palm branches reveal the setting for the tribulation saints. They are gathered for the Feast of Tabernacles - the Feast of Ingathering. This is why the Lord’s throne is spread like a tabernacle over them. This is confirmed by the prophet Zechariah. He says the first event upon the Lord’s return to Jerusalem after the Day of the Lord, is the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles. Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. Zechariah 14:16 That makes sense because the Feast of Trumpets symbolizes the resurrection, and Atonement symbolizes the Day of the Lord. It follows then that Tabernacles is the true ingathering of all of His saints at Jerusalem. Apparently, God intends to use the future Feast of Tabernacles in the kingdom as the reference counter for the number of years in the millennial reign. The Feast of Tabernacles, therefore, will commemorate not only our ancestors’ exodus from Egypt, but also our greater exodus (the tribulation saints - the final generation) leading into the promised kingdom. This is consistent with God’s promise concerning the kingdom of David. King David served as the king of Israel for 40 years and held the greatest amount of territory in Israel’s history. God’s promise is to raise up David’s booth (tabernacle) in the same manner in the Messiah’s kingdom.

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“In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by My name,” declares the Lord who does this. Amos 9:11-12”

Even though it is not required for the Goyim to dwell in a Sukkah: Lev. 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Nonetheless we see in Zechariah that Gentiles will convert and end up keeping Sukkot anyhow.

“The Talmud relates that in the future, when the pagans will complain to God about His preferential treatment of the Jews, He will tell them that this is because the Jews accepted and followed the Torah. They were not so much the "chosen people," as the "choosing people," so to speak; they chose to follow God's law. The pagans will then plead, "Offer us the Torah anew and we will follow it." "You foolish people," God will answer, "he who prepares in advance of Shabbat can eat on Shabbat, but he who made no preparations, what can he eat? Nevertheless, I have an easy commandment called Sukkah, go and fulfill it..." Why is it called an easy commandment? Because it has no expense. Immediately each one will build a booth, a Sukkah, on his roof, but God will cause the sun to blaze as if it were the summer solstice. Each one will then kick his Sukkah, and leave... Thereupon God will laugh, as it is said, "He that sits in heaven and laughs." (Talmud - Avoda Zara 3a) Although this passage is difficult for several reasons, I would like to focus on one of its main themes: that pagans will not be able to keep the commandment of Sukkah. The reason this is so strange is that of all the holidays, Sukkot has been perceived as the most universal, encompassing all the nations of the world. The Talmud teaches: Rabbi Eliezer said: "Why are 70 offerings brought on Sukkot? For the (merit of the) 70 nations of the world." (Sukkah 55b) Rashi comments: 203

To bring forgiveness for them (the 70 nations which comprise the world), so that rain shall fall all over the earth. The Sages stress that Sukkot has a universal element which is clearly absent in the other festivals: Passover represents the exodus from Egypt and the emergence of a Jewish nation; Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah to the Jews. It seems paradoxical to find this expression of the inability of the pagans to relate to God specifically in the context of Sukkot. We may theorize that specifically on Sukkot, when the Jews concerned themselves with the welfare of non-Jews, pagans were expected to respond and to relate to God directly. There is, however, another passage which makes this approach untenable. "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations who came up against Jerusalem, shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the God of Hosts, and to keep the holiday of Sukkot. And whoever does not come ... to Jerusalem ... upon them there will be no rain." (Zechariah 14:16) This passage from the prophecy of Zechariah describes the aftermath of apocalyptic battles, when the vanquished nations will celebrate Sukkot. This heightens the difficulty of the story from the Talmud quoted earlier. While the Talmud contains many explanations of biblical teachings, it does not have a mandate to argue with the prophets. Our question, then, is quite simple: How can the Talmud relate that in the future the pagans will be unable to keep Sukkot - when the Prophet tells us clearly that they will? I believe that in the resolution of this apparent contradiction lies the essence of Sukkot. There are two distinct aspects to the holiday of Sukkot, represented by two commandments in the Torah: "Also in the 15th day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days; on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath. And you shall take on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. And you shall keep it a feast to the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths seven days; all who are Israelites born shall dwell in booths. That your generations may know that I made the people of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 23:39-43) The Torah speaks on the one hand of taking four species of fruit at harvest time, and on the other hand of sitting in the Sukkah, as the people who left Egypt did. We therefore see two commandments: 1) taking the four species, and 2) living in booths. One commandment has an agricultural impetus, the other a historical one. The

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agricultural aspect of the holiday is clearly universal, while the historical aspect is particular to the Jews.” – “Sukkot: The Universal Holiday” – www.aish.com

Perhaps many will immigrate to Israel proper also. There is a loose tradition that claims that if you convert to Judaism you are considered born again as a native Israeli; based on the Psalms.

Psalm 87 His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

“What a day, that will be, when my Jesus, I shall see, when I look, upon His face, the One who saved me, by His grace. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through, the Promised Land, what a day, glorious day, that will be.” I bet the Festival of Sukkot was the furthest thing from the Christian hymnist mind when they penned these words. But growing up Christian, this song cannot help but spring to my mind when I think of Sukkot and the Moshiach Yeshua. Positive Commandment 16 "HakHail" - Assembling the entire Jewish People Deuteronomy 31:12 "Gather the people together, men and women, and children" When Moshiach comes your will hear the radio announcing:

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"This is the M.T.N. (Moshiach Times News) Radio, announcing the biggest greatest, most phenomenal Jewish reunion to be held on the second day of Sukkot! The last convention, seven years ago, was an outstanding occasion. All men, women and children are invited to this festive gathering." At the end of the Shemita year (see Positive Mitzvah 140), we are commanded to gather at the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem. Portions of the Torah are read aloud by the king at this assembly, uniting the Jewish people and inspiring all in the service of HaShem. – Chabad.org Won’t that be the most wonderful Sukkot ever!? The Sukkot when Messiah returns, we are all gathered together at the 3rd Temple and The One who spoke the world into creation, the One in Who’s words are the very Breath of Life, The Living Word, the Living Torah, Yeshua Ha Moshiach will read the very Torah He authored and gave to Moshe Rabbinu over 4000 years ago! Hearing the Torah read by the Author Himself! We will celebrate Messiah’s Birth, Return, Our deliverance from Egypt and Exile, and His eternal reign all at the same time. “What day, glorious day,” What an 8 day celebration that will be!

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The “Yom Kippur” Day of Atonement Sacrifice(Autumn) Num. 29:7-11 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein: But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

To breach the subject of atonement this chapter starts off on a grim note as G-d starts off with a specific example for the need of atonement; namely the death of Aaron the High Priests sons; Nadab and Abihu, who it is believed in a drunken state offered un-prescribed fire to YHWH (Lev. 10:1-11). YHWH Through Moses discusses the dietary laws, the laws of kashrut, and the laws and procedures dealing with Tzara’atz (Leprosy) or any skin affliction, all of which could be reasons of an atonement with a Sin and or Guilt Offering. This is the prologue, if you will, to emphasis the need for a national Day of Atonements and a Yom Kippur Sacrifice. Leviticus 16 tells us all about the most mysterious and most crucial, annual 24 hour period in Hebraic History; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonements, the day of national atonement for Israel. Yom Kippur translates to, “Day of Atonements or Coverings.” It is also called, “The Sabbaths of Sabbaths,” because it is the most important High Holy Day on the Hebrew Calendar. For every High Holy Day is regarded as a weekly Sabbath (Lev. 23). It is also simply called, “The Day” and we see this referenced idiomatically in a passage in the Brit Chadasha. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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It is ironic how the English word Atonement conveys what it does in the realm of salvation and ones personal relation ship with G-d, â&#x20AC;&#x153;At-One-ment,â&#x20AC;? at one with G-d. This is also synonymous with the prophetic apocalyptic Day of Judgment. That the final Judgment will take place on Yom Kippur. Let us delve into the text and see what the Day of Atonement means to Torah Observant believers in Messiah Yeshua. Leviticus 16 1

And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; 2

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

Elohim makes it clear that not just anyone, even and especially the Levitical priests can come into the Holy of Holies where the ark of the Presence is anytime and in any manner they wish. The harsh, zero tolerance manner in which Nadab and Abihu was dispensed should make that abundantly clear. One, in a once a year prescribed manner were they to come (Exd. 30:10; Lev. 23:27, Heb. 9:7). YHWH is Holy and because of His nature and to maintain the integrity of His Holiness, the Almighty cannot be in the presence of or tolerate sin. This is why the veil separates the Holy Place from the Holy or Holies. There always has to be a buffer to temper the Raw Glory of Yah, for no one can see His face and live (Exd. 33:20) without a go between such as a thick cloud, fire, angels as ways to manifest His Presence and maintain the integrity of His Holiness and communicate with fallen man without annihilating them. In the Tabernacle/Temple setting the veil with the angels on it (Exd. 26:3137) symbolizes the door to the Throne Room of YHWH on earth. The Ark is His Throne, the Cherubim on the Mercy Seat His guards and His Presence 208

rests between them (Exd. 25:22). Thus the whole Tabernacle/Temple is symbolic of His Palace on earth.

Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

Before Aaron or any Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) could come beyond the veil before the Ark in the Holy of Holies, the Kohen HaGadol must symbolically be covered, atoned for with the blood of a Bull or a Sin Offering along with a ram for a Burnt Offering (Lev. 4:3; Heb. 9:7). Now in regards to Yom Kippur and Messiah Yeshua the Book of Hebrews says:

Heb. 9:12, 22-28 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for usâ&#x20AC;Ś And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ 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 God 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 Christ 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.

He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

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Before He does any of the things mentioned above, the High Priest is to take a mikvah (ritual immersion in water) and then don the sacred Priestly Garments.

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Exd. 29:11 And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.

Lev. 9:7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

Now we see that Yeshua was sinless, He kept the Torah perfectly (Matt. 5, I John 3:4) thus He needed no bulls blood (Heb. 7:27-28; 9:12) in that yet He was human in that He could relate to our suffering because of His own (Heb. 4:15; 5:2).

And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8

And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

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Now the casting of lots during Tabernacle times it is said was done by use of the Urim and Thummim (Exd. 28:30). “The High Priest then approached two male goats that had been taken from the people, both of which were to be used as sin offerings. Their fates, however, were to be entirely different. Near the two goats, the High Priest shook a small box containing two lots. On one lot was written the words, “For the L-rd,” and on the other lot, “For Azazel” (scapegoat). He put both hands in the box and took a lot in each hand. The hand with the lot, “For the L-rd” signified which goat would be sacrificed. The other lot signified which goat would be the scapegoat. The High Priest then pronounced, “A sin offering to the L-rd,” after which the people responded in worship as before. To distinguished between the two goats, the High Priest tied a red wool or rope to the head of the scapegoat and a second rope to the neck of the sacrificial goat.” – Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement: author unknown

And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10

But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Even though Yeshua was sacrificed during Passover, it its interesting that the element of casting lots was used to choose between Yeshua and Barabas (Mat. 27:35). It is said the scapegoat or Azazel would be led to the wilderness thrown over a cliff, in this way Yeshua represents both the goat designated “for the L-rd,” and the scapegoat. One of the he-goats was the National sin offering, the Azazel would become the bearer of all the peoples sins. Now Yeshua was led out into the wilderness to be tempted to sin and was even tempted to cast Himself down from a high place (Matt. 4:1-11).Also at one point the people wanted to toss Yeshua off a cliff but His time was not yet to be the sin bearer of the people (Luke 4:16-30).

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In modern vernacular a scapegoat is someone that is chosen that is blamed for the problems that a group had brought upon themselves and that person becomes the brunt of all the repercussions that comes with the blame. Usually a scapegoat is unwilling to receive punishment of the guilt of the accusations. The scapegoat (animal and human) is clueless of his fate until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too late. In Yeshua we see that the blame of us all was laid upon Him and He was chosen by the people and yet it was a result of fate via prophecy.

Mark 15:7-15 And there was [one] named Barabbas, [which lay] bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire [him to do] as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do [unto him] whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And [so] Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged [him], to be crucified.

Yeshua had trepidation about being the scapegoat yet He became it willingly.

Matt 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].

I believe the two goats represent the duel nature of Messiah being 100% sinless and divine to be able to redeem us, like the goat chosen for the L-rd to be sacrificed and 100% human to have the right to be our scapegoat.

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We also see in the two goats that the first covered our sins and the second carried them away and died with them. This is exactly what Yeshua did, covered and took away our sins for Good (Heb. 10). And did not Yochannon say:

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29b).”

And as the Scriptures also say:

Isa. 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The Brit Chadasha tells us:

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…Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people….So Christ 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….By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 1:3, 2:17, 9:28, 10:10).

The ritual of the scapegoat may also be a remez (hint) to the final demise of satan, the father of sin and lies, also the one humanity blames for their troubles. He to will be cast down from a cliff like place.

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Isa. 14:15-16 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Rev. 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Back to our text:

And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 12

And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13

And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

Tommy Tenny in his book the God Chasers (Pages 57-58) goes into great detail about how the High Priest needed the buffer of incense so as not to die and to perform the necessary procedures for Yom Kippur. This just emphasizes even more that the blood of animal sacrifices is insufficient because the High Priest is already covered with bulls blood and yet an additional covering of smoke is required for the Kohen HaGadol to go beyond the curtain into the Throne Room of the King, YHWH Almighty!

And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

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East is the direction of the sun rise and the return of the Son, Yeshua the Messiah, it’s also the direction in which we pray in the Diaspora because it faces Jerusalem and the Holy Temple Mount. Seven is the number of the seven days of the creation week and therefore symbolizes completion and absolution. This mind you is only for the sins of the Priest and his family.

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16

And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Now he performs essentially the same procedure with the goat’s blood for the sins of the nation of Israel.

And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

This is reminiscent of a TV crime drama portraying a ransom exchange. “No funny business, bring the money! Come alone or the deal is off!”

And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.

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And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

After the â&#x20AC;&#x153;ransom of bloodâ&#x20AC;? is made in the Holy of Holies the blood of both animals are taken to the Brazen Altar in the Temple courtyard upon the four horns, representing the for corners of the camp. Then, just as he sprinkled the blood in the Holy of Holies, he does so at the Brazen Altar presumably in the same direction as the in the inner sanctum.

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 23

And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24

And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25

And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.

And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 27

And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28

And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

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Now we see the specific-ness of the scapegoat ritual mentioned earlier and the conclusion of the Yom Kippur service.

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31

It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32

And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: 33

And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34

And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

In Ultra Orthodox Judaism a chicken has temporarily replace the goats. I am not in agreement with this custom due to the fact there is no command to do such in Scripture and because we may only sacrifice unto YHWH at the Temple in Jerusalem. The following is taken from: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/kapparot.html

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kapparot is a custom in which the sins of a person are symbolically transferred to a fowl. It is practiced by some Jews shortly before Yom Kippur. First, selections from Isaiah 11:9, Psalms 107:10, 14, and 17-21, and Job 33:23-24 are recited; then a rooster (for a male) or a hen (for a female) is held above the person's head and swung in a circle three times, while the following is spoken: "This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement; this rooster (or hen) shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life, and to peace." The hope is that the fowl, which is then donated to the poor for food, will take on any misfortune that might otherwise occur to the one who has taken part in the ritual, in punishment for his or her sins. 217

Kapparot is not mentioned in the Torah or in the Talmud. The custom is first discussed by Jewish scholars in the ninth century. They explain that since the Hebrew word gever means both "man" and "rooster", punishment of the bird can be substituted for that of a person. According to the Encyclopedia Judaica (Volume 10, pages 756-757), several Jewish sages strongly opposed kapparot. Rabbi Solomon ben Abraham Aderet , one of the foremost Jewish scholars during the 13th century, considered it a heathen superstition. This opinion was shared by the Ramban (Nachmanides) and Rabbi Joseph Caro, who called it "a foolish custom" that Jews should avoid. They felt that it was a pagan custom that mistakenly made its way into Jewish practice, perhaps because when Jews lived among pagans this rite seemed like a korban (sacrifice) to some extent However, the Kabbalists (led by mystics such as Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz) perceived in this custom mystical significance which strongly appealed to many people. This greatly enhanced the popularity of the kapparot ritual down to the present day.”

Again, there is no denying the importance and necessity of a blood atonement, even in Judaism today. Now, allow me to hone in on this one verse, for I think it is the key to discovering the relevance of the Day of Atonement in light of those who believe Yeshua is the Messiah to died and rose again to not just cover, but to take away our sins. Lev. 16:29-30 “This is to be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the L-RD.”

It is said by Christians and even many Messianics that this High Holy Day is forever obsolete on account of Messiah Yeshua’s death on the Roman Cross; but this is certainly not the wording of the passage just sited. When Messiah comes to reign on earth and the 3rd Temple is rebuilt and functioning, the sacrifices will resume under the supervision of Yeshua

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Messiah the Kohen Ha Gadol (High Priest) of the Melchezideckian order of priesthood. Allow me to explain: Many Christian and Messianic believers mistakenly believe that since the Temple is not standing and we have not functioning Levitical priesthood and that Yeshua came to die on the cross that the Temple and its sacrifices have become obsolete. We see that after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Yeshua that the Natsarim Jewish believers still participated in worship at the Temple. Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

“They continued,” which means that despite Yeshua being Messiah and dieing for our sins, despite that not everyone accepted Yeshua as Messiah, the early Jewish believers still attended and participated in religious functions at the Temple. This was a normal, regular part of their religious life. When Yeshua was on earth he respected the Temple and revered it as His Father’s house (Lk. 2:49, Jn. 2:16), so it is natural that His followers would have that same zeal and respect for the Temple. Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) even went to the Temple to fulfill a Nazarite Vow (Acts 21:17-26). This did not change because Yeshua came on the scene and died on the cross for our sins. I believe it is abundantly clear that the first century believing Natsarim Jews still went to the Temple to sacrifice and worship during the pilgrimage festivals and to pray and even give money in support of the Temple (Exodus 23:17, Acts 2:46, Acts 24:14-18). It is the misconception of many that the “Old Testament Saints” were saved by works, keeping the Torah (law) in combination with the Levitical animal sacrifices, and “New Testament Saints” are saved by “Grace” and Yeshua’s death on the cross. How fair is that!? Christians say there is only one way of salvation. This view would contradict that. This is purely a Christian false doctrine; nothing could be further from the truth.

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Then how were the Believers before the death and resurrection of Yeshua, saved!? I believe the saints in the Tanak were saved the same way as the saints in the Renewed Covenant. The difference is perspective. Those in the Tanak looked forward to, and believed in the Messiah and His atoning work that was coming. The Renewed Covenant saints (us) look back and believe in the Messiah and His atoning work that already came, and is coming again! The sacrifices of the Tabernacle and Temple era, before Yeshua came, never atoned for or removed sin. In the Renewed Covenant, Hebrews 10:4 states “It is NOT possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” The sacrifices just rolled the sin back like a credit card debt until Messiah came to pay the debt in full, atoning for them all past, present, and future (Isa.53:6; IPt.2:24; IJn.2:2; Heb.1:3; 5-10). I believe that Yeshua worked within the framework of Torah, and the sacrificial system set up therein. The purpose of the animal sacrifices and Tithes was 1. To be a physical object lesson that pointed to the coming Messiah and what He would do. It acted as a credit card that covered, did not take away, and rolled back the sin debt until someone, Messiah, could come along and pay it. In the time of the Third Temple the sacrifices will be a reminder of the Messiah who came and what He did (Is. 56, 66; Zech. 14:16-21). The sacrifices that took place before Yahshua came, only pointed to the Messiah which was to come. The sacrifices that will take place after Yahshua, and that will take place in the Millennial Reign, point back to Messiah’s atoning work. 2. It provided and will provide food, materials and income for the Priests and their families (Leviticus 5-10). From the accounts in the book of Acts we can clearly see the first century Natsari Jewish believers in Yeshua meet “daily” and during appointed festival times at the Temple and offered “offerings”, “sacrifices” and “gifts” as practiced by all Jews at that time. The first century believers in Yeshua clearly saw no conflict with this and their belief in Yeshua being the ultimate atoning sacrifice. There was no problem or issue with belief in Yeshua and participating in Temple activities and having both coexist simultaneously.

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This is especially in regards to the Yom Kippur Sacrifice. During the 3rd Temple it will become a powerful object lesson of what Messiah has done for us. In the modern day observance of Yom Kippur, it is a day usually spent praying at the synagogue. Leviticus says: Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, Lev 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

This is the traditional Jewish understanding of affliction of the soul during Yom Kippur. 1) No Eating and Drinking - From sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur until nightfall the next day it is forbidden to eat or drink. Life over Law: If one has a medical condition which fasting would cause harm the Rabbi’s tell us that it is sin if that person does not eat. To save a life the Talmud says one may even eat something treif! •

Girls below the age of 12 and boys below the age of 13 are not required to fast.

2) No Washing - During the fast, one may not wash for pleasure. •

If one is dirty, one is permitted to wash away the dirt.

•

Upon rising in the morning and after using the bathroom.

•

One may wash one's hands when preparing food.

3) No Anointing - It is forbidden to anoint oneself with oil, thus the use of perfumes, make-up, suntan lotion, and other such items is prohibited.

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4) No Wearing Leather Shoes - During the fast it is forbidden to wear leather shoes; because leather was seen as a comfort and luxury in ancient times. Some people wear only socks, but others wear shoes of canvas or other nonleather materials. 5) No Marital Relations - It is forbidden to have marital relations during Yom Kippur This is to mimic the devastation of a life altering tragedy, such as a personal or national crisis or tragedy, like the death of your family, or something like what happened on 9/11. This is to remove all typical daily distractions and preoccupations from our lives for one day. Why? So as to cause us to reflect on the things that is truly important in life; to take stock of our lives. To mourn how far off course we have become in this past year. To realize and appreciate what one has before it is gone. • • • • •

Life Health Family Friends Our Faith

To make Teshuvah, to repent, to do a 180 and return to the Source of Life, HaShem and His Torah; to dedicate ourselves anew to it. We are to make ourselves desolate. Hollow and empty like the Shofar so that HaShem can fill us up with His Ruach, His Spirit that is all important and gives Life. When we do this our pet sins, selfishness and things we thought were so important become so trivial and no longer matter. Only that of truth and eternal value remains. But the Torah seems to contradict Itself. How can one be afflicted and rest simultaneously? 222

We afflict because it is commanded, we can do this restfully because we have the G-d given time to do so. Also, we rest in the assurance that having done this in obedience that we are sealed in the Sefer Chaim (Book of Life) for another year.

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The Cycle of Feasts Leviticus 23 1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. 3

Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. 4

These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.

And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7

In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8

But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 9

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12

And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 13

And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

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And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16

Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. 17

Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. 18

And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. 19

Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20

And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21

And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God. 23

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25

Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 26

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28

And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30

And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31

Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32

It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. 33

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35

On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37

These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38

Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. 39

Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 40

And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

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And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43

That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 44

And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

You most likely have observed that the cycle of feasts, its theme, celebrations, duration and sacrifices are split up in juxtaposed to each other on the calendar by the four seasons and are mirror images of each other. You have the Spring and Fall Feasts opposite one another, Shavuot being sort of like a dividing line between them. • Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits (Spring) – Shavuot (Summer) - Yom Teruah (Rosh HaShannah), Yom Kippur and Sukkot (Fall) • Passover kicks of the Spring Feasts and Yom Teruah the Fall, both a one day event, both considered New Years as we have previously discussed. Both dealing with redemption, fresh starts and new beginnings. Passover dealing with Death of the Old Slave Man and Life of the New Free Man. Yom Teruah deals with the Death Sentence of the Old Man and the Blessing of Life of the New Free Man. Passover deals with a Lamb and Yom Teruah a Ram. • The Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Spring has us do with out leavened products, symbolic of sin, they are taken and hidden away. Yom Kippur in the Fall has us do without things that can distract us and lead us into sin and takes the sin itself and covers it and takes it away for good. • Shavuot in the Spring is the Marriage of G-d to His People, the giving of the Torah, the wedding vows and Sukkot is the dwelling and

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consummation, the newlywed life of the Divine Couple. The Brit Chadasha emphasizes that we are the Bride of Messiah. â&#x20AC;˘ Shabbat is the weekly consummation and intimate renewal of that Divine Relationship. â&#x20AC;˘ The many and various Holidays, Feasts and Fasts whether Historical or Rabbinical in nature are like snaps shots in the family album of that couple through out the year, recording the good times and the bad. It all boils down to relationship moreso than religion, relation ship moreso than ritual and Courtship rather than Custom. It is about G-d fighting for, rescuing, redeeming, loving and keeping His Lover.

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Kosher Slaughter is Humane Slaughter With all this slaughtering of animals one wonders why such “barbarism” is required by G-d. Prior to the Fall of Mankind we were vegans (Gen. 1:29) and some say up till Noach that all the righteous were vegans and Abel’s offering from the flock was a Whole Burnt Offering and nothing of it was eaten and if anything was used of it, it was the skins. If Adam’s family ate of the animal sacrifices the Torah does not say. But what it does say is that after the flood G-d permitted meat (Gen. 6:21, 8:3). Some argue because of the wording that G-d even permitted unclean, unkosher meats, but I do not hold to this. For if G-d’s Word and His Torah is truly eternal and He is the same yesterday, today and forever, then because to Adam to Moses it was orally transmitted which animals were clean to sacrifice and which ones were not and because we are made in His image, I believe Noah was only permitted to eat kosher animals. Because they are the only animals in the Torah designated as a food source and seeing as Moses penned Genesis, just as he did Leviticus, I believe it was simply a no brainer, a given that Noah was thus permitted to only consume clean animals. I Timothy 4:4-5 creates a problem for most readers. We must remember when reading the Renewed Covenant that it was written under the assumption that the reader knew the basics of Torah. So when Rav Sha’ul says “every creature,” he being a Torah observant Jew, a Pharisee no less, wouldn’t even remotely think of creatures outside of the ones approved by YHWH in Leviticus 11. Verse 43 says that if you eat anything not designated as a food source that you become an abomination to YHWH if you eat it! Every animal has its purpose in creation. Some are scavengers, YHWH’s garbage collectors (Carnivores and Omnivores), and theses are the types we are forbidden to eat, and rightly so. For example, pigs do not have sweat glands, this is why it wallows in mud to keep cool. Since they don’t have sweat glands, they can’t rid their body of toxins like we can, so the toxins stay in their meat, and we consume that if we eat pork! Also, shrimp is the sea equivalent to the cockroach, and the crab is the sea equivalent to spiders. I saw a documentary about some primitive tribal natives in some far off jungle where the narrator tried fried tarantulas, and he said it tastes like crab. Verse 5 of I Timothy chapter 4 does NOT mean that if you pray or bless unclean food that Elohim will “magically” take the impurities away. The physical consequences of disobeying Torah still stand. Exodus 15:26

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says that if Israel keeps Torah, Elohim will not allow the diseases of the Egyptians to come upon them. Autopsies have been preformed on many Egyptian mummies, and out of all the mummies autopsied most died of one of three diseases, and these are the same top three Americans die of today. These diseases are a direct result of not keeping a kosher diet. They are: 1. Diabetes 2. Heart disease 3. Cancer Verse 3 of I Timothy 4, gives us a little context. Some were abstaining from meat altogether and becoming vegetarians for fear of not personally knowing the source of the meat, Jew or Pagan. If the meat was served by a Jew, whether it was originally bought or received from a pagan, the buyer would know if it was kosherly slaughtered or not. If kosher and blessed, it’s “set apart” and dedicated to Elohim, and made holy, regardless if it was offered to an idol or not. Many people say that Yeshua Himself declared “all things clean”. (Mk. 7:19) That phrase in the KJV is italicized which means the translators added it for confusion… I mean clarification. So, those are not Yahshua’s words, nor his intent. Nor was Kefa (Peter’s) vision in Acts 10 permission from Elohim to disregard the dietary laws of Lev. 11. Kefa even admitted the vision concerned the inclusion of Gentiles into faith in Yahshua HaMoshiach. (Acts 10-11) The only conceivable reason why YHWH would change the dietary laws is that He is a liar and does change, contrary to Scripture, and that He no longer loves and cares about us. It is so sad that people are so attached to such a thing as types of “food,” that they can’t give up something so insignificant in light of HaShem’s direct and loving commands. Besides, today there are enough substitutes that one shouldn’t even miss, or make not having certain “foods” easier to deal with. For example they have Turkey Bacon, Lamb and Veggie sausage, Veggie burgers, imitation crab made from fish, etc. But Rav Sha’ul said in Philippians 3:19 (CJB), “They are headed for destruction! Their god is the belly; they are proud of what they ought to be ashamed of, since they are concerned about things of the world.” Our bodies are considered the Temple of Elohim. We do not want to put anything in it that will defile it. We Jews believe Elohim has given us the 230

divine responsibility to do all to His glory. When we eat, we elevate everything we consume to a holy status. Because it is put in the Temple of Elohim and used to do His will, fulfilling commandments, doing His Torah! Many who are not familiar with Judaism and the Hebraic Scriptures feel animal sacrifice is cruel, inhumane, barbaric and pagan. However: 1. G-d instituted animal sacrifice all the way from Genesis. In archeological and critical historical religious literature the authors (usually agnostic, atheist or secular) often attempt to make one believe other cultures are older and predate that of Scriptural writ, simply because physical evidence found is often older than the earliest Biblical manuscripts. They claim that the Biblical writers took traditions and stories from these so called older cultures and adopted them as their own creation story and flood account and so on. However, if one believes the inerrancy of Scripture one would easily realize that the entire world was at one time one people, language and culture until the confounding of the languages at the Tower of Babel. Thus, in the post Babel world everyone took the shared traditions and legends from the Creation to the Flood and all the prophecies of redemption and messiah that lies therein and molded into what each people group has become. This is why every people group has a creation and flood story. Just because most all cultures practice or practiced at one point animal sacrifice, have legends of virgin births, god-men messiahs, and just because they appear in Christianity and Nazarene Judaism does not mean they were gleaned from a pre-Biblical pagan culture of Mesopotamians, Canaanites or what have you. No, we did not rip stories from them and claimed them as our own holy history, they ripped stories from us. 2. The Torah way of slaughter is the most humane of any slaughtering techniques. As described in the section dealing with the Burnt Offering, the animal is calmed prior to slaughter and the slaughtering itself uses as razor sharp blade and one swift stroke from jugular to jugular is cut so the animal feels minimal to no pain and passes out as if it falls asleep on account of the instant massive loss of blood. 3. The animal is not wasted. Many times the skin and meat is used and eaten.

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Blood Atonement is Essential Now, to tie it all together regarding the meaning of blood in regards to the Levitical sacrifices. Orthodox Jews may say, “Okay, for the sake of argument, let’s say Yeshua is the Divine Messiah; His so-called “atoning death on the cross” is meaningless, for we know since the Temple has been destroyed that out prayers replace the sacrifices. Besides, the G-d of Israel does not condone human sacrifices. Also I don’t think you understand the nature of the ancient blood sacrifices.” This is a classic argument to skirt around the issue at hand. The antimissionaries will tell you that that the prophets clearly states that G-d did not care for their blood sacrifices and that since the Temple was destroyed that prayers have replace the sacrifices and that is sufficient means for atonement today. Okay, first off, if the blood sacrifices are of no importance, why was it done in the past and way is it looked forward to in the future with the rebuilding of the 3rd Temple and why do Ultra-Orthodox Jews sling a chicken over their head and say something to the effect, may the blood of this chicken suffice for my atonement and then they butcher and eat it after Yom Kippur? If sacrifices are not important anymore why is there a Temple Institute that are training up Priests to perform such sacrifices when the Temple is rebuilt? The prophets did say G-d did not care for their blood sacrifices, He also said He didn’t care for the Feasts that they observe that He Himself instituted in Leviticus 23! Does this mean that G-d changes His mind, is wishy-washy? No way! G-d forbid! Then we must seek the context of such claims and passages to explain this issue. Isaiah chapter one is perfect for this, for in it G-d tells Israel that He loathes their Feasts and Sacrifices. Why? Because they perform it out of religious rote and not with true intent and sincerity of heart. What makes the sacrifices effective is the intent and motive in which they are preformed. G-d wants the heart of the individual before the sacrifice of the animal. G-d says continually over and over that a sacrifice given in the right manner is a pleasing aroma to Him, a sweet smelling savor in His nostrils. This is why G-d prefers mercy and not sacrifice (Hos. 6:6).

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If you say that G-d replaced the sacrificial system and did away with it you are worse than Christians who says that the Torah has been done away with. For you are making G-d a liar and one who changes which He emphatically says He does not (Mal. 3:6, Titus 1:2, Heb. 13:8). It is true however that prayer has temporarily replaced some of the sacrifices, but has not done away with them, this was even prophesied, and it was prophesied that they would again resume (Hos. 3:4-5, 14:1-2). This was cause Israel to repent and desire the things of G-d and His Torah once more. Besides, even if we did have the Temple today the majority of us could not sacrifice because we live in the Diaspora and cannot go to the Temple to sacrifice. So what is the function of the sacrifices then? As I have said earlier in our discussion of the 5 major sacrifices, there is a great misunderstanding regarding the blood atonement in that antimissionaries will tell you that you can be atoned by things other than blood. However, the blood atonement in Judaism is essential, foundational and irreplaceable, both the Tanak and the Brit Chadasha as well as Rabbinical sources state that without the shedding of blood there is no atonement. It is hinted even from the first several passages of Genesis that blood atonement was important from the beginning. Blood had to be shed when Gd made skins for Adam and Eve to wear to cover themselves when they fell and discovered their nakedness. The Torah before it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;set in stone,â&#x20AC;? penned by Moshe, it was orally passed down from G-d to Adam and so on and this is why Cain and Able knew about the importance of and how to perform a blood sacrifice. Abraham had a blood covenant with G-d in the account of the covenant of the parts which was a common practice between a king and his vassal nation, but the point being that Abraham was asleep during this covenant therefore he was exempt from keeping his half of the deal because humanly it was impossible, but G-d said He would protect and keep Israel and the blood was the symbol of that and G-d in essence said that if he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep his end of the bargain then may he end up like the slain animals. Then the importance was clearly highlighted in the story of the Exodus and the necessity of the blood of a lamb to keep away the Angel of Death; shortly after this in Exodus 24 Israel enters a formal covenant with G-d 233

sealed by blood. Moses actually sprinkled the blood on the people making it clear that this divine covenant was formalized and finalized by blood being shed. Onkelos in his Targum said of Exodus 24:8 “And Moses took the blood and poured it on the altar as ATONEMENT for the people. So the Rabbinic thought reflected in the Targum went beyond the text of the Tanak itself in saying that the blood provided atonement for the people. Exodus 29:33 is specific that the blood sacrifices were for atonement. And the this couldn’t be more clearer in the Torah dealing with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Exodus 30) and G-d is not a man that He should lie, He doesn’t change and is the same Yesterday today and forever as is His Word, His Torah. The only reason we do not sacrifice today is because we have not standing Temple and this really disturbed the Rabbi’s who came up with the idea that prayer and fasting replaced the sacrifices, yet this is not told us in scripture, even though prayer and fasting may accompany a sacrifice or the act of repentance itself. Yeshua’s atoning death covers the time when we have no Temple and after when we do have one again and the sacrifices resume which the role of the sacrifices them will be to provide for the Levites and to remind us of Yeshua’s atoning work on the cross. In Leviticus, the Handbook of the Priests so to speak atonement is mentioned about fifty times and in each case it is always in conjunction with blood sacrifices. Blood is important because the Torah tells us that the life is in the blood, so the blood represents life, the animal’s life for our life, Yeshua’s life for our life, this is the meaning of atonement. Rabbis from Rashi on use Lev. 17:11 as a proof text that the power of the sacrifices was in the blood. Rashi said, “For every creature is dependant on blood, therefore I have given it to you on the altar to atone for the life of man; let life come and atone for the life,” – Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus Vol. II pg 107 3rd paragraph Rashi states that the fundamental principle of atonement is in the blood (b. Yoma 5a). “Does the laying on of the hand [on the sacrifice] make atonement for one? Does not atonement come through the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life!... Does the waving [of the offering] make atonement? Is it not the blood which makes atonement, as it is written, ‘For it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.’” – b. Yoma 5a (Soncino Talmud) and is almost identical to: b. Zevahim 6a; b. Menahot 93b; Sifra 4:9 234

Rabbi J.H. Hertz said: “The use of blood, represents life, in the rites of atonement symbolized the complete yielding up of the worshippers life to God, and conveyed the thought that the surrender of a man to the will of God carried out with it the assurance of Divine pardon.”

As the Rabbi’s said, “‘Ein Kapparah ‘Ella ‘Be-dam. There is no expiation except by means of blood.” So much so that in Ultra Orthodox sects, seeing as there is no Temple and thus no atoning sacrifice on Yom Kippur, offer a blood sacrifice of a rooster or hen on the Eve of Yom Kippur by taking a live rooster and swinging it around their head three times and say, “This is my substitute, this is my vicarious offering, this is my atonement. This rooster/hen shall meet death, but I shall find a long and pleasant life of peace.” Then the bird is ritually slaughtered. It wasn’t until AFTER the Temple was destroyed that the Talmudic Rabbis began to teach that there are other was of atonement (Good Deeds, Fasting and Prayer) besides the blood sacrifice on the Temple altar. Once the point has been clearly established that a blood sacrifice is necessary for atonement an anti-missionary may point to passages that seem to indicate that other things could atone besides blood. For example, in Lev. 5:11-15 it speaks of the poor that are unable to bring the required sin offering of a lamb, goat, turtledove, etc, could offer flour instead. But a careful reading will reveal that the handful of flour burned as a memorial portion upon the altar is coupled with previous blood sacrifices already on the altar and that that blood atones for the poor person. Nowhere in Torah does it speak of or hint that flour has any atoning power for sin. “Then what of money?” An anti-missionary may ask. Exodus 30:12-16 and Numbers 31:48-50 seems to indicate this but the texts do not prove that these passages deal with atonement for sin and even Jewish scholars will tell you that the passage talks about ransom, not atonement; two totally different things. The word translated “atonement” is not “kippur,” but “kopher,” though they come from the same root word it is better translated, “ransom” and has nothing to do with personal atonement for sin.

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Nor can incense be used as personal atonement for sin as some may try to say it does using Num. 16:46-48 [17:11-13]. Incense may be able to stop a plague but cannot atone for sin. Even the Talmud states in b. Zevahim 88a that incense could be used as an atonement for sin. Usually the next step in this parade is to say that we Messianic/Natsari Jews misunderstand the sacrificial system and that only unintentional sins were atoned for and all one had to do is repent to be clear of an intentional sin and nothing can be further from the truth because Scripture and even Talmud is abundantly clear on this. The Hattat (Sin) Offering was for unintentional sin and the Asham (Guilt) Offering was made for intentional sin, on top of the sacrificial Guilt Offering you had to repent in the fact you had to make restitution for whatever wrong you committed depending on the wrong done. But even this wasn’t guaranteed to grant Divine forgiveness and pardon, one had to truly be repentant and that is a matter of the heart that only G-d can see and judge. However, an outward indication that repentance was truly made id when the person is presented with the same temptation and declines. This is shown in the Talmud in Yoma 8:9. Even Hebrews 10:26-31 tells us that such sins that are truly unrepentant in that the offender willfully commits them again and again after sacrifices have been made will not be forgiven. Also Baruch Levine a leading Jewish authority on atonement and sacrifices said concerning the Asham Offering: “The offenses outlined here [in Lev. 5:20-26, or 6:1-7 in most English translations] were quite definitely intentional! A person misappropriated property or funds entrusted to his safekeeping, or defrauding another, or failing to restore lost property he had located… If, subsequently, the accused came forth on his own and admitted to having lied under oath – thus assuming liability for the unrecovered property – he was given the opportunity to clear himself by making restitution and paying a fine of 20 percent to the aggrieved party. Having lied under oath, he had also offended God and was obliged to offer an ‘asham sacrifice in His Name because the guilty person is willing to make restitution to the victim of his crime.” – Baruch Levine

Then of course you have Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and the sacrifices preformed on that day with covered both intentional and unintentional sin.

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Leviticus 16:20-22 speaks of “pasha,” meaning, “willful sins” and that they were forgiven on Yom Kippur just as unintentional sins were. In the Talmud, Shevu’ot 1:6 and Maimonides Laws of Repentance 1:2 speaks of unintentional and intentional sins being atoned for by the blood sacrifice on Yom Kippur. Even if you win that argument they will say it is all irrelevant anyway because the Temple is not standing and thus the sacrifices cannot be preformed and so sins cannot be atoned for, but provision has been made to have prayer be effective for atoning for sin, quoting Ezekiel 18 and 33 and Dan. 6:10. But if one makes and honest exegesis of these passage and put them in their correct context it will be clear that no where is it taught that prayer replaces the sacrifices and thus prayer atones for sin now and has replaced the sacrifices? No where! Out of the three prayers we pray Shacharit (Morning), Mincha (Noon) and Ma’ariv (Night), only Shacharit and Mincha is in commemoration of the sacrifices but does not replace them, the third Daniel may have prayed but didn’t become standard till later in Judaism and has nothing to do with the sacrifices or the Temple. It is said the three prayers model the prayer times of the Patriarchs respectively, Avraham, Isaac and Jacob. Even the Shemoneh Esreh prayed within the Shacharit prayers expresses the importance of and the longing for the Temple to be rebuilt and the sacrifices to resume. If you read Daniels prayers he prayed for the restoration of the Temple and its oblations and would have been dumbfounded and even outraged that someone would suggest or even think that prayer replaced the sacrifices. The Sacrifices and the Temple were clearly important to Ezra and Nehemiah, and those that returned from Babylonian captivity so much so they planned for its rebuilding and nothing is said or even hinted that prayers replaced the sacrifices when the Temple wasn’t standing nor the sacrifices that were to be given. Matter of fact, one of the first thing they did was rebuilt the sacrificial altar. The Temple and the restoration of the sacrifices were so important to the Maccabees that they fought for it and their efforts are celebrated to this day 237

in the festival of Chanukah that Even Yeshua the Messiah celebrated! Torah Observant Believers in Messiah long and anticipate with the rest of Judaism the rebuilding of the Third Temple and the performance of the sacrifices. If this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t such an important thing why worry about the bloody mess of sacrifices and the trouble of building another Temple if prayers suffice? It makes no sense. So as we can exegetically, clearly, logically see the blood sacrifice is of utmost importance in its relevance, applicability and necessity.

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Yeshua and His Sacrifice First we must rightly establish who Messiah Yeshua is if we are to correctly understand His sacrifice. I believe Yeshua Ha Moshiach of Nazareth is the prophesied Messiah of Israel. That He was FULLY Elohim to be able to redeem us from our sins, and FULLY man to have the right to redeem us from our sins, to be our Kinsmen Redeemer (Ruth, Jer.17:5-7, Jn.1). Yeshua is the perfect, holy, sinless Messiah, (Figurative) the Son of Elohim, who is the Word that became flesh and “sukkot, tabernacled,” dwelt among us (Jn.1:14). “What we must keep in mind is that to rob Yeshua of His full deity (divinity) or His full humanity is to rob ourselves of our salvation.” Bikurei Tziyon, issue 71, pg.29 (Italics mine). His flesh was not Elohim; He is the “Lesser YHWH” which is an emanation of Elohim as is mentioned in the Kabbalah, robed in the form of flesh. He was an emanation of Elohim, who came to dwell in a mortal body that never saw corruption (Ps.14:10), a pure deity manifest in the flesh. He was not an incarnation, which would denote that 100% of Elohim came in the flesh. Yeshua was FULLY Elohim in the flesh, but not 100% Elohim. Elohim is so infinite that He is everywhere and fills everything, so it would be impossible for ALL of Elohim to be limited to a mortal body. Let me put in the words of Dr. Friedman, “If we were to go to the Mediterranean Sea and fill a glass with sea water, we can say that all the water in the glass is truly sea water. However we cannot call the glass, “The Mediterranean Sea.” There is much more to the Mediterranean Sea than the glass. Yet nonetheless, the water in that glass is truly Mediterranean Sea water through and through.” Even the Tanya (a book of Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism) says: “Therefore the Sages, of blessed memory, made it obligatory to rise and remain standing (15) in the presence of anyone who is engaged in fulfilling a commandment, even if the latter is uncultured and illiterate. [When such a person performs a mitzvah, such as bringing Bikkurim (the First Fruits) to the Beit HaMikdash, one must rise before him]. This is because G-d dwells and clothes Himself in this man's soul at such time.” Yeshua the Messiah was the Living manifestation of the Torah, all of the commandments Itself, and NEVER broke one! There are many out there who claim to be Netzarim who do not believe Yeshua was Divine. Some of these people are from a branch called the

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Ebonites. They cannot back up their position by ancient rabbinic literature, or ancient interpretation of the Scriptures. They can only use late 1st century to modern Jewish doctrine which was created as reactionary doctrine to separate themselves from the True Natsarim, to back up their stance. I believe that Yahshua, just as the Ruach Ha Kodesh, is an emanation of Elohim. Yeshua is the Kohen Ha Gadol (High priest) who became the ultimate, once and for all atoning sacrifice Himself, for all mankind (Heb.4:14-5:10; 6:19-8:2). I believe salvation is only available through Him. I believe Yeshua came first as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) the Suffering Servant, and will be returning as Messiah ben David the Kingly Messiah. I believe that these two pictures of the Messiah, given in Scripture are one and the same. As C.S. Lewis once said, “He is either a Liar, a Lunatic, or L-RD.” I believe in Yeshua Messiah’s prophesied virgin birth, holy, sinless life, Torah observant lifestyle, His miracles, redemptive sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, ascension, and future return and reign. I believe The Messiah will come again. Daniel Rendelmen from Emet Ministries recently came our with a teaching called “Truth or Dare Savior” purposing that Yeshua Messiah was inwardly divine (and there is little to no dispute there) but that his body was 100% divine, that if He truly had a human body as we have that he would have inherited the sinful condition every human has passed down by Adam as a result of the Fall. I am not afraid to be wrong. I am willing to be wrong if someone can prove to me in an unquestionable manner that my doctrine is faulty. Because all I want is the Truth in all matters. However, in this instance I will have to respectfully disagree with my brother. I do not see unquestionable Scriptural evidence to say that Messiah’s body was 100% divine. He claims that the whole “god-man messiah” concept came from paganism. I will I argue the opposite later on in this work when we discuss the Messiah’s virgin birth. Yeshua’s Genealogical Record Like a ball of tightly tangled Chanukah lights, sifting through and trying to sort out the seeming contradictions in the Brit Chadasha regarding the linage of Yeshua can be frustrating and makes one want to loose ones religion, in both senses of the word! The first thing we must understand is that 240

regardless of what Christians may say the Greek was NOT the Original Language of the Renewed Covenant Documents, it was Hebrew and Aramaic. Non-believing Jews and or Catholic Authorities have either burned or confiscated most of them yet we have enough floating around to now have a complete translation of the Brit Chadasha from the Hebrew and Aramaic in what we know as the “HRV: Hebrew Roots Version.” So from the get go you have a language barrier and you have mostly gentile translators not proficient in Hebrew and Aramaic and doing their best to make sense of the Greek which the Hebrew and Aramaic texts were translated into. I believe besides understanding the language, the next thing we need to do is to understand genealogies from a Hebraic stand point which is, if you will notice that prior to the pogroms and persecutions of the Jewish people that ones linage was traced through the fathers to establish tribal identity and only after things such as the Inquisition and Holocaust (on account of rapes etc.) it became necessary to trace ones “Jewish-ness” through the mother. For in cases such as stated one may not know who their father is, but unless you were adopted, orphaned or abandoned you know who your mother is. So in the Scriptures you have genealogies traced through the father with the occasional mention of women usually for specific reasons. The Scriptures state every name from before David (Adam to David) and every name after David (David to Zerubbabel). This is usually referred to the Messianic line because Moshiach was of the house of David. The genealogies limit more and more the human origin of the Messiah because as the "Seed of the Woman" (Gen. 3:15), Messiah had to come out of humanity. As the "Seed of Avraham" (Gen. 22:18), The Messiah had to come from the nation of Israel and as the "Seed of Judah" He had to be of the tribe of Judah ("the rod out of the stem of Jesse" (Isa. 11:1, 10)), and as the "Seed of David" he had to be of the family of David, "the priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4), the "Immanuel," "the virgin's son" (Isa. 7:14), "the branch of Jehovah" (Isa. 4:2), and "the messenger of the covenant." The Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) fulfilled all of these requirements. Let’s look at the two genealogies in question and see if we can untangle this ball of lights without “loosing our religion,” shall we?

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The two genealogies in question are found in, Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38. By a careful reading of these two texts it would appear that Matthew records Yosef’s (Joseph’s) line and Luke records Miriam’s (Mary’s) line. One may point out that is Yeshua wasn’t really Yosef’s son why bring up the linage? For two reasons the first I will spell out for you now, the second I will deal with a little later.

“In the case of Yeshua, it is unlikely that Joseph would have registered Yeshua as an "adopted son" because he would then have to explain the Virgin Birth to the Roman authorities and they would have considered him to be mad. He would have just registered Yeshua as his son. Even if Yeshua had been born outside of Joseph's household, and Joseph had adopted him, he would still be considered to be Joseph's son just as if he had been born there. The Talmud states emphatically that there is no difference between an adopted child and a child who was born into the household, and the genealogical tables in the Bible do not attempt to identify anyone as an "adopted son". Instead they are just called "sons". Here is an example. And the sons of Ezrah were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon ... And his [Mered's] wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took. (1 Chr. 4:17-18) According to the Talmud, Jehudijah and Bithiah were one and the same person. She was the daughter of Pharaoh who took Moses out of the bulrushes and looked after him. She was a Jewish Proselyte, and the purpose of her trip to the river was to cleanse herself from the idolatry of Pharaoh's house. Jered is considered to be Moses, and it says she "bare" him, even though she only looked after him. The quotes from the Talmud are as follows: R. Simon b. Pazzi once introduced an exposition of the Book of Chronicles as follows: 'All thy words are one, and we know how to find their inner meaning'. [It is written], And his wife the Jewess bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah, and these are the sons of Bithya the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. Why was she [the daughter of Pharaoh] called a Jewess? 242

Because she repudiated idolatry, as it is written, And the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the river, and R. Johanan, [commenting on this,] said that she went down to cleanse herself from the idols of her father's house. 'Bore': But she only brought him [Moses] up? - This tells us that if anyone brings up an orphan boy or girl in his house, the Scripture accounts it as if he had begotten him. 'Jered': this is Moses. Why was he called Jered? Because manna came down [yarad] for Israel in his days. (Talmud Mas. Megilah 13a) And his wife Ha-Jehudiah bore Yered the father of Gedor [and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah] and these are the sons of Bithia the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. Now, 'Mered' was Caleb; and why was he called Mered? . - Because he opposed the counsel of the other spies. But was he [Moses] indeed born of Bithia and not rather of Jochebed? - But Jochebed bore and Bithia reared him; therefore he was called after her. (Talmud Mas. Sanhedrin 19b) The Talmud Mas. Megilah uses the literal translation of Ha-Jehudiah which means "the Jewess" while Mas. Sanhedrin acknowledges it as a name. The name "Bithiah" might have been given to Pharaoh's daughter when she was converted, since it means "daughter of God". Then she was called Jehudijah when she married Mered, because she had joined the tribe of Judah. Amram and Jochebed, the genetic father and mother of Moses, are mentioned in Exodus 6:20 and Numbers 26:59. If Mered was Caleb, it follows that his father Ezrah was Jephunneh the Kenezite, mentioned in Numbers 32:12 and Joshua 14:6,14. The Kenezites lived in the land that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants, and they are mentioned in Genesis 15:19. It appears, therefore, that Ezrah (Jephunneh) was a Proselyte who worshipped the God of Israel and joined the tribe of Judah. So we have Mered (Caleb), the son of a Proselyte, marrying Bithiah, who was also a Proselyte.” -Tikvat David Articles 2008 http://www.annomundi.com/bible/virgin_birth.htm

Mathew starts in the past and works his way to the present and Luke starts from the present and works his way back to the past. But we find that both are from the House of David. But unlike Yosef she came from David’s son Nathan, not Solomon, because Yeshua physically did not come from Yosef, he didn’t have the disqualifying mark to the Throne because of having Jechonia’s blood in him. This will be discussed further in a bit. Also to understand the reason for these two genealogies in the Brit Chadasha we must understand the kingship in the Hebrew Scriptures. After Solomon there were two kingdom’s thus two kingly lines. The southern Kingdom of Judah, with the capital in Jerusalem, while the other was the northern Kingdom of Israel, sometimes called Ephraim, with its capital Samaria. The requirement for the throne of Judah was Davidic descendants. No one was 243

allowed on David's throne unless he was a member of the house of David. There was a conspiracy to do away with the house of David (Isaiah 7:5-6) and G-d warned that such a conspiracy would never come to pass (Isaiah 8:9-15).

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now with the background of these two biblical requirements for kingship and what is stated in the two New Testament genealogies, the question of Jesus' right to the throne can be resolved! Lets look at Matthews genealogy. In Matthews's genealogy, Matthew breaks with Jewish tradition and custom, he mentions the names of four women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. (Matt 1:3,5,6) It is contrary to Jewish practice to name women in a genealogy. The Talmud states, "A mother's family is not to be called a family." Even the few women Luke does mention were not the most prominent women in the genealogy of Yeshua. Matthew however I believe has a reason for naming the four women and no others. Lets consider these four women for a second. 1) 1) Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth were gentiles and it is probably true of Bathsheba as well, since her husband was Uriah the Hittite. This could possibly be a hint that salvation is coming also to the gentiles. 2) 2) Three of these women were guilty of sexual sin. Bathsheba was guilty of adultery (2Sam. 11:3-4), Tamar guilty of incest (Gen. 38:15-19) and Rahab was guilty of prostitution (Joshua 2:1). Matthew (1:1-17) traces the genealogy of Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, by going back and working forward until his time. He starts tracing the line with Abraham (Verse 2) and continues to David (verse 6). Out of David's many sons, Solomon is chosen (Verse 6), and the line is then traced to King Jeconiah (Verse 11), one of the last kings before the Babylonian captivity. From Jeconiah (verse 12), the line is traced to Joseph (Verse 16). This is significant in Matthews genealogy because of the special curse pronounced on Jeconiah in Jeremiah 22:24-30. See Jeremiah 22:24-30 Basically, no descendant of Jeconiah would have the right to sit in the throne of David. Until Jeremiah the first requirement for messianic lineage was to be of the house of David. With Jeremiah, it was limited even more. Now, one had to be not only of the house of David but also apart from Jeconiah's curse. So, according to Matthew's genealogy, Joseph had the blood of Jeconiah in his veins (that is if Jesus was born from Joseph). He would not have been qualified to sit on David's throne. It also means that no real son of Joseph would have the right to claim the throne of David. Therefore, if Jesus were the real son of Joseph, he would have been disqualified from sitting on David's throne, and he also could not claim the right to David's throne by adoption by Joseph since because through Joseph one could not be heir to the throne! The next logical question would be is "what is the purpose of 244

Matthew's genealogy?" The purpose then is to show why Yeshua could not be king if he were really Joseph's son because he was born from a virgin, Mary. The purpose was not to show the royal line. This is so because immediately Matthew gives the account of the virgin birth after the record of the genealogy. It seems from Matthews viewpoint this is a valid solution to the Jeconiah problem. So, Matthew concludes that if Jesus were really Joseph's son, he could not claim to sit on David's throne because of the Jeconiah curse but, Jesus was not Joseph's son because he was born from the virgin Mary accounted in Matthew 1:18-25. With the mention of the virgin birth of Yeshua (Jesus) we need to take a short examination of the scripture verse in Isa. 7:14 which describes the virgin birth.” – www.matsati.com

Yeshua didn’t have to come from the first born males line to be heir to the Throne, the inheritance can be passed down through either one of his sons, just as the inheritance was passed down through Jacob (the second born) rather than Esau (the first born). So what if Jeconiah’s line does matter in this situation? How can Yeshua be the Messiah?! Yehoiakhin is in His genealogy! How then, can we even have a Messiah, since according to Jewish tradition, Messiah descends from Jehoiakhin? We have an entire article addressing this issue: The Curse of Jeconiah and the Signet Ring. However, If someone tries to lay claim to the Jehoiakhin argument against Yeshua, then he/she will have to admit that the Messiah will be born of a virgin, who is physically descended from David, all the while marrying a husband physically descended from King Shlomo to meet the requirements! Messiah descends from Jehoiakhin Tanhuma Genesis, Toledot (8th-9th c.) Scripture alludes here to the verse Who art thou, O great mountain before Zerubbabel? Thou shalt become a plain (Zech. 4:7). This verse refers to the Messiah, the descendant of David. . . .From whom will the Messiah descend? From Zerubbabel. - Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, translated by Samuel A. Berman (Hoboken, NJ: Ktav, 1996), p. 182. Rabbi A. J. Rosenberg on Jeremiah 22:24 (20th c.) Malbim calls to our attention that in the prophecy of Haggai (2:23), God says, "On that day I will take you, Zerubbabel, and I will make you like a signet," for the King Messiah will be like a signet ring on God's right hand, so to speak. Just as the name of the owner of the ring is engraved on his signet ring, through which he makes himself known, so will God's name be known in the world through the King Messiah, through whom His miracles will be known. He says here that, though, in 245

the future, Coniah will be the signet on My right hand, for the Messiah will spring from his seed, now I will remove him from there. --Ibid., p. 183. Malbim is an acronym for Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michale, a 19th c. rabbi and commentator. 22:24. The Curse Was Canceled Sanhedrin 37a, Soncino Talmud R. Johanan said: Exile atones for everything, for it is written, "Thus saith the Lord, write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days, for no man of his seed shall prosper sitting upon the throne of David and ruling any more in Judah." a Whereas after he [the king] was exiled, it is written, And the sons of Jechoniah,-the same is Assir-Shealtiel his son etc.b [He was called] Assir,c because his mother conceived him in prison. Shealtiel, d because God did not plant him in the way that others are planted. . . Another interpretation: Shealtiel, because God obtained e [of the Heavenly Court] absolution from His oath."f footnotes: a. Jer. XXII, 30 . b. I Ch. II, 17. Notwithstanding the curse that he should be childless and not prosper, after being exiled he was forgiven. c. ASYR, imprisoned. d. AL ShTLV, a play on ShALTYAL. e. ShAL AL, 'God asked." f. Which He had made, to punish Jechoniah with childlessness. Leviticus Rabbah XIX:6 (5th-6th c.) R. Shabbethai said: He [Jeconiah] did not move thence before the Holy One, blessed be He, pardoned him all his sins. Referring to this occasion Scripture has said: Thou art all fair, my love, and there is no blemish in thee (S.S. IV, 7). A Heavenly Voice went forth and said to them: 'Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings' (Jer. III, 22). - Soncino Midrash Rabbah vol. 4, p. 249 http://www.messianicart.com/chazak/brit/toledotyeshua.htm

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Secondly, we need to look at the concept of women receiving the inheritance of their fathers rather than the son. There is precedence for this in the law Bamidbar 27:4-11 (Numbers 27:4-11) and Bamidbar 36:1-13 (Numbers 36:1-13) See Numbers 27:4-11 and Numbers 36:1-13 According to the Torah in Bamidbar pinchas 27:6-11 (Numbers 27:6-11) Hashem (The Name, God) gave a commandment concerning inheritance as a decree of justice to the children of Israel. The daughters of zelophehad spoke because their 246

father had no sons and he had died in the wilderness because of his sin 27:3 there was no one to pass the inheritance on. God declared that if this was the case the inheritance should be passed on to the daughters, fathers brothers, or closest relative to keep the land within the family. In like manner when Jeconiah was cursed there was no one to pass on the line to the throne of David therefore in this case as well the inheritance was passed onto the second son Nathan and on up to Mary the mother of Jesus. Jesus indeed had the right to sit on the throne of David. There were other members of the house of David that were apart from Jeconiah. These descendants could equally claim the throne of David because they didn't have Jeconiah's blood in their veins. So another question might be why Yeshua (Jesus) and not one of the others? This is where divine appointment comes into the picture; this is the second biblical requirement for kingship. Of all the members of the house of David apart from Jeconiah only one received divine appointment Luke 1:30-33 states:

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. It is very clear that by the word of the angel from the Lord, Yeshua (Jesus) was divinely appointed to the throne of David according to verse 32.” – www.matsati.com

Although Miriam was a cousin to Elizabeth, a Levite, some say this qualifies Yeshua to be Priest as well, but I disagree, his priesthood does not come from Levi, the Prophecies foretell of Messiah being a priest in the order of Melchezidek. This means that the Melchezideckian order of Priesthood which is older and above the Levitical priesthood and when Messiah returns he will not only be King but also He will supervise the Levites in the Temple, NOT do away with their service. Besides, I’m not so sure Miriam was literal cousin of Elizabeth, to satisfy prophecy she wouldn’t need to be: “The term "daughters of Aaron" means Elizabeth was a Levite, and more specifically a Cohen. The word "cousin" is from the Greek "suggenes" which means a relative or someone of the same race, not necessarily a cousin as it appears in the KJAV. Some translations alternatively use the word "kinswoman". 247

In the context of Luke 1:34-37, it is not clear how Mary and Elizabeth were related. It's possible that Mary might have been a Cohen, the same as Elizabeth. If intertribal marriage was possible, they could have been blood-relatives from different tribes.” -- Tikvat David Articles 2008 http://www.annomundi.com/bible/virgin_birth.htm

The Virgin Birth: Jewish Style Matt. 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. In all three Avrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity (except for some cult branches) and Islam, all hold the thought of G-d literally having intercourse with Miriam (Mary) as detestable and blasphemous. Yet, if we are honest with our mortal selves we can’t help but entertain the thought as a means to try to find some rational to satisfy out finite minds. Even though we know that G-d is a Spirit (John 4:24), doesn’t have a body, and human traits do not apply to Him (see Rambam’s 13 Principles), we usually see G-d as, well, a Him. So when we think of Miriam “having conceived of the Holy Ghost”, we can’t help but think of G-d as a male personage. Allow me to show you another way to view this mystery, that I feel will help alleviate many difficulties stated above and fit well within Hebraic culture and thought. First off, as said before we know that G-d is a Spirit and has no gender, but the Hebrew language does, and so in describing G-d one cannot help but 248

apply gender to Him, albeit grammatical gender. This being said, the Hebrew for “Holy Ghost” is feminine and in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) the Holy Spirit is labeled as such. Second, infertility plagued our Biblical Matriarchs, and thus surrogate mothers were thus employed in the guise of handmaids married and moved to the status of concubines. Leah and Rachel had Zilpah and Bilhah when they no longer could have children themselves. G-d, know that prophecy required a kinsman redeemer, a G-d-man if you will, not a Man-god as in Mormonism. One who was 100% G-d to have the ability to redeem and atone for sin, but also 100% man to have that right to be a kinsman redeemer. G-d could have just said “Shazam!” and there be a G-d-man, Messianic Kinsman Redeemer, but it wouldn’t be legitimate because a human agent was a requirement for it to be a legitimate fulfillment of prophecy and to satisfy the Messianic linage from the House of David. So thus Miriam (Mary) was employed by G-d through the agent of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to be a surrogate mother of sorts for the Son of G-d to be born, which coincides with the middle pillar on the Kabbalic Seforitic Tree, the Keter, or the Crown. And though a surrogate is used the children are legally considered the children of the one who employed their services. Just as the children Zilpah and Bilhah conceived were legally the children of Leah and Rachel. So in a manner of speaking Yeshua is legally (albeit not literally as if he was a separate entity, but figuratively) the Son of G-d. “According to Rashi's commentary this message is prophetic! and not referring to Isaiah the prophet! Lets next look at a few definitions: Definitions obtained from: Langenscheidt Hebrew Dictionary Langenscheidt Publishers, Inc. 46-35 54th Road, Maspheth, N.Y. 11378 Almah - (alma) f, pl. alamot, - "maiden, young marriageable woman;" Harah - (hara) f, horah, harah, pl. horot, harot - "to conceive, to be pregnant" Now from interpretation this verse can be read as is and still understand that it is referring to a virgin birth (virgin i mean as that had never known a man). First, it is 249

a disgrace for a Jewish man to marry a woman who had played the harlot and gotten pregnant etc. Leviticus 21:14 "A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife." It is commanded to not marry such women, but to marry the virgin women. Now the question arises whether Isaiah should have used the world tula for instead of almah meaning young marriageable woman? The point I am trying to make is that according to the law for a woman to be marriageable she must have her virginity. So in effect, Isaiah was saying that this woman would not only be marriageable but also a virgin according to the law! This can be seen also in the book of Matthew when Joseph had found her (Mary) to be pregnant already, and rather than make it public he was going to put her away privately. Matthew 1:18-19, Joseph saw that she was pregnant and so wouldn't dishonor himself by taking her to be his wife. But, then an angel from the Lord came and told him this child is of the Holy spirit Matthew 1:20, so he did as the Lord had commanded him to do. Joseph took Mary to be his wife. Take an honest look at the scriptures and you will see Isaiah 7:14 to mean this same thing.” – www.matsati.com

Rabbi Tovia Singer an Anti-Missionary of sorts uses rabbinic literature to attempt to debunk the virgin birth and one commentator he uses is Rashi, but he picks and chooses what he wants you to know from Rashi. Singer leaves out Rashi’s closing comments of Isa. 7:14. “And some interpret that this is a sign, that she was a young girl [almah] and incapable of giving birth.” So this makes the point that the birth was indeed unusual maybe even supernatural. So does Rashi mean that almah means virgin? No, but regardless of the distaste of Messianic interpretations to this passage he does indicate that G-d’s sign to Ahaz had to do with a highly unusual nature of the birth. She would be a young girl, an almah and for such a woman to give birth is abnormal. It may also be of interest to note that Rashi interprets the plural for of Almah (Alamot) in Song of Songs 1:3 to mean “virgins” (betulot). Now Luke’s account seems to strictly go by Jewish custom because there are no names of women in the linage. So if this is Miriam’s line how can you trace her line back using only the men? Simple, to trace Miriam’s line back it would trace the husband’s linage. There are also possible reasons in the Tanak for this practice in Ezra 2:61 and in Nehemiah 7:63.

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“If someone studies a genealogy how would he know whether the genealogy was that of the husband or that of the wife? Since in either case the husbands name would be used? Here is where the problem lies with the English language because the answer is not a difficult one! In English it is not good grammar to use the definite article ("the") before a proper name for example: "the" Matthew or "the" Luke or "the" Mary, however it is very permissible in Greek grammar. In the Greek text of Luke's genealogy every single name mentioned has the Greek definite article "the" with one exception, the name of Joseph (Luke 3:23). Someone reading the original would understand by the missing article from Josephs name that this was not really Joseph's genealogy, but his wife Mary. In addition, many translations of Luke 3:23 read: "...being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli..." because of the missing Greek definite article before the name of Joseph, that same verse could be translated as follows: "Being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph the son of Heli..." (A.T. Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels.) In other words, the final parenthesis could be expanded so that the verse reads that although Yeshua was "supposed" or assumed to be the descendant of Joseph, he was really the descendant of Heli. Heli was the father of Mary. The absence of Mary's name is quite in keeping with the Jewish practices on genealogies. The Jerusalem Talmud recognized this genealogy to be that of Mary and not Joseph and refers to Mary as the daughter of Heli (Hagigah 2:4).” – www.matsati.com

Here is but one, but common anti-missionary argument attacking the genealogy and virgin birth of Messiah Yeshua: “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. (Rom 1:3) There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. (Luke 1:5) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:34-37) These verses in combination are sometimes used by anti-deity people to try and disprove the Virgin Birth. The argument is that "the seed of David according to the flesh" means Yeshua was genetically descended from David. If Mary was a cousin of Elizabeth, she must have been a Levite, therefore the genetic line of descent could

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not have been through Mary and it must have been through Joseph. This makes Joseph the genetic father of Yeshua and there is no Virgin Birth. The phrase "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" is explained away by the suggestion that Mary was old and unmarried, and did not expect to have children. This is based on the use of the word "also" that appears in "She hath also conceived a son in her old age". In addition to this, there is the suggestion that Joseph might have been old because he appears to have died before Yeshua began his ministry. The argument is flawed on three counts: •

•

The "seed of David according to the flesh" does not necessarily mean genetic descent. It can also mean that the person is brought up in the house of a descendant of David. In the case of Yeshua, he wasn't just brought up in the household of Joseph, he was born there. His birth was registered by Joseph in Bethlehem the city of David, and he was circumcised on the eighth day under the supervision of Joseph at the Temple in Jerusalem. This was considered to be a physical birth into the household of Joseph, not a spiritual birth as is the case when we are "born again". There is no certainty that Mary was of the tribe of Levi. There was much intermarriage and she could have been a cousin from any tribe. The use of the word "also" is insufficient to establish that Mary was old. There is no reason to believe that this word associates Mary with Elizabeth because of their age. The important thing that they had in common was that they would both have a child. There are other things that suggest that Mary was young and of childbearing age. She was espoused to Joseph, they had other children, and they went to Jerusalem every year for Passover, and she was still around long after the crucifixion because she was referenced from the early church writings.” -- Tikvat David Articles 2008 http://www.annomundi.com/bible/virgin_birth.htm

Yeshua’s Physical Earthly Body This brings up the issue of the human aspect of Messiah. Daniel Rendelmen from Emet Ministries recently came out with a teaching called “Truth or Dare Savior” purposing that Yeshua Messiah was inwardly divine (and there is little to no dispute there) but that his body was 100% divine, that if He truly had a human body as we have that he would have inherited the sinful condition every human has passed down by Adam as a result of the Fall. I am not afraid to be wrong. I am willing to be wrong if someone can prove to me in an unquestionable manner that my doctrine is faulty. Because all I

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want is the Truth in all matters. However, in this instance I will have to respectfully disagree with my brother. I do not see unquestionable Scriptural evidence to say that Messiah’s body was 100% divine. He claims that the whole “god-man messiah” concept came from paganism. However, in an article I wrote called, “Where Did Paganism Come From?” I argue the opposite: “In archeological and critical historical religious literature the authors (usually agnostic, atheist or secular) often attempt to make one believe other cultures are older and predate that of Scriptural writ, simply because physical evidence found is often older than the earliest Biblical manuscripts. They claim that the Biblical writers took traditions and stories from these so called older cultures and adopted them as their own creation story and flood account and so on. However, if one believes the inerrancy of Scripture one would easily realize that the entire world was at one time one people, language and culture until the confounding of the languages at the Tower of Babel. Thus, in the post Babel world everyone took the shared traditions and legends from the Creation to the Flood and all the prophecies of redemption and messiah that lies therein and molded into what each people group has become. This is why every people group has a creation and flood story. Just because most all cultures have legends of virgin births, god-men messiahs, and just because they appear in Christianity and Nazarene Judaism in the truthful events does not mean they were gleaned from a pre-Biblical pagan culture of Mesopotamians, Canaanites or what have you. No, we did not rip stories from them and claimed them as our own holy history, they ripped stories from us. I read books such as “The Two Babylon’s” and see how Satan has perverted the truth in each culture in an attempt to drive them away from the truth, yet the grain of the truth lies within each culture; which lends to the possibility of a pagan culture to come to the truth. Indeed, it is an ingenious plan of the evil one to hide truth in plain sight, yet disguised in cultural paganism. For these reasons I believe the YHWH, Yeshua and the Ruach Ha Kodesh is One but, I do not believe they are, or come from, a pagan trinity. And because of the reasoning stated above I believe Yeshua the Messiah is Divine, and why I believe in the miracle of the Virgin Birth and Resurrection of Messiah from the dead. This is also why I believe He is coming again to reign over the New Earth as the Priest and King. Many things in Judaism that oppose a divine Messiah, a virgin birth and such came after the late 1st century as reactionary doctrine in an attempt distances itself from the pagan influenced Constantinian type Christianity that had separated itself from Nazarene Judaism.”

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And in regards to the Virgin Birth I said in an article entitled, “Virgin Birth: Jewish Style”: “First off, as said before we know that G-d is a Spirit and has no gender, but the Hebrew language does, and so in describing G-d one cannot help but apply gender to Him, albeit grammatical gender. This being said, the Hebrew for “Holy Ghost” is feminine and in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) the Holy Spirit is labeled as such. Second, infertility plagued our Biblical Matriarchs, and thus surrogate mothers were thus employed in the guise of handmaids married and moved to the status of concubines. Leah and Rachel had Zilpah and Bilhah when they no longer could have children themselves. G-d, know that prophecy required a kinsman redeemer, a G-d-man if you will, not a Man-god as in Mormonism. One who was 100% G-d to have the ability to redeem and atone for sin, but also 100% man to have that right to be a kinsman redeemer. G-d could have just said “Shazam!” and there be a G-d-man, Messianic Kinsman Redeemer, but it wouldn’t be legitimate because a human agent was a requirement for it to be a legitimate fulfillment of prophecy and to satisfy the Messianic linage from the House of David. So thus Miriam (Mary) was employed by G-d through the agent of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to be a surrogate mother of sorts for the Son of G-d to be born, which coincides with the middle pillar on the Kabbalic Seforitic Tree, the Keter, or the Crown. And though a surrogate is used the children are legally considered the children of the one who employed their services. Just as the children Zilpah and Bilhah conceived were legally the children of Leah and Rachel. So in a manner of speaking Yeshua is legally (albeit not literally as if he was a separate entity, but figuratively) the Son of G-d.”

Brother Rendelmen’s paper leans toward Gnostic type theories and understanding of the Divine and the nature of the material world. Let me just say that a human body is not sinful, or itself inherits sin, per se. A body feels and suffers the effects of sin. A body is inanimate without the soul and so without the soul cannot be active to commit any type of sin. So a body in and of itself is not sinful or corrupt. It satisfies me to know that Messiah’s blood was divine and it atones for my sins. For the blood is the contribution of the male in the making of a baby, and the Scriptures are clear that Yeshua was virgin born and had no earthy father that contributed to His genetics. Interestingly enough in the Arkcho 254

Volumes, which are ancient official Sanhedrin documents that are the results of an investigation on Yeshua and was the basis for the ancient Jewish book that slams Yeshua called “Yeshu Tadolt”, that until recently was kept from the public by Jewish hands contains official interviews with Miriam (Mary) and Yosef (Joseph) Yeshua’s parents. And it is interesting to note that the one doing the interview, Gamliel I believe, notes that Yeshua looks like his mother, Mary, and has no resemblance to Joseph at all. This would make perfect since in that Joseph contributed no genetic material to Yeshua’s body. However, it makes since that Yeshua looks like Mary because G-d used her egg to make Yeshua’s earthly body. To Brother Rendelmen it seems to matter a great deal that Yeshua’s body was not human as we understand it in any sense of the word. He feels we cannot truly be redeemed if Yeshua had a physical, earthly body as ours. To me it matters that Yeshua’s body was as ours, that He did have a physical, earthy body, and that he did come genetically from the human race (specifically, Mary/Miriam). To me it had to be so for Him to be of the linage of David, and for him to truly be our kinsman redeemer, and to fulfill certain prophecies. Clearly, in Judaism at large that doesn’t believe Yeshua is Messiah, and is still actively looking for the Messiah, feels that he can be born at anytime and does not have any scruples that he comes from and has a human body. They seem to have more trouble in regards to the Messiah being Divine. Though this is not an exhaustive article regarding the Genealogies and virgin birth of Messiah, nonetheless I hope this helps clear up any issues you may have had. As Moulder form the X-Files says, “The Truth is out there.” Prophecy of the Messiah in the Tanak Fulfilled by Yeshua These are but a few prophecies, a list of 324 Messianic prophecies can be found at: http://dansims.home.mindspring.com/messiah.htm • • • • •

Seed of the Woman: Gen.3:15; Gal.4:4; Jn.3:8 Through Avraham: Gen.22:18; Jn.11:51-52 Through Isaac: Gen.21:12; Heb.11:17-19 Through Jacob and Judah: Gen.28:14; Rev.5:5 Messiah would come at a set time: Gen.40:10; Lk.2:1-2 255

• Through David: 2Sam.7:12-13; Jer.23:5; Acts.13:23; Rom.1:3-4 • Born of a virgin: Isa.7:14; Mt.1:18, 21 “Rashi in his commentary of the Tanak, translates the word virgin (almah) in Isa.7:14 as “the young woman.” It is often pointed out that Rashi did not call the woman in Isa,7:14 a virgin. He does, however, refer to her as “a young girl (Na’arah). It must, though, be noted that Rashi’s commentary on Ex.21:7 removes any doubt as to whether or not this is in fact a virgin. Ex.21:7 deals with the selling of a maid servant under Jewish law. Here, Rashi refers to the maidservant again as a Na’arah, specifically that she “has signs of initial puberty” but that she is still “under her father’s jurisdiction.” This could be nothing less than a virgin. – “The Judaica Press, complete Tanak with Rashi” • Born in Bethlehem of Judea: Micah 5:2; Mt.2:1. Amazing, the “Bread of Life” was born in the “House of Bread” and laid in a feeding troth! • Great Persons came to adore Him: Ps.72:10; Mt.2:2,11 • Coming into the Temple: Hag.2:7,9; Mal3:1; Lk.2:27,32; Mt.21:12 • Preceded by John the Immerser (Baptist): Mal.3:1; Lk. 1:17 • Anointed with the Spirit: Ps.45:7; Isa.11:2; 61:1; Mt.3:16; Jn.3:34; Acts 10:38 • A Prophet like unto Moshe: Deut.18:15; Acts 3:20-22 • Entering into public ministry: Isa.61:2; Lk.4:16,18 • His ministry commencing in Galilee: Isa.9:1,2; Mt.4:12,16,23 • Entering publicly into Jerusalem: Zech.9:9; Mt.21:5 • Poverty: Isa.53:2; Mk.6:3; Lk.9:58 • Meekness and want of Ostentation: Isa.42:2; Mt.12:15,16,19 • Tenderness and compassion: Isa.40:11; 42:3; Mt.12:15,20; Heb.4:15 • Working miracles: Isa.35:5,6: Mt.11:4-6 • Without Guile: Isa.53:9; 1Pt.2:22 • Bearing reproach: Ps.69:9; Rom.15:3 • Rejected by His brethren: Ps.69:8; Isa.63:3; Jn.1:11; 7:3,5 • Hated: Ps.69:4; Isa.49:7; Jn.15:24,25 • Rejected by Jewish Authorities: Ps.118:22; Mt.21:42 • Jews and Gentiles combat Him: Ps.2:1-2; Acts 4:27 • Betrayed by a friend: Ps.41:9; Jn.13:18-21 • His Talmidim (Disciples) forsake Him: Zech.13; Mt.26:56 • Sold for 30 pieces of silver: Zech.11:12; Mt.26:15 • His price given for a potter’s field: Zech.11:13; Mt.27:3,7 • Smitten on the cheek: Micah 5:1; Mt.27:30 256

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Spit upon and scourged: Isa.50:6; Mk.14:65 Nailed to an execution stake (cross): Ps.22:16; Jn.19:18; 20:25 Forsaken by Elohim: Ps.22:1; Mt.27:46 Mocked: Ps.22:7-8; Mt.27:39-44 Gall and vinegar given to Him to drink: Ps.69:21; Mt.27:34 Intensity of His suffering: Ps.22:14-15; Lk.22:42,44 His suffering being for others: Isa.53:4-6,12; Mt.20:28 Patience and silence under suffering: Isa.53:7; Mt.26:63 His garments parted, and lots cast for His tallit katan (vesture): Ps.22:18; Mt.27:35 Numbered with the transgressors: Isa.53:12; Mk.15:27-28 Intersession for His murderers: Isa.53:12; Lk.23:34 His death: Isa.53:12; Mt.27:50 Not a bone of Him broken: Ex.12:46; Ps.34:20; Jn.19:33,36 Pierced: Zech. 12:10; Jn.19:34,37 Buried with the Rich: Isa. 53:9; Mt.27:57-60 His flesh not seeing corruption: Ps.16:10; Acts 2:31 His Resurrection: Ps.16:10; Lk.24:6,31,34 His Ascension: Ps.68:18; Lk.24:51 Exercising the priestly office in Heaven: Zech.6:13; Rom.8:34; Heb.58 The chief corner stone of the K’hilah (congregation): Isa.28:16; 1Pt.2:5-7 The conversion of the Gentiles to Him through Judaism: Isa.11:10; 42:1; Acts.10:45 King of Zion: Ps.2:6; Jn.18:33,37 Sitting on the right hand of Elohim: Ps.110:1; Heb.1:3 Prophecies in Isaiah Fulfilled by Yeshua Messiah

• The Messiah will be born of a virgin: Isa.7:14; Lk.1:26-31 • The Messiah will have a Galilean ministry: Isa.9:1-2; Mt.4:13-16 • The Messiah will be an heir to the throne of David: ISa.9:7; Lk.1:32,33 • The Messiah will have His way prepared: Isa.40:3-5; Jn.1:19-28 • The Messiah will be spat upon and struck: Isa.50:6; Mt.26:67 • The Messiah will be exalted: Is.52:13; Phil.2:9,10 257

• The Messiah will be disfigured by suffering: Isa.52:14; 53:2; Mk.15:15-19 • The Messiah will make a blood atonement: Is.53:5; iPt.1:2 • The Messiah will be widely rejected: Isa.53:1,3; Jn.12:37,38 • The Messiah will bear our sins and sorrows: Isa.53:4,5; Rom.4:25; IPt.2:24,25 • The Messiah will be our substitute: Isa.53:6,8; Mk.15:4-5; Jn.10:11; 19:30 • The Messiah will be buried in a rich man’s tomb: Isa.53:9; Mt.27:5760; Jn.19:38-42 • The Messiah will save us who believe in Him: Isa.53:10-11; Jn.3:16; Acts 16:31 • The Messiah will die with transgressors: Isa.53:12; Mk.15:27,28; Lk.22:37 • The Messiah will heal the brokenhearted: Isa.61:1-2; Lk.4:18-19 Now that we has established His human nature and touched on his divine nature, allow me to further expound on Messiah Yeshua’s Divinity: What Yeshua Says About Himself •

“Before Avraham was I AM” Jn.8:58 using G-D’s personal designation. • The Road to Emmaus and Upper Room Seminars: Lk.24:25-27 What Yeshua’s Talmidim (Disciples) Said About Him • • • • •

All the Talmidim (Disciples): “You are the Son of G-D” Mt.14:33 Thomas: Jn.20:28 “My L-RD and my G-D!” Kefa (Peter) during the Festival Shavu’ot (Pentecost): Acts 2-5 Stephen prior to his execution: Acts 6-7 Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul): Acts 9; 13:13-51; 22-26. Also, just as one man, Adam, brought sin into the world by disobedience, so one man, Yeshua Messiah, through his obedience and sacrificial death on the execution stake (cross) made atonement for our sins: I Cor.15 What Others in Scripture Has Said About Him

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• John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of G-D who takes away the sin of the world.” Jn. 1:29 • The Roman Centurion: “He really was a Son of G-D!” Mt.27:54 • Demons: “What do you want with us, Son of G-D?” Mt.8:29 • The Cohen Ha Gadol (High Priest): Mt.26:62-65 What Rabbinic and Jewish Writings Has to Say about Yeshua Messiah • Jer.23:5-6: “The L-RD our righteousness (YHVH Tzidkenu). “Rabbi Huna counted amongst the seven names of Messiah also: “YHVH Tzidkenu”.” –Midrash Mishle 19:21 “G-D nameth also the King Messiah with His own Name.” –Midrash Tehillim 21:2 “What is the name of King Messiah? To this answered Rabbi Abba bar Kahana: YHVH is His name, for it is written: ‘This is the name whereby He shall be called: YHVH Tzidkenu.’” –Midrash Echa 1:51 • Isa.9:6-7: “also the name of the Messiah is called Peace, for it is written: ‘Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’” – Rabbi Jose the Galilean; Babylonian Talmud; Tract Derek Erez Zutha. • Gen.3:14a, 15: Notice the “seed of the woman is mentioned only in reference to messianic prophecy. “As thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people by the hand of the Messiah the Son of David, who shall wound the head of Satan, the head, the king and prince of the house of the wicked.” –Rabbi David Kimchi. “Rabbi Tanchuma said in the name of Rabbi Samuel, Eve had respect to that Seed which is coming from another place. And Who is this? This is the Messiah, the King.” –Midrash Rabbah 23. • In reference to Isa.42 and 61: “All these goodly promises are in the decree of the King, the King of kings, who will fulfill them for the LRD Messiah.” –R. Yudan “Behold my servant… this is King Messiah… I have put my spirit… refers to what is said of Him, ‘And the Spirit of the L-RD will rest on him’…” –R. David Kimchi

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• Josephus wrote… “At that time there appeared a man, If it is permissible to call him a man. His nature (and form) were human, but His appearance (was something) more than a man; (notwithstanding his works were divine). He worked miracles wonderful and mighty… And everything whatsoever he wrought through invisible power, he wrought by word and command. Some said of him, ‘Our first lawgiver is risen from the dead and hath performed many healings and arts’, while others thought that He was sent from G-D.” –The Jewish War, Part 2, Pg. 174-175 “About that time there lived Yeshua, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly… He was the Messiah.” – Jewish Antiquities (XVIII, 63-64) • Concerning Isa.53: “The meaning of ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities’ is, that since the Messiah bears our iniquities, which produce the effect of His being bruised, it follows that whoso will not admit that the Messiah thus suffers for our iniquities must endure and suffer for them himself,” –Rabbi Elijah de Vidas “When the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes the recovery of the children of the world, He afflicts one righteous person from their midst, and for His sake all are healed. How is this known? It is written, ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities… and with His stripes we are healed.’ Isaiah 53:5” Zohar Part III, fol.218a, Amsterdam edition • In accordance with Dan.9:26; Isa.53:10a; Lev.17:11; and Heb.9:22b: “He will give Himself and His life over unto death, and His blood will atone for His people.” –Luchoth Habberith 242a • Referring to Leviticus 17:11: “Surely atonement can only be made with the blood, as it says, ‘For it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life’” – Talmud-Mas.Zevachim 6a • In Reference to Mt.27:39-43; Ps.22:6-8; Zech.12:10b: “It is well according to him who explains that the cause is the slaying of the Messiah, the son of Joseph, since that well agrees with the Scripture

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verse: ‘And they shall look upon me, whom they have pierced: and shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son.’” “Our Rabbis interpreted it as referring to Messiah ben Joseph.” – Rashi “’They shall look unto Me’, for they shall lift up with their eyes unto Me in perfect repentance, when they see Him whom they have pierced, that is Messiah, Son of Joseph; for our Rabbis, of blessed memory have said that He will take upon Himself all the guilt of Israel, and shall then be slain in the war to make atonement in such a manner that it shall be accounted as if Israel had pierced Him, for on account of their sin He has died; and , therefore, in order that it may be reckoned to them as a perfect atonement, they will repent and look to the blessed One, saying that there is none beside Him to forgive those that mourn on account of Him who died for their sin: this is the meaning of ‘They shall look upon Me.’” -Rabbi Moses Alshech • Dealing with Isa.53:4 Rabbi Moshe Alshekh says, “Rabbis with one voice, accept and affirm the opinion that the prophet is speaking of King Messiah.” • “What is His name?” The Rabbis said: His name is “the leper scholar,” as it is written, surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of G-D, and afflicted.” –Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b • This is what is said about Yeshua Messiah’s death and resurrection in reference to Isa.53:9-10; Mt.27:57-66; 28:1,2,5-6a; Ps.16:10-11; 21:4: “When Pilate upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned Him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love Him did not give up their affection for Him. On the third day He appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of G-D had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about Him.” –Josephus, Jewish Antiquities XVIII, 63-64 “And since in the time of those (rulers) many followers of the Wonder-worker aforementioned he had appeared and spoken to the people of their Master, that He was alive, although he was dead, and ‘He will free you from your bondage,’ many of the multitude hearkened to the preaching and took heed to their injunctions.” – Josephus, The Jewish War Part 2, 221f 261

• Concerning Isa.53:10b,11-12; Mt.28:5,7,16-20; Mk.16:19; Hos.5:15a; Prov.30:4, this quote is very fitting: “The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I no longer have a dwelling-place in this land; I will withdraw My Shechinah from it and ascend to My former habitation; so it is written, ‘I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their guilt, and seek My face.’ At that time the Holy One, blessed be He, wept and said, Woe is Me! What have I done? I caused My Shechinah to dwell below on earth for the sake of Israel; but now that they have sinned, I have returned to My former habitation. Heaven (forbid) that I become a laughter to the nations and a byword to human beings!” –Midrash Rabbah Lamentations 4 What the Aramaic Targums Say about Messiah The Aramaic Targums is the Aramaic translation and paraphrases of the Hebrew Scriptures that was read year in and year out publicly in places where Jews spoke Aramaic and little Hebrew. These are but a few examples: • Gen.1:27 “The Word of the L-RD created man. (Targum PseudoJonathan) • Gen. 15:6 “And Abraham believed in the Word of the L-RD.” • Ex.14:31 “And they believed in the Word of the L-RD.” • Deut.31:3 “The L-RD your G-D, His Word will pass before you.” • Isa.45:17 “Israel will be saved by the Word of the L-RD.” • Gen.28:20-21 “If the Word of the L-RD will be with me… then the Word of the L-RD will be my G-D.” Jacob called The Word his GD! “Risto Santala, a Fininish Christian Scholar fluent in Hebrew and Rabbinic sources, summarizes the combined evidence from the Targums: “‘The LRD’s Memra’ (Aramaic for Word); will be my G-D’; ‘I will save them through their G-D, the L-RD’s Memra’; Abraham was justified through the Memra; the Memra gave Israel the Law; Moses prayed to the Memra; Memra even created the world.”,(Santala, Messiah in the Old testament, 9091). In fact, according to the Targum Neofiti, representing important, early

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translations, man was created in the image of the Memra’ of the L-RD! Consider also Targum Pseudo Johnathan – a Targum printed in all Rabbinic Bibles (called Mikra’ot Gedolot)… “The Memra of YHVH sits upon His throne high and lifted up and hears our prayer whenever we pray before Him and make our petitions.” Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus vol.2 –Michael L. Brown The Deity of Messiah in the Scriptures “The unity of the Godhead is without question the central theological teaching of the Tanak. And Israel’s context – religious and social – demanded the clearest possible communication of this truth by Moses and the prophets. But the truth of God’s unique unity was not compromised to achieve polemical ends. Personal distinctions were revealed as not only part and parcel of the true nature of the Godhead, but also as essential elements in the revelation and execution of the plans and purposes of God our Savior. From the beginning, God purposed that a perfect man in the image of God would rule the earth as God’s representative (Gen. 1:26). Following man’s fall and the marring of the divine image in him, such a purpose could only be fulfilled by the divine-human Messiah, who “had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth” (Isa. 53:9). Moreover the redemption of mankind from sin and its effects, which God alone – “apart from [Whom] there is no savior” (Isa. 43:11) – could accomplish, required a sacrificial death that only a man could suffer. In his infinite wisdom and his infinite love, the one true God took on true humanity in order to offer up an infinite sacrifice to himself on behalf of all mankind. And he will return in his glorified human body to complete the redemption, restoring the physical world and taking his throne as God and King forever.” -“The Divine Unity and the Deity of Messiah” – Noam Hendren • • • •

Prophesied: Isa.9:6 Acknowledged by Messiah Himself: Jn.20:28-29 Acclaimed by witnesses: Jn.1:14,18 Affirmed by the Apostles: Rom.9:5; Heb.1:8

““In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G-D and the Word was G-D. He was in the beginning with G-D” (Jn.1:1-2). Whoever this “Word” was, He was uniquely related to G-D. John says twice that He 263

was with G-D in the beginning, and yet he also says that He was G-D. Then John explains, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (Jn.1:3). This preexisting “Word” did not make all things Himself; rather, all things were made through Him. That is reminiscent of Paul’s teaching… “For us there is but one G-D, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one LRD, Yeshua (Messiah), through whom all things came and through whom we live” (ICor.8:6; see also Heb.1:2). So all things came from G-D, the Father through Yeshua the Messiah, called “the Word” by John.” “Psalm 33:6 states, “By the word of the L-RD were the Heavens made, their starry hosts by the breath of His mouth.” So G-D made all things through His word. In Genesis 1, the emphasis is on G-D’s spoken word; in John 1, the emphasis is on the Word “Himself” –a divine entity, with G-D and yet G-D.” Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus vol. 2 – Michael L. Brown “The ancient faith of my nation was that the WORD of the L-RD was the Lawgiver. That no other than the WORD of the YHVH, has been their Lawgiver, is proved from the Words of the Jerusalem Targum on Exodus 20:1, in which we read as follows: “And the WORD of the L-RD spake all these glorious words.” “I find that Abraham prayed in the name of the WORD of the L-RD, and addressed his prayers to Him… This is taught by the Jerusalem Targum in Gen. 22:14; “And Abraham worshipped and prayed in the name of the WORD of the L-RD, and said, Thou art the L-RD who dost see, but Thou canst not be seen.” -“Nathaniel” from the anonymous work “The Great Mystery” It is interesting that Christians, Messianic and Netzarim end their prayers; “Ba Shem Yeshua Moshieynu, Ameyn (In Yeshua our Messiahs name, Amen).” Because we recognize Him as the WORD of G-D according to John chapter 1. “Nathaniel” quotes the Jerusalem Talmud to show that Moses or Teacher too worshipped the WORD of the L-RD: “It came to pass when the ark was lifted up, Moses stood with his hands lifted up in prayer, and said; Stand up now, O WORD of the L-RD, in the strength of Thy might, and let the enemies of Thy people be scattered, and those that hate Thee, flee from before Thee. And when the ark came to rest, 264

Moses lifted up his hand sin prayer, and said: Return now, O WORD of the L-RD, from the might of Thine anger, and come to us in Thy mercies, which are so good, and bless the ten thousands, and multiply the thousands of the children of Israel.” “Nathaniel” quotes Onkelos’ translation of Deut.28:1-2, as evidence that the WORD of the L-RD must be obeyed as G-D: “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently to the WORD of the L-RD thy G-D, to observe and do all His commandments which I command you this day, the L-RD thy G-D will set thee on high above all nations on earth.. And all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken to the WORD of the L-RD thy G-D.” “Nathaniel” was led to believe that there is no salvation but in the WORD of the L-RD. He quotes Jonathan ben Uziel’s rendering of the passage Isa. Xlv. 17, 25. Only one of many passages he sites: “Israel shall be saved in the WORD of the L-RD with an everlasting salvation… In the WORD of the L-RD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and (In the WORD of the L-RD) they shall glory.” Other Passages Concerning the Word Each of these passages deals with the Divine Word being sent on a mission: • • • •

Ps.107:19-20 Isa.55:10-11 Ps.147:15-18 Ps.119 says that His Word reveals His nature to us. Worshiped By

If Yeshua Messiah is not G-D then why was He worshiped as such? That would have been blasphemy. He was worshipped by: • Saints in the Tanak: Josh.5:13-15 • Demons: Mk.5:6 • Men: Jn.9:38

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• • • •

Angels: Heb.1:6 Talmidim (Disciples): Lk.24:52 Saints in glory: Rev.7:9,10 All: Phil.2:10,11

So now we have clear who and for lake of a better term, what, Messiah Yeshua is, let us read the account in the Besorah (Gospels) which is the focal point of Messiah atoning work, the death, burial and resurrection, and we will go from there: Matthew 27-28 (KJV) When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they

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cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body

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of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Therefore taking into account of Messiahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dual nature and His death, burial and resurrection I believe that Salvation is a gift from Elohim to all who will accept Yahshua as the Messiah, the Living Torah and confesses, repents, and turns away from their sins. This is Faith Righteousness. This will result in

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becoming spiritually alive and indwelt with the Ruach Ha Kodesh of Elohim. This in turn will cause one to desire to love, obey, and please Elohim. One shows this by keeping the Written Torah. This is Works Righteousness. In other words, one will walk in the footsteps of Yeshua Moshieynu (our Messiah) by walking in the Torah. Salvation comes by grace through faith alone. Salvation is not earned by Torah observance. I believe a person who does this will spend eternity with Him, in Heaven if one dies prior to the final resurrection. But all who believes will spend eternity on the New Earth in the World to Come.

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Salvation and Sacrifice Humor me and allow me to repeat what I have written earlier: In the Messianic and Christian arena’s the issue of Salvation and Levitical animal Sacrifice has caused charged heated debates and cause congregational and denominational splits. How were the “Old Testament Saints” saved? Will there be animal sacrifice during the Third Temple when Messiah reigns, and if so, why? Wouldn’t animal sacrifices slap Yahshua and his sacrificial atoning work on the cross in the face? Many like questions, circle, submerge and emerge continuously. As a Netzari Jew, let me put this weary animal to rest. If you don’t like the answer, take it up with HaShem and His Word. If it blows down your little theological house of cards, then maybe you should question the materials you have used, or the foundation it has been founded upon; YHWH’s Word, or tradition and doctrines of men? Let me first tackle the issue of salvation. It is the misconception of many that the “Old Testament Saints” were saved by works, keeping the Torah (law) in combination with the Levitical animal sacrifices, and “New Testament Saints” are saved by “Grace” and Yahshua’s death on the cross. How fair is that!? Christians say there is only one way of salvation. This view would contradict that. This is purely a Christian false doctrine; nothing could be further from the truth. Then how were the Believers before the death and resurrection of Yahshua, saved!? I believe the saints in the Tanak were saved the same way as the saints in the Renewed Covenant. The difference is perspective. Those in the Tanak looked forward to, and believed in the Messiah and His atoning work that was coming. The Renewed Covenant saints (us) look back and believe in the Messiah and His atoning work that already came, and is coming again! The sacrifices of the Tabernacle and Temple era, before Yahshua came, never atoned for or removed sin. In the Renewed Covenant, Hebrews 10:4 states “It is NOT possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” The sacrifices just rolled the sin back like a credit card debt until Messiah came to pay the debt in full, atoning for them all past, present, and

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future (Isa.53:6; IPt.2:24; IJn.2:2; Heb.1:3; 5-10). I believe that Yahshua worked within the framework of Torah, and the sacrificial system set up therein.

Before Messiah: Looking Ahead

After Messiah: Looking Back

Then what is the purpose of the various sacrifices, animal sacrifices and Tithes? 1. It was to be a physical object lesson that pointed to the coming Messiah and what He would do. It acted as a credit card that covered, did not take away, and rolled back the sin debt until someone, Messiah, could come along and pay it. In the time of the Third Temple the sacrifices will be a reminder of the Messiah who came and what He did (Is. 56, 66; Zech. 14:16-21). The sacrifices that took place before Yahshua came, only pointed to the Messiah which was to come. The sacrifices that will take place after Yahshua, and that will take place in the Millennial Reign, point back to Messiah’s atoning work. 2. It provided and will provide food, materials and income for the Priests and their families (Leviticus 5-10). From the accounts in the book of Acts we can clearly see the first century Natsari Jewish believers in Yeshua meet “daily” and during appointed festival times at the Temple and offered “offerings”, “sacrifices” and “gifts” as practiced by all Jews at that time. The first century believers in Yeshua 271

clearly saw no conflict with this and their belief in Yeshua being the ultimate atoning sacrifice. There was no problem or issue with belief in Yeshua and participating in Temple activities and having both coexist simultaneously. Many Christian and Messianic believers mistakenly believe that since the Temple is not standing and we have not functioning Levitical priesthood and that Yeshua came to die on the cross that the Temple and its sacrifices have become obsolete. Many Jews believe that because we no longer have a standing Temple and that prayers have replaced animal sacrifice that sacrifices are no longer important. We see that after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Yeshua that the Nazarene Jewish believers still participated in worship at the Temple. Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

Acts 3:1-2 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

went to pray, and it just so happens that on their way they say a lame man and healed him in Yeshua’s name. This caused quite a stir and in Acts 4 we see Kefa and Yochannon speaking to the people about what happened and ended up telling the people about Yeshua and the resurrection. This caused such a disturbance they arrested them and incarcerated them. Acts 5 records their miraculous escape and we see them back at the Temple preaching. The Sadducees held power over the Temple and yes, the authorities had an issue of them proclaiming Yeshua as Messiah, because they say many Messiah’s come and go and they didn’t want a crazed following. But I believe the Sadducees took more issue with them speaking about the resurrection because one of the major doctrines of the Sadducees is that they didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, not just Yeshua’s resurrection, but the phenomenon of resurrection period. Let us look a Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) and his views in regards to the Temple and its service. Let us first make clear that Rav Sha’ul, even after “conversion”, accepting Yeshua as Messiah, didn’t change his Jewish practices, affiliation and or beliefs to a radical degree. GALATIANS 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

ZEAL FOR HIS JEWISH BROTHERS: ROMANS 10:1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

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WAS TORAH OBSERVANT AFTER BEING CHANGED BY YESHUA: ACTS 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Here Rav Sha’ul proudly proclaims that not only has he kept the Torah, but also the traditions and customs of the Father’s relating to the performance of the commandments! ACTS 21:17-26 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

his allegiance to the Torah, which was to take on a Nazarite vow (which is apart of the “Old Testament” Law) along with other believers and to have Rav Sha’ul fit the bill for the other believers in regards to the sacrifices. This meant he took on a Nazarite vow, and when the vow was completed he went to the Temple to offer the prescribed sacrifice! Why would Rav Sha’ul do this if he thought the Torah, the Temple and the Sacrifices were done away with, or if he actually was teaching others to forsake the Torah!? Either Rav Sha’ul was a Torah Observant Jew till the end or right here is proving himself to be a two faced liar, playing what ever crowd he was with at the moment. I say that the Scriptures are evident and clear that Rav Sha’ul never abandoned Judaism, the Torah, nor did he assimilate into the Roman culture at that time, nor did he convert to “Christianity”. Unfortunately As Kefa said in II Peter 3:15-16 that Rav Sha’ul’s texts has been and it is evident even now have been taken out of context to suit a bias Anti-Jewish and Anti-Torah doctrine in the majority of Christianity.

Acts 22:17-19 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

festivals and to pray and even give money in support of the Temple (Exodus 23:17, Acts 2:46, Acts 24:14-18). As for today the Temple and a working Levitical priesthood does not exist, and most Jews would agree it is on account of our sin and disobedience to the Torah. So obviously the Commandments regarding our duties and obligations in regard to Temple service has been temporarily suspended until the 3rd Temple is rebuilt and I believe prophecy is clear that the Temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will resume. I believe similarly to Mimonides of the 11th century who said that we do not need a Temple in order to worship the G-d of our Father’s. I can worship Gd any where. But, if there was a fully functioning Temple that met all Torah requirements to be legitimate, I would not have to think twice about going up to the “House of the L-rd” and do what the 1st century believers did before the Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., which is to pray and offer sacrifices to YHWH.

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Various Views of Personal Salvation I will discuss the Crux of the Issue of Salvation from the Three Abrahamic Religions. Salvation is a mysterious word in Modern Judaism; it is almost exclusively used in reference to salvation from exile or holocaust and almost never in terms of the salvation of ones soul. When a Christian tells a Jew he needs to be saved, the Jew thinks, “Saved from what!?” Genesis Rabba 48:8 “In the Hereafter Abraham will sit at the entrance to Gehenna, and permit no circumcised Israelite to descend therein.”

I have visited many Jewish, Messianic and Nazarene Jewish websites and virtually no one wants to touch this topic. If they do, many Messianic groups I have seen will rip their statements from Christianity and just change a few words to make it sound Hebraic. Consequently anti-missionary Jewish organizations and Nazarene Jewish organizations who deny the deity of Messiah gladly tackle this issue and tear Messianic and Nazarene Judaism apart because of their silence on the issue by saying we have no need of what is understood as the Christian concept of salvation. First off we need to understand what is meant by the term Salvation. I will focus on the term Salvation from the perspective of the three Abrahamic religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. So to even begin to speak on Salvation in regards of ones eternal soul, hence and eventually his entire being, we have to prove there is a need for such a Salvation. For the whole premise of Salvation to Evangelical Christianity is based on the fact that man has fallen from a perfect sinless state united with G-d and needs redeemed from such as fall so as to have a right relationship with the Creator again and not have to be spiritually separated from Him now and eternally nor physically separated from Him in the Time to Come.

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“Salvation is the application of the work of Christ to the life of the individual… the primary human problem is our separation from God, the Word of God is his means of presenting to us the salvation found in Christ, and faithful is our means of accepting that salvation.” Introducing Christian Doctrine, Millard J. Erickson, pg. 279, 281

To explore this particular concept we can only start at the beginning, at Genesis. Now right off the bat, Jewishly speaking, we run into an issue that hinders our search for meaning and relevance regarding salvation and that is the subject of what Christianity calls the Fall of Man. Judaism doesn’t see the Fall as necessarily a bad thing, nor do they believe in the Christian concept of “Original Sin.” The Jewish Encyclopedia hints that in light of the sciences and sociology that there is no proof for such an occurrence as the fall of man but the socalled evidence indicates “a rise from primitive imperfection.” Furthermore the Jewish Encyclopedia sees the concept of the fall of man and original sin as a concoction borrowed from the world of pagan lore and adopted by Christianity and was never apart of Judaism itself. This article claims that the accounts of the supposed fall cannot be taken literally but must be seen and interpreted allegorical to flesh out the true meaning and intent of the passages in question (See: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=F&artid=25). Further they claim: “The fall of man, as a theological concept, begins to appear only in the late Apocrypha and Psudopigraphal, probably under Essenic (if not Judæo-Christian) influences. In II Esd. iii. 7 it is stated that when Adam was punished with death, his posterity also was included in the decree (the variants in the versions, Ethiopic, Armenian, Syriac, and Latin, all point to a Hebrew ) II Esd. iii. 21 has: "For on account of his evil will the first Adam fell into sin and guilt, and, like him, all that were born of him." This view is again stated in ch. vii. 48: "O Adam, what hast thou done! When thou sinnest, thy fall did not come over thee alone, but upon us, as well, thy descendants" (comp. Ecclus. [Sirach] xxv. 24, "from woman was the beginning of sin; on her account must we all die"). Similarly, in the Apocalypse of Baruch (xvii. 3)Adam is blamed for the shortening of the years of his progeny. Yet it would be hasty to hold that in these books the doctrine is advanced with the rigidity of an established dogma. Even in II Esd. iii. 9 the thesis is suggested that the consequence of the Fall came to an end with the Flood, when a generation of pious men sprang from Noah, and that it was only their descendants who wantonly brought corruption again into the world.”

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Philo claims that, Adam typifies the rational, Eve the sensuous, element of human nature; while the serpent is the symbol of carnal lust and pleasure. Those who came after Philo said this: “After Philo, Samuel Hirsch, among modern expounders, treats the fall of man as a typical exposition of the psychological processes which precede sin (temptation) and gradually (through self-deception) culminate in actual sin (see his Catechism, ch. ii.).” -- http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=F&artid=25

One commentary says: “There is no loss of the God-likeness of man, nor of man’s ability to do right in the eves of God; and no such loss has been transmitted to his latest descendants. Although a few of the Rabbis occasionally lament Eve’s share in the poisoning of the human race by the Serpent, even they declare that the antidote to such poison has been found at Sinai; rightly holding that the Law of God is the bulwark against the devastations of animalism and godlessness. The Psalmist oftens speak [sic] of sin and guilt: but never is there a reference to this chapter or to what Christian Theology calls ‘The Fall’. One searches in vain the Prayer Book, of even the Days of Penitence, for the slightest echo of the doctrine of the Fall of man. ‘My God, the soul which Thou hast given me is pure,’ is the Jew’s daily morning prayer. ‘Even as the soul is pure when entering upon its earthly career, so can man return it pure to his Maker’ (Midrash). Instead of the Fall of man (in the sense of humanity as a whole), Judaism preaches the Rise of man: and instead of Original Sin, it stresses Original Virtue, the beneficent hereditary influence of righteous ancestors upon their descendants. ‘There is no generation without its Abraham, Moses or Samuel,’ says the Midrash; i.e. each age is capable of realizing the highest potentialities of the moral and spiritual life. Judaism clings to the idea of Progress. The Golden Age of Humanity is not in the past, but in the future (Isaiah II and XI); and all the children of men are destined to help in the establishment of that Kingdom of God on earth. (195–196— emphases in original)” -- http://www.mrrena.com/misc/judaism2.php

The Rabbis are said to have taught:

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“The sin of Adam, according to the Rabbis, had certain grievous results for him and for the earth. The Shekinah left earth after his fall (Gen. R. xix.; Tan., Pe ude, 6). He himself lost his personal splendor, deathlessness, and gigantic stature. All men were doomed thenceforth to die; none not even the most just, might escape the common fate: the old temptation of the serpent suffices to bring on death (B. B. 17a; Shab 55b). Adam wished, therefore, to refrain from procreating children; but, learning that the Torah would be given to Israel, was induced to change his mind (Gen. R. xxi.). Through the illicit intercourse of Eve with the serpent, however, the nature of her descendants was corrupted, Israel alone overcoming this fatal defect by accepting the Torah at Sinai, which had been offered to and rejected by all other nations (Shab. 146a; 'Ab. Zarah 22b; Yeb. 103b). If Israel had not made the golden calf, death would have been removed from the midst of Israel (Shab. 88a; comp. 'Ab. Zarah 5a). Pious men and women overcame, at least partially, the consequences of Adam's fall. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam did not suffer death at the hand of the angel of death; they died through God's kiss ( ), and even their bodies were not consumed by worms (B. B. 17a; M. . 28a; Derek Ere Zu a i.). Jacob and others entered into paradise while living (Ta'an. 5b; Derek Ere Zu a i.). While thus it is not altogether true that the fall of man had no place in the theology of the Talmudists, (against Nager, "Die Religionsphilosophie des Talmud," § 9) it is a fact that for the most part the foregoing notions were mere homiletical speculations that never crystallized into definite dogmas. R. Ammi's thesis (Shab. 55a) founded on Ezek. xviii. 20, that every death is caused by an actual sin, is entitled to recognition as clearly as the opinion held by his disputant, Simeon b. Eleazer, who contends that death is the result of the Fall. In modern Jewish thought the fall of man is without dogmatic importance.” -http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=F&artid=25

On the matter of what Christianity dubs, “The Original Sin,” Jewishvirtuallibrary.org only gives this brief and simple statement with no real reason why such a stance is taken: “The doctrine of original sin is totally unacceptable to Jews (as it is to Christian sects such as Baptists and Assemblies of G-d). Jews believe that man enters the world free of sin, with a soul that is pure and innocent and untainted. While there were some Jewish teachers in Talmudic times who believed that death was a punishment brought upon mankind on account of Adam's sin, the dominant view by far was that man sins because he is not a perfect being, and not, as Christianity teaches, because he is inherently sinful.” -http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Original_Sin.html

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These statements of Judaic faith I beg to differ with and will prove otherwise as we develop these concepts further from an Ancient Hebraic and Torah mindset. As a Jewish believer in Messiah Yeshua I do not whole heartedly agree with everything that modern Judaism or Christianity has to say about this issue, nor do I throw the baby out with the bath water and reject everything both has had to say. There are embedded nuggets of truth in both than needs to be extracted and pieced together like a puzzle for a full and complete picture. Like an archeologist laying out pottery fragments and then attempts to piece them back together to see the original vessel in its entirety we need to approach this issue of Salvation in the same vain, for we have approximately two thousand years of sediment and debris to dig and sift through to collect all the pieces to form the whole truth. Modern day Judaism’s dealings with the issues of the fall, original sin and salvation appear to be a big dance around the issue with vague pad answers and blanket statements from Rabbis regarding their stance on such matters after which the focus is immediately diverted elsewhere and as such an obvious avoidance of the issues, they hence are ignored and forgotten. This makes it seem they are annoyed by the mention of the issues and simply do not want to face them or deal with them head on. It seems clear to me and hopefully it will the reader as we continue on, that Judaism once did believe in the fall or mankind, original sin and the need for salvation but in an attempt to remove themselves as far from modern day Christianity, Judaism has taken these views on the matters I mentioned above. However, Judaism today see the expulsion from Eden as G-d’s way of giving man an opportunity in assisting in creation by helping raise the status of “fallen” things into a holy state by use via keeping the commandments of Torah. This concept is called, “Tikkun Olam,” meaning, to “fix the world.” They do not see death as a bad thing nor the result necessarily of sin, but simply a choice of mortality instead of eternality. “The Jewish view of the sin of Adam and Eve is very different from the Christian one. In fact, when looked at deeply, it is questionable whether the sin was evil at all. Judaism is emphatic that a person is born innocent - not evil, not good either, but

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innocent. We are given a clean slate. But we are not born into an innocent world. The world we are born into is one of challenge, difficulty, pain and evil. But all these are merely means to an end: it is through facing challenges that we grow as human beings, through going through difficulty we bring out deeper resources from within, through pain we become stronger and by combating evil we create a world of good. So all negativity in the world is just a facade - behind it is ultimate goodness. That's how reality is now. But it was not like that in the beginning. Adam and Eve were pure beings who entered a perfect world. There was no challenge, pain or death in their world. The "knowledge of good and evil" was a tree that they were told to stay away from in order to maintain this perfect world. "On the day you eat from the tree you will become mortal" said G-d. Eve picked up on a nuance in this warning. Here is my reconstruction of Eve's thought process: G-d is giving us a choice. We can either remain perfect in a perfect world, or we can ingest the knowledge of good and evil and become imperfect (mortal). What should we choose? Well, G-d created us with a purpose. But what purpose could there be in remaining perfect? G-d was perfect before we were created, so what are we adding? Our purpose must be to face imperfection and make that perfect too, through our own efforts. That's something only we can do, because only we can be imperfect (Gd "can't" do that). So she ate of the tree and convinced Adam to eat it too. Mortality was not a punishment for eating the fruit, but rather the natural consequence (because only a perfect being is immortal). So too the other "curses" pain in childbirth and difficulty in making a living are the natural consequences of Eve's choice, because from now on, all achievement has to be earned, which means that nothing can be "born" without hardship. As descendants of Adam and Eve we have inherited this path - the path of facing challenges, fighting evil and trying to bring the world back to its previous perfection. Every time we overcome a negative urge, or we transform an evil situation to a holy one, we win a battle in this war. We make the world a little bit more comfortable for G-d's presence to be manifest. When the sum total of all the good in all generations reaches a certain point, G-d will send the Messiah. He is a human leader who will teach the world how to put the finishing touches on the work of perfecting the world. He will bring material peace between all nations of the world, he will make peace between the spiritual ideals of how the world should be and the practical reality of how the world is, he will bring down the heavens and reveal them on earth. And he won't die, nor will anyone, because evil and death will have been vanquished for ever.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rabbi Moss, http://en.allexperts.com/q/Orthodox-Judaism-952/Original-Sin.htm

Islam is said to take a similar stance:

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“The doctrine of original sin, being thus a Christian concept that looks to the teaching of Paul the Apostle for a scriptural base, is not shared by other religions. It is not found in Jewish theology, nor is it found, for instance, in Hinduism. Likewise, Islam teaches that all humans are innocent by birth and they become sinful only when they consciously commit a sin.” -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin

Ironically this is almost the same view that liberal Christianity has taken. “They do not think of salvation primarily as individual life after death. The Bible, it is contended, concerns itself much more with achieving the kingdom of God in the present age. Even eternal life is usually placed in the context of a new social order, and is regarded as consisting not so much in being plucked out of history as in being a participant in its culmination. The salvation of all persons from oppression is the goal of God’s work in history and must therefore be the task of those who believe in him. They will seek to bring about salvation in this sense by every means possible, including political effort and even revolution if necessary.” – Introducing Christian Doctrine, Millard J. Erickson, pg.282.

This is why we see Jewish organizations, Black and minority churches come together with civil and socio-political movements and organizations and why we often see political and social activists often behind pulpits of such religious establishments. I am not saying we shouldn’t cry out against social injustice, but the lynch pen that will eventually cause such sotariological notions to fold like a house of cards in Christianity and Judaism is the fact that Rav Sha’ul (Paul the Apostle) was a Pharisaical Jew and not a “Christian” as we know them today (Phil. 3:5, Rom. 11:1, Acts 22:3, 23:6), taught unadulterated from a standpoint that Judaism and hence Christianity at the first did teach things such as the fall, original sin and humanities need for salvation. Tulips and Daisies Let us explore the two dominate Christian views of Salvation. This in and of itself can be and has been the subject of many books. Therefore I will not wax exhaustively on this subject but break down the basics of the belief system as it is relevant to our discussion regarding Salvation from a Nazarene Jewish standpoint. There are many variations to these two

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Christian doctrines of Salvation, however we will deal with the two traditional and most accepted views. I have entitled this section, “Tulips and Daisies” for it is an inside joke in Christianity that sum up the two theologies. Tulip is a mnemonic aid to help remember the five points of true hard core Calvinism, the theology regarding Salvation purposed by John Calvin. T – Total depravity of mankind U- Unconditional predestination of mankind L- Limited atonement of mankind I- Irresistible grace to those predestined to be saved P- Perseverance of the saved James Arminius has a differing view of Salvation which is not easily summed up with a neat acronym, but has be jokingly labeled as “Daisies” after the love sick character who grabs a daisy and begins pulling peddles and says, “He loves me. He loves me not.” For this view of G-d’s love and offer of salvation is not predestined like Calvin’s view. In other words one can lose or forfeit their salvation after receiving it when in a Calvinist mind this is an impossibility, it would mean the person was never truly saved in the first place. Another ribbing Calvinist get is in the form of a bumper sticker. An Arminian bumper stickers says, “Smile, God loves you!” and a Calvinist bumper sticker, because of the hard nose stance on the predestination of one soul would read, “Smile, God MIGHT love you!” “In Protestantism, the theology developed and advanced by John Calvin. It was further developed by his followers and became the foundation of the Reformed church and Presbyterianism. As shaped by Calvin's successor at Geneva, Theodore Beza (1519 – 1605), Calvinism emphasizes the doctrine of predestination, holding that God extends grace and grants salvation only to the chosen, or elect. It stresses the literal truth of the Bible, and it views the church as a Christian community in which Christ is head and all members are equal under him. It therefore rejects the Episcopal form of church government in favor of an organization in which church officers are elected. Calvinism was the basis of theocracies in Geneva and Puritan New England, and it strongly influenced the Presbyterian church in Scotland.” – Britannica Concise Encyclopedia

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In a nutshell Calvinism borrows much of its theology from the Roman Catholicism and their theologian Augustine. It is the fatalistic notion that God arbitrarily chose for some people to go to Heaven and some to go to Hell, some to be saved and some not to be saved. Arminianism on the other hand is defined as: Arminianism, a form of theological thought based on the 1608 Declaration of Sentiments of the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius (1559â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1609). Often referred to as "anti-Calvinism," Arminianism holds the freedom of the human will as its basic tenet and thus denies one of John Calvin's foundational ideas: the irresistibility of the grace of God. Arminius states that God's grace is indeed resistible because all human beings are responsible for their own thoughts and actions. Accordingly, sin is actual because it is possible, in direct contrast to Calvin's treatment of sin as purely theoretical because of the inability of the elect to sin. Therefore, Arminianism states that salvation requires both willful repentance and willful acceptance of God's grace, not simply a helpless reliance on arbitrary election.â&#x20AC;? -- http://www.answers.com/topic/arminianism

Basically Calvinists say that God chose you to be saved and Armenians say that we accept Christ and are then saved. The following is taken from: http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html and is a nice side-by-side comparison of the two major schools regarding salvation in Christianity: A Brief Comparative Chart on Arminianism and Calvinism Arminianism

Calvinism

Free-Will or Human Ability

Total Inability or Total Depravity

Although human nature was seriously affected by the fall, man has not been left in a state of total spiritual helplessness. God graciously enables every sinner to repent and believe, but He does not interfere

Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in

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with man's freedom. Each sinner possesses a free will, and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses it. Man's freedom consists of his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matters; his will is not enslaved to his sinful nature. The sinner has the power to either cooperate with God's Spirit and be regenerated or resist God's grace and perish. The lost sinner needs the Spirit's assistance, but he does not have to be regenerated by the Spirit before he can believe, for faith is man's act and precedes the new birth. Faith is the sinner's gift to God; it is man's contribution to salvation.

bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not - indeed he cannot - choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a sinner to Christ - it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.

Conditional Election

Unconditional Election

God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation.

God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.

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Universal Redemption or General Atonement

Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement

Christ's redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe on Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone's sins. Christ's redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it.

Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation.

The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted

The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace

The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit's call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man's contribution) proceeds and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man's free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ's saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God's grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.

In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.

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Falling from Grace

Perseverance of the Saints

Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith, etc. All Arminians have not been agreed on this point; some have held that believers are eternally secure in Christ - that once a sinner is regenerated, he can never be lost.

All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.

According to Arminianism: Salvation is accomplished through the combined efforts of God (who takes the initiative) and man (who must respond) - man's response being the determining factor. God has provided salvation for everyone, but His provision becomes effective only for those who, of their own free will, "choose" to cooperate with Him and accept His offer of grace. At the crucial point, man's will plays a decisive role; thus man, not God, determines who will be recipients of the gift of salvation. According to Calvinism: Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation. -http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html

These two major Christian theologies obviously look into Scripture to come to their conclusion. However, they do not look to the first century Hebraic understanding of this matter to come to a true Natsari Jewish conclusion. The two views are almost totally western and gentile in understanding and 288

thus practically alien to the Hebraic view. After all, who would you go to for genuine clear truth? The archeologist who thinks he’s looking at an artifact from a lost civilization and is making educated guesses or the “lost civilization” that really isn’t lost but alive and well, just not sought after or consulted. So who would you rather believe, Christians who are far removed from the 1st century believers and who come up with their own ideas about what they believed, or the surviving remnant of the 1st century believers who know what they believe and why? Being a Hebrew living in a Western Gentile culture it is a tedious, but necessary task to attempt to put this Hebraic concept in an understandable Western way. In brief here is the Natsari Jewish way of looking at Calvin and Arminius, to a Western mind it may seem like a paradox, however, “It is entirely tolerable to the Hebraic mind to accept a paradox. To the non-Hebraic mind, the paradox is seen as blatant contradiction, and is summarily dismissed as nonsense.” – Bikurei Tziyon, issue 71, pg.29 Therefore, Logic, Linear time, 1+2=3 thinking; are the traits of a finite created being such as ourselves. Things such as the concept of eternity and seeming paradoxes, contradictions and conundrums like predestination verses free will, throw our minds and an aviator’s death roll. G-d on the other hand is an uncreated, Uncaused Cause. He is Infinite and above and beyond our constraints of time and logic. Only He can be everywhere and nowhere all at once. Above all, if only one word could be used to define G-d it would be Holy. That is His main attribute, which is the essence of who He is. A Holy G-d cannot be in the presence of sin, which according to I John 3:4, is anything that is against His Torah. Evil and Predestination; willing His creation, made in His image to only be created for the purpose of being sent to hell which as the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) says was prepared for the devil and his angels. That would be like birthing twins and raising one and throwing the other into a furnace. And if we, as “evil” humans know how to give our children good gifts; bread instead of a stone, a fish instead of a snake (Matthew 7:7-12); how much more so is G-d good?

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No, G-d didn’t create Evil, He just created the possibility (free will) for it to arise. The Rabbi’s and Sages of the Talmud and Tanya say even evil (sometimes called the klipah or sirta archa) though not apart of G-d, (yet allowed by G-d to come to be by agency of free will) does not transgress His will but works in conjunction with it to ultimately allow G-d’s perfect will to come about. It is our choice to allow that to be or not. For instance, if we are presented with a temptation we can succumb and fall which is out of His will, or we can resist and overcome and as a result become stronger and be closer to G-d. Though He knows the beginning from the end, He gave us the gift of choice to accept or reject Him, His Torah and Messiah. We are “predestined” in the since that G-d knows, we have the free will because even though He knows we still have the choice to choose. G-d doesn’t want a bunch of pre-programmed robots serving Him. Do you think G-d predestined that Lucifer should fall? Did He want it to happen? I don’t think so. Obviously Satan’s fall, as ours, didn’t catch G-d off guard but He allowed it to happen all because of Free Will. I know, I know, many of you are already forming lines of circular logic to try to say what I am proposing is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. “I can’t have it both ways; it’s got to be one way of the other”. Is anything impossible for G-d? G-d forbid, by no means. Who are we to put Him in a neat defined box to satisfy our curiosity of the unknown and possibly the unknowable? “Some people think there is a logical conflict between predestination and free will choice, but in reality there is no conflict, because predestination accounts for men's free will choices. Predestination says that the reason YHWH already knows who is and is not predestined to the adoption as sons is because He has already seen every decision each and every person will ever make...” – www.nazareneisrael.org

I believe free will and predestination go hand in hand and work together much like Law and Grace. Two seemingly diametrically opposed views, yet they work in conjunction with each other, that for the most part both issues (Law and Grace – Predestination and Free Will) Modern Christians cannot seem to grasp as both existing and working together in unity. I think part of the problem is that many are looking at these issues from a Western Philosophical standpoint and not from a Hebraic Theological stand point. It is absurd to believe sin, which a Holy G-d abhors and cannot be near, is in His will. Yes, YHWH knew mankind was going to fall, yet it wasn't His perfect will. It was His permissive will. He allowed this thing to happened,

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because even though HE knows all, He allows us to choose. I will not pretend I know everything on this matter, for something’s we will truly never know until we reach the World to Come. Because how can finite creation pretend to understand certain aspects of an Infinite G-d? Just like Forrest Gump at his Mama’s grave told her something to the effect; “Lt. Dan believes in fate, Jenny thinks it’s all a matter of chance… I think it’s a little bit of both.” In the words of Rebbe Nachman: "There are certain questions which trouble many people, such as the problem of how free will can exist if G-d knows the future. It is necessary to realize that it is beyond the capacity of the human mind to understand these matters. The answers to such questions lie in the sphere of wisdom that is so transcendent that the human mind is unable to attain it. This wisdom can never enter the human mind. It encompasses the mind from outside. One who apprehends this wisdom would not be human at all, he would be an angel. It is precisely the fact that we do not understand these questions about free will that actually gives us the freedom we have. In time to come, when men's minds will expand and the secrets of free will and providence will be revealed, free will as such will disappear. Man's mind will emerge from its limits and he will become like and angel - with free will."

This is the view that was held before Calvin and Arminius grappled with the issue and is held by true Natsarim today. In regards to Calvin’s views a person once asked me: “1. Is there any sin too great which can not be forgiven. (Please explain if yes. e.g. What does blasphemy of the R" HaKodesh actually entail?) 2. Can anyone renounce their faith in Yeshua and reject salvation once they've obtained it? (or were they never saved to begin with?) 3. If they can renounce it... can they still have any hope of redemption if they return / repent back to G-d?”

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This was my reply: ““Once saved always saved,” is a purely Christian issue, foreign to Judaism. Accepting and following Torah and Messiah is like wedding vows you can accept them or reject them. You can keep them or break them. You can stay wed or divorce Him. 1. Yes, blaspheming the Ruach HaKodesh; attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. 2. Yes. 3. I don't know I am not G-d. This maybe a purely personal matter between me and G-d.”

So Arminius was on the right track moreso that Calvin. And as Forrest Gump said: “That’s all I have to say about that.”

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The Anatomy of the Soul and Personal Salvation For us to understand how salvation applies to and affects us, we need to understand what constitutes “us.” There seems to be much confusion in Messianic and Natsari Jewish/Israelite circles in regards to the Soul. Christianity has a simple saying to attempt to explain the Trichotomy of being: “I am a Spirit who lives in a body and posses a Soul.” And it is said that the Soul mediates between the Spirit and the Body. Judaism too has a Trichotomistic view of being but bypasses in a way the body. There are three arenas of the Soul are: The Nefesh which is the lowest, basest realm of being that is said to reside in the blood, so in a way this includes the body “For the life is in the Blood (Deut. 12:23).” This part of the Soul is sometimes called the Animal Souls and is mainly concerned with survival, eating, sleeping, procreating etc. This part of the Soul deals with instinctual things. This is the part of the soul which is capable of sin. A second component to the Soul is called Ruach in the Hebrew and is usually translated as Spirit. The Ruach is the second level of the Soul and duels with the Nefesh for moral and rational dominance and are the mediators between the Neshamah and the Body. The Neshamah should rule our being and communicate to the Nefesh and Ruach what the Body should do. This realm of the Soul mainly deals with our mental functions and emotions. It is said in Jewish mystical literature that the Nefesh should be the throne upon which the Ruach sits. To use an analogy from cartoons, the Ruach can be seen as the angel upon the right shoulder and the Nefesh can be seen as the devil upon the left shoulder, both whispering in ones ear to trying to get the person to do what it suggests. You can also view the Ruach as the Good Dog and the Nefesh as the Bad Dog and which ever one you feed the most will be the strongest and when they get loose and fight one another, who wins our determines on which one received the most attention and care. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the Nefesh is all bad, for it is the part of us that “Fights or Flees” when 293

we are confronted with danger, but it is also the part that tries to make us grumpy because we are hungry or tired, or selfish when we don’t get our own way. Ruach tries to reason with the Animal Soul (Nefesh) and say, “Hey, calm down dinner is at six, you can wait till then, in the mean time you have no excuse for being nasty!” The third and highest realm of the soul in the Hebrew is called the Neshamah which is considered the Divine Spark, the part of the Soul that was made in the Image and Likeness of G-d. This part of the Soul is pure, untainted and untouched by sin. This is the part of the Soul referred to in the Prayer Siddur when we Jews recite upon waking: “I gratefully thank you oh Living and Eternal King for You have returned my soul (Neshamah) within me with compassion, abundant is your faithfulness.” And later it says: “My G-d the soul (Neshamah) you placed within me is pure. You created it, You fashioned it, You breathed it into me, You safeguard it within me, and eventually You will take it from me, and restore it to me in the Time to Come…” It is said that the Neshamah leaves the body during sleep, because the Sages say sleep is 1/60th of death, and resides in the realm of angels and demons and that a righteous Soul who follows Torah will be with the angels and those who are unrighteous are assailed and troubled by demons. The only way one can protect their Soul is by walking in the Torah during ones waking hours. This is why the above prayers are said upon waking. It is during this time of sleep it is prophecy can come through dreams. Because English doesn’t have a designation between Nefesh and Neshamah and translates both of them as “Soul” it is hard to know in the English translation of Scripture which on is being discussed unless you know Hebrew or understand well the context of the passage dealing with the word “Soul”. Sometimes the word “Ruach” translated as “Spirit” is also sometimes translated as “Soul” in the English. In Genesis 2:7 Tells us that G-d breathed life into us. G-d breathed all Three parts of the soul within us and it was the Nefesh that fell during the Fall. The Neshamah was the Divine spark of G-d that was made in the image

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of G-d that was left untainted by the Fall in the Garden of Eden. The Ruach tries to bring rationale to the primal instincts of the Nefesh. This is where I differ slightly from what has been described above. I believe that the word Ruach and Neshamah are essentially the same because Ruach and Neshamah in Hebrew have similar meanings, Ruach is Wind, Breath and Spirit and Neshamah is Wind, Breath and Divine Inspiration. In making distinctions I would say that the Ruach is what the Neshamah is called before it is regenerated and the Nefesh is “saved” redeemed by the blood of Yeshua Ha Moshiach and the infilling of the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit), that the Ruach is actually latent within an individual until the regeneration occurs via the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha Kodesh) and the Nefesh is transformed. Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

As my Rav put it, Gof (Body) or as he actually said, “mud hut” plus Ruach (Spirit) equals a Soul. According to Some Jewish legends we have a Neshamah, a Divine Spark, it is believed our souls were preexistent basking in the Pure Light of the EnSof (G-d) before being assigned to a body. Legend says that our soul is male and female and it is split apart and the male is assigned to one body and the female to another and that this is your soul mate that you are supposed to find and marry in this world, thus completing yourself. According to the Zohar the only way for people to find their soul mate is to walk the path of Truth (Torah). I like this one Jewish Legend that explains why we have that crease, that indentation between the nose and upper lip. It is said that when the angel escorted our Soul to a body in a womb of a woman, that the angel stayed in the womb with us and taught us Torah for nine months and that when the mothers water breaks and we are about to be born that the angel places his finger upon our lips, causing the indentation and says, “Shhhhh!” and we immediately forget all the Torah we were taught and that is why we cry upon entering the world and that our purpose in life is to learn or really remember the Torah we were taught in the womb. 295

Rav Sha’ul who was a Torah master and a master of all things and concepts Jewish said in II Cor. 5:8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. It is the Ruach/Neshamah which is the “Divine Spark” that returns to its source which is YHWH who gave it. Ecc. 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

And it is the Nefesh that goes on into Paradise or Hell until the New Earth is created from the ashes of the old as Revelation and Peter says, and Hell is cast into the Lake of Fire. If it is Redeemed it goes to Paradise (Abraham’s Bosom) if it is not it goes to Hell, Gehenna Luke 16:19-31 Yeshua tells a true story (not a parable because he mentions names) about Lazarus and the Rich Man which reveals a bit of the first century doctrine of the Natsarim of the subject of “hell”. Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

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We see that in this story we find possibly 3 compartments to Sheol (the Grave). Your body may be in the ground but the essence of who you are, your soul is either in one of two places. 1. Abraham’s Bosom: The positive side of Sheol where the righteous goes after death. 2. Gehenna: The negative side of Sheol where the wicked and unrepentant go after death to be punished. 3. The Gulf: Some believe this is the Abyss or as Kefa said in II Peter 2:4, the place where the rebellious fallen angels who cohabitated the daughters of men. It says that the Rich Man looked up and could see into Abraham’s Bosom and that there was a gulf between them. So this denotes that Abraham’s Bosom was an elevated compartment of the Grave (Sheol) and apparently Gehenna, where the Rich Man found himself was a lower compartment of Sheol. The Gulf was seems to be a type of void, which is what the word Abyss means and Tartaros implies. Gehenna is a place to which no one returns from because of their unbelief, disobedience and un-repentance. Gehenna is referring to the in ancient Israel as the valley of Hinnom where human burnt sacrifices were offered up to the pagan deity Molech. In the time of the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) it was converted to a perpetual burning garbage heap. Most all pagan places that were taken over by the Jews were tuned into a dumping ground or latrines. Yeshua said that they (the Rich Man’s Brothers) didn’t believe Moshe (Torah) and the Prophets, (which denotes disobedience and being unrepentant of it), that they wouldn’t believe one who rises from the dead; Yeshua hinting about Himself and His upcoming resurrection. This story reveals that our bodies may be “asleep” a Hebraic idiom for death. Just as Yeshua referred to the Synagogues Presidents daughter who died as being asleep (Matthew 9:24). Yet clearly our soul does not sleep but continues a conscious existence beyond physical death. In the Talmud the Rabbi’s talk about sleep as being a certain percentage of death.

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According to Rav Yoshi ben Shofar of Ha Derek Netzarim Judaism, he believe we can gather from the Scriptures that when Yeshua died on the cross and He told the one theft that he would be with Him in Paradise (another name for Abraham’s Bosom), and that this was the Sheol, or the “hell” Yeshua descended too; because even if it was a higher level than Gehenna, you still had to descend to it (Eph. 4:7-10, Acts 2:23-36, I Pet. 3:18-20). In Judaism Abraham’s Bosom wasn’t up in the sky (heaven) and “hell” wasn’t under ground. Yeshua apparently preached to the souls in Abraham’s Bosom showing them that He was the promised Messiah and this at resurrection sometime after he met Mary at the tomb and when appeared in the upper room, he ascended to Shamayim (the heaven where G-d is) and presented those souls to the Father. Then at His ascension after he had been resurrected for quite some time, He took those that rose with him (Matthew 27:52-53) and presented them to the Father as a type of First Fruit offering. Thus Abraham’s Bosom was consumed by Gehenna and is no more, thus the reference to hell opening her mouth and enlarging (Isa. 5:14). Now the righteous goes directly to the Father upon death (I Cor. 5:3) and in the end Gehenna will be thrown into the Lake of Fire originally prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but when man fell, he became a little lower than the angels and by default inherited the Lake of Fire too (Rev.19:20, 20:10-15, 21:8). I hope this helps you better understand the Scriptural/Hebraic concept of the Soul.

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Personal Salvation and the Kingdom of G-d Matthew 4:17, 23 17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Notice it does not say that Yeshua went about preaching, “Hey! I came to die of the cross to save you from your sins!” No, His Gospel message was no different than His cousin Yochannon the Immerser (John the Baptist), that the “Gospel of the Kingdom” and “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. So what is the meaning of the “Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”? To understand “Gospel of the Kingdom” we need to define what the “Kingdom of Heaven” is. The Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of G-d are synonymous with each other and are used interchangeably. Kingdom of Heaven is used is the same way the Jewish nation used Adonai instead of YHWH. It was a done so out of respect and so as not to somehow, albeit inadvertently, take YHWH’s name in vain. So Kingdom of Heaven was used instead of Kingdom of G-d. So the Gospel of the Kingdom means the Good News of the Kingdom of G-d. And the Good News is, is that it is “at hand.” When one says, “The Kingdom of G-d/Heaven” context is everything because it can be taken in one of five ways. The Kingdom of G-d/Heaven: 1. Inside you in way of the Torah: This can be likened unto the story of Robin Hood, when King Richard was of fighting the Crusades. Even though the King was not physically present, the people still kept the Kingdom Law and lived as if he was still there. The King appointed others to rule in his stead till he returned. Similarly the Priests and Rabbi’s act in the King’s stead and the people keep living as if the King was still at home on the Throne. They knew that the King 299

expected of His subjects to carry out Kingdom Law (Torah) in His absence. This represents the time we are living in now (Luke 17:20). Satan is like the Evil Sheriff of Nottingham that has claimed the throne of this world. The Messiah is like King Richard who is off not only battling, but preparing a place for us. We are like Robin Hood and King Richard’s loyal servants who are fighting the Sheriff/Satan until the King returns to reclaim His throne. “At Hand”: This is like a King passing through on his way to the Throne, welding his power and authority, righting wrongs as he goes. This represents the time when Yeshua the King, the Messiah, walked the earth performing miracles as He goes, as recorded in the Gospels (Matt. 8:1-16, 9:35). It is still at hand, because He gave us the authority of His Name to do the things He did and even greater things (John 14:12). 1000 year reign: This is comparable to the Foreign Occupation. For in the Millennial Reign, Messiah will rule on this old earth and the old king of this dark and fallen world, Satan, will still have influence at the end and will attempt on last coup attempt, as recorded in the Revelation of John (Rev.20). The World to Come / New Earth: The permanent Home and Kingdom of the Messiah as recorded in the Book of the Revelation and the times when Messiah said that His kingdom was ultimately not of THIS world (Rev. 21-22, John 18:36). Salvation: (implied in #1).

Yeshua gave many parables in the Gospels to indicate the characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven and how it was to come. But that is a whole other subject. What does a Kingdom need to operate? Kingdom Operations: 1. A King: That’s Yeshua the Messiah 2. Kingdom Law: That’s the Torah 3. A Throne: First of which is in our hearts and ultimately in the 3rd Temple then on the New Earth for all eternity. 4. Loyal Subjects: That is supposed to be us. 5. The Carrying out of the King’s Commands and Divine Will. 300

Though many only have acknowledged the physical Kingdom of Heaven to come, and as a result may were disappointed the first time Yeshua was around because they wanted and expected an overthrow of the Roman Occupation. This is why many Jews even today do not accept Yeshua as Messiah, because they said He came and didn’t set up the Kingdom or bring peace. Well He did bring the Kingdom as stated in “Kingdom of Gd/Heaven: 1 and 2.” He didn’t bring peace? Tell that to those who have accepted Him and died because of Him. Besides, did He not say he came first no to bring peace, but a sword (Matt. 10:34)? Many times you have to first have war before you can have true lasting peace. We know He will return and finalize the Kingdom of G-d/Heaven as stated in “Kingdom of Gd/Heaven: 3-4.” But first it has to begin inside you before it can ever manifest here in physical world. As stated in “Kingdom of G-d/Heaven #5” this term also implies salvation. This is mostly what I’d like to discuss in this paper. The Message was not: “Accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior.” Yochannon, Yeshua, Kefa (Peter) or any other of the Emissaries led anyone in what we know today as “the sinner’s prayer”. The message that Yochannon the Immerser taught was the same one Yeshua preached after His cousin was beheaded and the same one Kefa (Peter) preached after Yeshua ascended up into heaven. Teshuvah / Repentance. This was the first step in accepting and coming into the Kingdom which is the core of the Gospel message, not Yeshua dieing on behalf of our sins, that is not the core, that is the means to the Kingdom. Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

What then is it that we need to repent of so as to bring about this Kingdom of G-d/Heaven inside of us? Sin. Okay so what is sin? Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. I John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is disregard and disobedience to the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law (Torah). He gave us an example to follow in the Messiah, who was 100% Torah obedient without fault. He is also the one that when we fail to keep the Law by fallen human nature, he is the one who comes and pays the penalty for our crime against the King. Teshuvah, the Hebrew word for Repentance means to do a 180 degree turn from the wrong path you were walking on and return to the Source, the right path, to Torah G-dward. Teshuvah/Repentance is what Christians call Conversion. I John 2:1-6 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

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When we accept the Kingdom Law (Torah) upon us, and keep it is the spirit and footsteps of Yeshua Messiah who through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) gives us the ability to keep the Torah, we become born again in the spirit as a new citizen of the Kingdom of G-d/Heaven. To accept the Living Torah (Yeshua) is to accept the Written Torah. John 3:1-6 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Being born of water does NOT refer to physical birth. It is a moot point; it goes without saying, so why bring it up? It is obvious one has to be physically born before one can be spiritually born. This “born of water” Yeshua is referring to is repentance and obedience, Born of the spirit is when G-d puts the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in us that enables us to keep the Torah. Born of water is the mikvah (baptism) the act of being physically outwardly obedient to the Torah and it turn symbolizing the inner change that has took place for us to be obedient to take a mikvah. No, I am not endorsing salvation by baptism. I am just explaining what “born of water” means. Mikvahs almost always followed an act of repentance or renewal in obedience to the Torah command. Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

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We are “saved” in order to keep the commandments. Not that we keep the commandments to be “saved.” Doing the Law is different than being justified by the works of the Law. Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Romans 7:10-12 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

This says choosing Torah is choosing life. What is Torah? The Written Word. Who is Yeshua? The Living Torah, the Living Word. A physical manifestation of the Written Word/Torah. So to choose Life one must receive the King AND His Law. Romans 10:7-9 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt 304

confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rav Sha’ul (Paul) is telling us that “choosing life” is being “born again.” Just look at what Yeshua said. Matthew 19:16-17 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Here again we have the message of Salvation wrapped up in accepting the Kingdom Law and the King who gave it and enforces it. What does Yeshua the Messiah say in Matthew 7:21-23? Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Lawlessness (with out Torah), knowingly to refusing to obey His Law (Torah); and we know that G-d and Yeshua according to John 17 are one; thus G-d’s Law and the Law Yeshua speaks and proclaims is one and the same; to knowingly disobey the Torah could cost you your eternity.

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Ephesians 2:8-10For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are “born again” in order to keep the Torah, we do not keep the Torah in order to be “born again.” We keep the Torah because the Spirit is within us to enable us to keep it. Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

We keep the Torah because we Love Him. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

We keep the Torah to prove and show our trust/faith in Him. James 2:14-18 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 306

“I believe that Salvation is a gift from Elohim to all who will accept Yahshua as the Messiah, the Living Torah and confesses, repents, and turns away from their sins. This is Faith Righteousness. This will result in becoming spiritually alive and indwelt with the Ruach Ha Kodesh of Elohim. This in turn will cause one to desire to love, obey, and please Elohim. One shows this by keeping the Written Torah. This is Works Righteousness. In other words, one will walk in the footsteps of Yahshua Moshieynu (our Messiah) by walking in the Torah. Salvation comes by grace through faith alone. Salvation is not earned by Torah observance. I believe a person who does this will spend eternity with Him, in Heaven if one dies prior to the final resurrection. But all who believes will spend eternity on the New Earth in the World to Come. So what does this say about Orthodox Jews that don’t believe in the “Jesus” the Christians proclaim? Will they be saved? Will they go to heaven? YES! Because the Jesus of Christianity came to do away with the Torah and does not line up with the Torah observant Messiah Yahshua prophesied in Scriptures. So they cling to Torah and wait for the Messiah to come that is outlined in the Tanak. Netzari Jews must show them this Yahshua who has come and fulfilled prophecy.” – Get Back to the First Century: Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Case in point: The Pharisee’s are portrayed as bad guys in the Christian arena only because in addition to the Torah they kept man made edicts and forced others to do so too. Yet is we examine the Scriptures we see that Yeshua wasn’t worried about their salvation, because they already kept Torah. Matthew 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The Pharisees were already Torah observant and so Yeshua wasn’t worried about them. He wasn’t even worried if they accepted Him or not according to this verse. He was focused on those that were not keeping Torah and the ones the Pharisee’s turned of from keeping Torah by the addition of their man made edicts.

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What did Messiah tell the Rich Man? Matthew 19:16-21 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Keep Torah from the heart. Love is the motivating factor in keeping Torah (Mark 12:29-31). The modern day Christian church has totally missed (and if they caught it totally rejected) the role of the Law (Torah) in ones Salvation experience. One cannot have a Kingdom without a King, and one cannot have a Kingdom with out Kingdom Law, and one cannot have a Kingdom without a King enforcing Kingdom Law. The Kingdom of Heaven is Messiah and His Torah inside us until it is made manifest in the world upon the return and reign of Messiah. This in a nut shell is salvation.

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Personal Salvation in Light of the Kinsman Redeemer Accepting Kingdom Law upon oneself if rarely spoken of in Christianity, and if it is, it is a poor watered down version, thus the reason I desired to tackle it first. Redemption is the other aspect more greatly well known in regards to the theology of salvation, so allow me to touch on the topic here from a Natsari Jewish point of view. I will center this around the book of Ruth so as to understand and fully grasp what a Kinsmen Redeemer is. Ruth 2:20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

Upon hearing that it was Boaz, her nephew she praised YHWH that He has not forgotten her nor dead husband and sons. Naomi saw clearly the Divine Providence at hand in Ruth gleaning in the very field of her nephew, and eligible kinsman redeemer no less. “Naomi began to understand that God had not forsaken her and that His love and kindness toward her were indeed continuing. Her attitude changed from her earlier perception that God had turned again to her.” – Full Life Study Bible Legends of the Bible says that Boaz not only showed kindness to Ruth and Naomi but to the husbands and sons whose remains were taken with Ruth and Naomi when they moved to Bethlehem. It was customary to return to the tomb after a year and collect the bones in a box so that the burial tomb could be used again and again. Didn’t know the ancients were into recycling did you? Legends tells us that Boaz took it upon himself to give his uncle and cousins a proper burial and in Judaism it is one of the greatest mitzvah’s (good deeds/commandments) one can perform for

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another human being because it is one that cannot be repaid, for the recipient of the mitzvah is dead. I maybe that upon Naomi’s return she had to end up selling some of her property in Bethlehem to cover the expenses of the travel and settling in the old homestead in order to survive. Seeing as Boaz was a close kin he had dibs on the property so the L-RD would be able to stay to with in the family. Leviticus 25 talks about such cases of hardship to where one must sell themselves, their possessions or land in order to survive and that such persons and things can be redeemed by a close relative or within seven years ones debts are forgiven and if they have made themselves an indentured servant to another Hebrew they are set free. Now in the 50th year the year of Jubilee real estate reverts back to its original owner’s family. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary says, “Since an Israelite could sell himself, his family, or his land (Lev. 25:39-43) in cases of poverty, the kinsman-redeemer (Lev. 25:25) was provided to protect the clan. This person, a near relative, had the first option by law to buy ant land being sold, thus allowing it to be kept with in the clan (Lev. 25:23-28; Jer. 32:6-10).” The Key Word Study Bible, “The three requirements to be a kinsman redeemer were: relationship, financial ability and willingness (Lev. 25:25, 48, 49). Boaz fulfilled all three requirements after the nearest kin was unwilling…”

Here is my personal statement of faith and how the aspect of the Kinsman Redeemer applies: “I believe Yeshua Ha Moshiach of the Branch is the prophesied Messiah of Israel. That He was FULLY YHWH to be able to redeem us from our sins, and FULLY man to have the right to redeem us from our sins, to be our Kinsmen Redeemer (Ruth, Jer.17:5-7, Jn.1). Yeshua is the perfect, holy, sinless Messiah, the figurative Son of YHWH, who is the Word that became flesh dwelt among us (Jn.1:14) who came to dwell in a mortal body that never saw corruption (Ps.14:10), a pure deity manifest in the flesh. He was not an incarnation, which would denote that 100% of YHWH came in the flesh. Yeshua was FULLY YHWH in the flesh, but not 100% YHWH. YHWH is so infinite that He is everywhere and fills everything, so it would be impossible for ALL of YHWH to be limited to a mortal body. In the 310

words of Dr. Friedman, “If we were to go to the Mediterranean Sea and fill a glass with sea water, we can say that all the water in the glass is truly sea water. However we cannot call the glass, “The Mediterranean Sea.” There is much more to the Mediterranean Sea than the glass. Yet nonetheless, the water in that glass is truly Mediterranean Sea water through and through.” I believe that Yeshua is the Kohen Ha Gadol (High priest) who became the ultimate, once and for all atoning sacrifice Himself, for all mankind (Heb.4:14-5:10; 6:19-8:2). I believe salvation is only available through Him. I believe Yeshua came first as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) the Suffering Servant, and will be returning as Messiah ben David the Kingly Messiah. I believe that these two pictures of the Messiah, given in Scripture are one and the same. I believe in Yeshua Messiah’s prophesied virgin birth, holy, sinless life, Torah observant lifestyle, His miracles, redemptive sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, ascension, and future return and reign. I believe The Messiah will come again.”

Ruth 3: Naomi’s Plan 1

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

Ingratitude to Ruth for her loyalty, love and care and helping her in a sense, find G-d again and seeing as she had “adopted” her as a daughter Naomi felt responsible in finding her a husband, and thus finding love, security and provision. 2

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

Naomi takes on the Jewish tradition of a matchmaker. Naomi felt such obligation because, “Widows were a vulnerable group in ancient Israel. They had no inheritance rights, the status of widowhood during child bearing years was seen as a reproach, as having children was considered to 311

be a blessing from G-d. The law offered some protection: the practice of levirate marriages obligated a childless widow’s brother-in-law (in this case a kinsman redeemer, near relative) to marry her…” – Illustrated Dictionary of Bible Life and Times (parenthesis mine). It was clear Boaz took seriously the Torah command to protect and be kind to widows:

Exodus 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

It wasn’t below Boaz to do hard work, for after hours he was found winnowing the barley alone at the threshing floor and it was apparent that he was in the habit of sleeping at the worksite until the harvest was over in order to protect the grain from would be bandits. Manners and Customs in the Bible, by Victor H. Matthews tells us on page 54 that, “Because the Threshing Floor was also used as the site for distribution of grain to the villagers it eventually became associated with the well-being of the community and the administration of the law. In the Ugaritic legend of Aqhat (ANET, p.151), Dan-el, the heroes father, is portrayed as sitting in the threshing floor of his village deciding cases of widows and orphans (cf. Deborah’s activity in Jdg. 4:5). A similar case is found in the book of Ruth where the widowed heroine went to see Boaz at the threshing floor. He was spending the night at this installation to guard his grain, but it does not seem out of place that Ruth should have come to him here to make a petition regarding her up coming marriage (Ruth 3:6-13).” Ruth would have made Sadie Hawkins proud! Without coming out and saying, the book of Ruth makes every effort to show that Boaz was an upright, Torah Obedient, Righteous man and that Ruth was a true prime example of a righteous Torah Obedient convert.

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 312

Naomi’s instructions to Ruth to get all “dolled up” would be a clear, no mistaking indication to Boaz of Ruth’s intentions. Naomi sure knew men and she knows that they are in a good mood and are more readily to be agreeable after we have a full belly and a little rest after a hard days work. It has been suggested that she went at night for a widow decked out on the road during the day could illicit undue and unintended attention from lustful men.

And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

In Manners and Customs in the Bible it says, “In contrast to the arranged marriage for young couples, the customs regarding widows apparently allowed for a more direct contact between the two participants. Ruth went directly to Boaz at the threshing floor to obtain his aid in arranging their marriage…” Boaz most likely used his tallit (prayer shawl) with tzitzit (fringes) commanded in the Torah to be put on a four cornered garment:

Num. 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: Deut. 22:12 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest [thyself].

Boaz most likely used it at the threshing floor as a blanket, much like the Yemenite Jews use their Tallits today for more than just prayer, but to cover up, to haul things such as wood or possessions. And for Ruth to lay at his feet under his tallit, (which only a mans wife and children could come under his tallit) also showed clear indications of her intentions to want Boaz to 313

marry her. The Tallit is symbolically seen as wings of protection, like a mother bird and thus the Biblical phrases:

Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, Psalm 36:7 How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast. Psalm 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Matt. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

Ruth laying at Boaz’s feet symbolized her current status as a grateful submissive handmaid. The Full Life Study Bible comments, “Ruth’s lying down at Boaz’s feet must be viewed in the light of the customs of the day. It was done discretely and without sexual connotation. As Boaz remained at the threshing floor during the night to protect his crop, Ruth went there and by her actions conveyed to Boaz her desire for him to marry her as her deceased husband’s next of kin.” The Stones Tanak offers the comment, “The Sages understood Ruth’s conduct as being fully for the sake of Heaven. Two women, Tamar and Ruth, sacrificed themselves for the sake of the tribe of Judah. Naomi decided that the best course of action – how ever daring and unconventional – was for Ruth herself to approach Boaz under the most intimate of circumstances and remind him of his responsibility to his uncle’s family.”

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R’ Meir Zlotowitz said, Then, convinced of her sincerity, his compassion for her bitter plight might be evoked.”

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.

Ruth obeyed without question. Though what she was being instructed may have sounded strange and illogical, Ruth had full trust in her mother-in-law, or I should say her adopted mother. She knew she was a foreigner, a convert, still learning. Who was she to question a Hebrew on her own custom, culture and ways? She was young and without the years of experience Naomi had and knew it was best to trust her no matter if it did seem to an outsider to be rants of a senile old woman who had lost it all. This shows Ruth knew well the mitzvah (commandment) of honoring ones parents and the elder and it shows she no longer thought of her as an in-law. Akeidas Yitzchak says, “Although the advice seemed improper to her, nevertheless, Ruth would obey because Naomi had given it.” To follow though with Naomi’s words also showed Ruth was selfless and humble. This also shows as stated before, Ruth’s dedication to Judaism, YHWH, Torah and her mother-in-law. She realized if anything did go wrong Naomi would be responsible, not her, because she had fully obeyed. The Word “bade” in verse 6 means in the Hebrew to ordain and or to commission. Ruth saw Naomi’s words as a command, a mission and not as a suggestion or advice one could choose to follow or not.

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And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8

And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.

Ruth uncovered Boaz’s feet and lay down without notice. Boaz, after a hard days work and with a full belly must have fallen asleep quite fast. Perhaps Boaz moved in the night and touched Ruth with his feet and awoke and was startled. It is no surprise he was startled because he couldn’t afford to be a sound sleeper, for the purpose of his stay was to guard the harvest.

And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

This was a respectful and formulated a ritual reply to make Boaz fully aware of what she was doing. No doubt he knew, but like us when we know what someone is doing we are so shocked and want to make sure, that we ask anyway, “What are you doing?” Rashi comments, “As close relative, you are obligated to redeem the estate of my husband in accordance with Leviticus 25:25, other wise Naomi will be forced to sell it.” Ruth added, “Take me, too, so that the name of the deceased will be perpetuated on his property.” The covering symbolized the acceptance of Ruth’s unspoken but obvious marriage proposal and the future obligatory procreation. We see in Ezek. 16:8 that G-d alludes to Judah as being His Bride as He spiritually and figuratively performs this very custom on Judah to say she was His wife.

Ezek. 16:8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I

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sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11

And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

Boaz praised Ruth, for everyone knew of her self sacrificing, righteous and virtuous ways. From the text it is clear Ruth was a quite woman but obviously her actions spoke louder than words, and all of Bethlehem seemed to take notice. It is really something when a convert can out shine a Jew. The word virtuous is the same one used in Proverbs 31:10-31, the very definition of a virtuous woman that perfectly describes Ruth herself. Virtuous is “Chayil” in Hebrew and means, “able, valiant, rich, strong force,” it describes a person who sticks to high moral standards no matter what and prevails in life.

Proverbs 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the

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gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Legends of the Bible adds a conversation that I believe fits best here and we begin with words from Ruth:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thy ancestors found no delight even in Timna, the daughter of a royal house. As for me, I am a member of a low people, abominated by thy God, and excluded from the assembly of Israel.â&#x20AC;? If this is even remotely true, it would have been improper to correct an elder, Naomi, when she instructed her to do what she just done, but not improper to remind Boaz of this, seeing as he would be the one taking on all this responsibility and fulfilling the rite of a kinsman redeemer. Now Ruth was a Moabitess and Genesis 19:30-38 tells us of the origins of that people.

Gen. 19:30-38 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the 318

first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Deuteronomy 23:3-4 tells us of the command regarding their ineligibility to convert.

Deut. 23:3-4 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

Also pertinent:

Neh. 13:1-3 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

Legends of the Bible goes on to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boaz failed to recollect the Halakah (Torah Ruling) bearing on the Moabites and Ammonites. A voice from heaven reminded him that only their males were affected by the command of exclusion. This he told to Ruth, and he also told her a vision he had had concerning her descendants. For the sake of the good she had done to her mother-in-law, kings and prophets would spring from her womb.â&#x20AC;? (Parenthesis mine)

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And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

Boaz was Elimelech’s nephew, but Boaz pointed out that Elimelech still had a living brother, Boaz’s Uncle (maybe even, but unlikely, his father) and that by right, “the privilege of redemption should be offered first to Elimelech’s brother, a closer relative,” this according to Rashi. Thus this uncle must acknowledge this and then forfeit his rights and only then would Boaz be free to marry Ruth.

Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. 14

And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. 15

Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

For reasons of safety and for no sexual reasons Ruth stayed the night guarding the grain with Boaz and left before daybreak, before anyone found out she was ever there thus sullying Boaz’s righteous reputation. But before she left Boaz filled Ruth’s shawl with six measures of barley.

And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17

And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

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These verse along with v.14, tell us Ruth left before the sun broke over the horizon, where if two friends met on the road one couldn’t recognize the other unless they were a hand span away from each others face. Just as in Native culture all elders are addressed as “Grandfather” and “Grandmother,” similarly in Israel all younger people were “sons” and “daughters” to the elders. But these verses does not say Naomi didn’t know who was at the door, obviously she was expecting her. A better translation of this verse may be “How did you fare… (Amplified Bible),” or “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Now the only thing they had to do was wait, but because Boaz was a righteous and diligent man, he would take care of it the opening of business hours that very morning.

Ruth 4: Boaz Meets with the Elders 1

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

The Stones Tanak says, “Literally, “Unnamed, anonymous one.” Since he did not fulfill his familal duty by marrying Ruth, Scripture hides his name.” “During later periods, when the village acquired walls of grew into towns, the gate area became the place of judgment where cases were brought before the elders. Thus after Ruth confronted Boaz at the Threshing Floor, he went to the gate and called on the elders to sit with him and decide her case… This involved restating the legal situation, hearing testimony, and resolving the problem before the witnessing elders.” – Manners and Customs in the Bible, Victor H. Matthews 321

Apparently Boaz’s uncle, Elimelech’s brother was a man of wealth and influence, most likely a type of judge or business man who regularly frequented the judging elders at the city gates, because the Scriptures see to indicate that he just happened to come by; perfect, divine timing.

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Ten men in Judaism is called a “minyan” and is the minimum number required for communal prayer, and apparently the required number of elders in Bethlehem to here and judge a case. To sit implies to sit for the purpose of hearing and judging a case.

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

According to Jewish tradition Elimelech’s brother, Boaz’s uncles name was, “Ploni Almoni.” Although Legends of the Bible says it was Boaz’s older brother named, “Tov” whose name means “Good.” There is not necessarily an ancient Hebrew word used to designate uncle, nephew, etc. So “brother” is used and the proper relationship between the two is derived from the text as a whole. Brother in this text could also imply, “fellow Bethlehemite or Israelite.” Boaz here lays down the situation for the court. “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech (NASB).”

And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 322

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. 6

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 7

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

Boaz points out in front of the ten elders, hence the ten witnesses that Boaz’s uncle, Elimelech’s brother is a closer and older relative to Elimelech and Naomi and thus gets first dibs of the family estate. The deal sounds sweet to “Ploni Almomi / Tov,” but the catch was he had to marry Ruth and raise a son in Chilons (Elimelech’s son, Ruth’s dead husbands) name, actually first in Elimelech’s name because now his sons were dead too. Either the man had to many wives as it was and didn’t want the drama, or simply marrying a Moabitess, though a convert, didn’t appeal to him, the land was not worth a widow in tow and so he forfeit his right as kinsman redeemer to Boaz. The Key Word Study Bible tells us, “Boaz was willing to perform the duty of next of kin to redeem a piece of land so it could stay in the family (see Lev. 25:25), but there was a man who was a closer relative. However, the plans of the closer relative were complicated by the need to contract a “levirate marriage.” Therefore, the other relative deferred to Boaz, who willingly married Ruth.” Josephus confirms this practice in Antiquities V.9.4. The Biblical Basis for such practice is found within the commands of the Torah in Deut. 25:5-10 and was practiced during the time of the Patriarchs (Gen. 38:8).

Deut. 25:5-10 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth 323

shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

Gen. 38:8And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

The Key Word Study Bible Goes on to say, “It is to be noted that Ruth did not shame the relative who refused to perform his duty. According to Deuteronomy she was supposed to take off his sandal and spit in his face, yet it appears that she was not even present with Boaz at the time. Some have suggested that Ruth was not able to do so because she was a Moabitess…” I would have to disagree for if she was truly a convert, her Moabite origins would have absolutely no bearings on the events. I feel Ruth was not present because she was told to stay behind (3:18)and it seems Boaz’s uncle did not know about Ruth until she was mentioned as a “catch” in the deal. Perhaps Boaz knew the relative would refuse, but if Ruth was present, her beauty may have changed his mind. The Stones Tanak tells us as stated also in the commentary of the Key Word Study Bible, “The transfer of a shoe [or, “glove” (Targum)] symbolized and finalizes the legal transfer of ownership…” Spitting in the face as stated above means shame upon the man for not taking on his familial responsibility, but it also meant he would be ritually unclean and would have to take a mikvah (baptism/bath) and be excluded from any religious service or gathering until evening or even a week as implied by the story of Miriam and Moses (Numbers 12), but Miriam did not get spit in her face, but leprosy. 324

Num. 12:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in [again].

Perhaps the relative was spared such shame because he allowing Boaz to take the land and the girl was actually a favor to Boaz and the exclusion of the penalty of shame and uncleanness was not incurred upon Ploni Almomi Tov.

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

It’s final, the court hears the case, witnesses the transaction and proclaims Boaz as Kinsman Redeemer for Naomi and thus gets to marry Ruth, and Boaz makes confession to this fact. R’ Meir Zlotowitz tells us, “Boaz mentions his marriage separately and does not include Ruth with his newly acquired land. A wife is not a piece of property, but a beloved partner in the sacred task of building a home. In away, on a larger scale this showed G-d’s willingness to redeem Moab an offspring of Avraham through his nephew Lot, for Ruth is mentioned in the linage (and it is unusual for women to be mentioned) of King David and King Messiah Yeshua (Ruth 4:13-22, Matt. 1:1-17). The Full Life Study Bible says that, “Boaz became a redeemer in two ways.

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1. He married Ruth and preserved the name of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband. The first born of Boaz and Ruth was considered a son of Elimelech line (vv.5, 10). 2. Boaz redeemed (i.e., bought) the family land that Naomi ha sold and restored it to Elimelech’s line (vv.3, 7-10). Boaz is an O.T. type of Jesus Christ, who likewise redeems the believer in two ways. 1. He has purchased us by His blood and thereby keeps our lives and names from perishing in sin (John 3:16, I Peter 1:18-19). 2. He includes us as the redeemed in His Eternal inheritance in the new heaven and earth (Matt. 5:5, Rev. 21:1-7). As cited many times, here is my personal statement of faith regarding Messiah as the Kinsman Redeemer: “I believe Yeshua Ha Moshiach of the Branch is the prophesied Messiah of Israel. That He was FULLY YHWH to be able to redeem us from our sins, and FULLY man to have the right to redeem us from our sins, to be our Kinsmen Redeemer (Ruth, Jer.17:5-7, Jn.1). Yeshua is the perfect, holy, sinless Messiah, the figurative Son of YHWH, who is the Word that became flesh dwelt among us (Jn.1:14) who came to dwell in a mortal body that never saw corruption (Ps.14:10), a pure deity manifest in the flesh. He was not an incarnation, which would denote that 100% of YHWH came in the flesh. Yeshua was FULLY YHWH in the flesh, but not 100% YHWH. YHWH is so infinite that He is everywhere and fills everything, so it would be impossible for ALL of YHWH to be limited to a mortal body. In the words of Dr. Friedman, “If we were to go to the Mediterranean Sea and fill a glass with sea water, we can say that all the water in the glass is truly sea water. However we cannot call the glass, “The Mediterranean Sea.” There is much more to the Mediterranean Sea than the glass. Yet nonetheless, the water in that glass is truly Mediterranean Sea water through and through.” I believe that Yeshua is the Kohen Ha Gadol (High priest) who became the ultimate, once and for all atoning sacrifice Himself, for all mankind (Heb.4:14-5:10; 6:19-8:2). I believe salvation is only available through Him. I believe Yeshua came first as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) the Suffering Servant, and will be returning as Messiah ben David the Kingly Messiah. I believe that these two pictures of the Messiah, given in Scripture are one and the same.”

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You see, Messiah Yeshua having a dual nature made it possible for Him to Redeem us, buy us from the grip, slave hood and debtedness of satan and sin. He was 100% human to have the right to be our kinsman redeemer, yet fully divine to have the power and ability to do so. Again we see as part and parcel of the theme of redemption the whole correlation that is deeply rooted in Jewish thought in regards to the Torah being the Ketuvah (Wedding Vows/Contract), we being the Bride, the one needed redeeming by our kinsman which translates into Messiah being that Husband, that Kinsman Redeemer. It also shows how we in humility and submission acknowledge our need of redemption and petition the only one who can make it possible to be redeemed. Once redeemed, we are privy to and have access to all that the Kinsman has redeemed; in this case it would translate to the New Heaven and Earth to Come being ours. In this way the demands of the Torah and G-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holiness in regards to redemption are fully satisfied. Such a beautiful picture of G-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love and desire for us, his fallen creation. 1 Cor. 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Col. 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:

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The Inner Workings of Personal Salvation In this section we will cover the doctrine and theology behind the issue of ones personal salvation; things such as atonement, justification, and sanctification among other things. I will not wax theological and heady for salvation was never meant to be complicated; man has done a sufficient job of this in their libraries of philosophies, doctrines and twists on things and hence our sin, our fallen nature is what complicates things. I have read and consulted many sources and instead of rehashing what they have said, for they essentially all say the same thing I will as best as I can in layman’s terms attempt to explain the inner workings of personal salvation. We have exhaustively covered from the Garden the need for salvation and the meaning of the act of salvation played out in the real life drama of the sacrificial system and how Messiah Yeshua fits in and brings meaning, completion and finality to the salvation experience. Now we will look at individual salvation itself as a clock and we take the back of the clock off to see its inner workings and see what makes salvation tick. As we have already discussed people in the realm of Christianity and Judaism have several differing views regarding salvation and the inner workings of it. Here will be given the Natsari view of ones personal salvation. F. Leroy Forlines said, “Any view of grace that is not grounded in the understanding of sin, holiness and the high regard for law that is manifested in atonement will be empty, shallow, and shot through with the tendencies of antinomianism.” – Biblical Systematics: A Study of the Christian System of Life and Thought Thus the reason I painstakingly went over the sacrificial system from the Garden to the Temple, to today. As stated earlier in this work I did my best to show how Torah and the observance thereof is an inseparable part of the salvation experience. Within the Torah itself are the prescriptions, procedures and precedence given from the fall to the Levitical sacrificial system to the time of Yeshua, the need and necessity for a personal salvation, and from this we can say assuredly say

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that because YHWH is G-d, the sovereign Creator, Lawgiver and Judge of the Universe this places mankind in a state of accountability before Him. Due to the fact that G-d is Perfect, Holy and Sinless and we, because of our first ancestor’s choice of disobedience to His Law, without Him we are in a perpetual sinful, fallen and separated state. G-d cannot lay aside His Holiness, nor we our accountability to Him, therefore something has to give and thus the need and necessity for atonement arises. G-d’s demand for Holiness and the punishment of sin needs to be satisfied and a way needs to be made for us to have once again a right standing and relationship before YHWH. Because of our imperfection and finite nature we are utterly unable to create this right standing before G-d. Therefore because it is assured that G-d loves us and desires such an intimate relationship with the pinnacle of His creation as relayed all through out Scripture it is obvious that G-d must provide a way for us to achieve a right standing before Him where the integrity of His Holiness is not compromised and the appeasement of the punishment of sin is met. Repentance Teshuvah, the Hebrew word for Repentance means to do a 180 degree turn from the wrong path you were walking on, one contrary to the Torah, the Law of G-d and returning to the Source, the right path, to Torah G-dward. Teshuvah/Repentance is what Christians sometimes call Conversion. For the Hebraic definition for repentance requires a change, a conversion. This I thoroughly covered in “Personal Salvation and the Kingdom of G-d.” Atonement Atonement as we covered in discussing the sacrifices of Yom Kippur means covering, but even in English the word atonement when broken down relays a fairly accurate description of what it is; At-one-ment with G-d. There are two aspects of Atonement, brought about by Repentance/Conversion, which must work in tangent with each other; you cannot have one without the other. There is:

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1. Faith Righteousness: We believe, accept and trust in the Atoning work of Messiah Death on our behalf to satisfy YHWH’s demand for holiness and the punishment of sin. 2. Works Righteousness: Proving this Faith Righteousness by Obeying YHWH’s instructions on acceptable livening before Him found in the Torah and exemplified my Messiah Yeshua. The Book of James is all about this aspect of atonement. Faith Righteousness enables us to do Works Righteousness, which is a type of faith if one looks at it like marriage vows, one who performs and keeps the marriage vows is said to be “faithful.” Keeping the Torah is the evidence of the effectiveness of His Righteous Works on our behalf. Judaism is more concerned about what you do than what you think, because what you do gives evidence to what you think. To put it another way Messiah is the grounds of my salvation, but my faith and faithfulness is the condition of that salvation. The penalty against a Holy and Infinite G-d is an infinite penalty, this penalty of sin as is related to man is called eternal death. Man is infinite in only one aspect of his being and that being his duration, the eternality of the soul and thus will exist for all eternity. The only way a man can pay an infinite penalty is to pay the penalty forever. Suffice it to say that there are spiritual and metaphysical aspects of salvation we may never fully understand or comprehend until we receive our new bodies and reside on the New Earth. But because the fact of the effectiveness of Messiah’s Atoning work on our behalf and the application of it on an individual basis which puts us in a right standing with G-d and because of Messiah’s duel nature of being wholly G-d and wholly man which gives Him the ability and right to atone for us only Yeshua could suffer as much on the cross as a mortal sinner will suffer in an eternal Hell. Now before I go any further regarding salvation, seeing as I opened up a mean can of worms regarding Hell, allow me to address it from a Natsari perspective: The Natsarim Jewish Doctrine of “Hell” Hell; a very open ended, ambiguous word that has a variety of definitions depending on what religious group you ask.

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This is my statement in my book “Get Back to The First Century” under the heading: “Eternal Punishment” “I believe those who (knowingly and willingly) reject Yahshua Ha Moshiach, the Living Torah will spend eternity separated from Elohim in Hell, and ultimately the Lake of Fire with all senses in tact (Rev. 20:14-15).”

I will attempt to elaborate on this statement. Today, attempting to find out what Orthodox Judaism believes about hell, you will be more successful in squeezing water out of a dry stump. You will get a vague ecumenical type answer that makes hell sound more like the Catholic Purgatory. This was posted on an “Ask the Rabbi” type site: “Hi Saul The way most people (and religions) view Hell is a place of eternal damnation and punishment. Judaism does not believe in that concept. We do believe in a purgatory process (called Gehinnom), meaning that a soul may have to undergo cleansing (which is not very pleasant) for a period of time before it can enter Heaven. Regards, Rabbi Ari Shishler”

The Jewish doctrine of Purgatory was conceived during and after the Jewish exile to Babylon, in that they felt G-d could never send anyone to “hell” but purges one from evil through punishment and thus making one able to be redeemed, likened unto exile. This was partially inspired by Babylonian doctrines concerning the place they call “hell”. The nutshell of a pagan hell is through refinement, correction and contemplation in the underworld one can eventually redeem oneself. It is like unto the concept of a debtor’s

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prison. Eventually this concept was picked up and adopted by the Catholic Church. In the Scriptures there are four words to describe what we know as “hell”: The Four Words For Hell from the Strong’s Concordance 1067 geena (gheh'-en-nah); of Hebrew origin [1516 and 2011]; valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of final punishment: KJV-- hell. 5020 tartaroo (tar-tar-o'-o); from Tartaros (the deepest abyss of Hades): KJV-- cast down to hell. 7585 she'owl (sheh-ole'); or sheol (sheh-ole'); from 7592; Hades or the grave: KJV-- grave, hell, pit. 86 haides (hah'-dace); from 1 (as negative particle) and 1492; properly, unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the grave: KJV-- grave, hell. Sheol is better translated the grave, the good and bad are destine to go there (Gen. 37:35, Num. 16:30, Job 3:11-19). The positive side of Sheol is referred to in the Tanak as “Abraham’s Bosom”. Gehenna is better used as a description of the negative side of Sheol. Tartaros is used once in the Greek by Kefa (Peter) in II Pet. 2:4 to describe the place where the rebellious angels who copulated with human woman are held until the Day of Final Judgment. Hades is simply the Greek version of the Hebrew word Sheol. Luke 16:19-31 Yeshua tells a true story (not a parable because he mentions names) about Lazarus and the Rich Man which reveals a bit of the first century doctrine of the Natsarim of the subject of “hell”.

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Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

We see that in this story we find possibly 3 compartments to Sheol (the Grave). Your body may be in the ground but the essence of who you are, your soul is either in one of two places. â&#x20AC;˘ Abrahamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bosom: The positive side of Sheol where the righteous goes after death.

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• Gehenna: The negative side of Sheol where the wicked and unrepentant go after death to be punished. • The Gulf: Some believe this is the Abyss or as Kefa said in II Peter 2:4, the place where the rebellious fallen angels who cohabitated the daughters of men. It says that the Rich Man looked up and could see into Abraham’s Bosom and that there was a gulf between them. So this denotes that Abraham’s Bosom was an elevated compartment of the Grave (Sheol) and apparently Gehenna, where the Rich Man found himself was a lower compartment of Sheol. The Gulf was seems to be a type of void, which is what the word Abyss means and Tartaros implies. Gehenna is a place to which no one returns from because of their unbelief, disobedience and un-repentance. Gehenna is referring to the in ancient Israel as the valley of Hinnom where human burnt sacrifices were offered up to the pagan deity Molech. In the time of the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) it was converted to a perpetual burning garbage heap. Most all pagan places that were taken over by the Jews were tuned into a dumping ground or latrines. Yeshua said that they (the Rich Man’s Brothers) didn’t believe Moshe (Torah) and the Prophets, (which denotes disobedience and being unrepentant of it), that they wouldn’t believe one who rises from the dead; Yeshua hinting about Himself and His upcoming resurrection. This story reveals that our bodies may be “asleep” a Hebraic idiom for death. Just as Yeshua referred to the Synagogues Presidents daughter who died as being asleep (Matthew 9:24), yet clearly our soul does not sleep but continues a conscious existence beyond physical death. In the Talmud the Rabbi’s talk about sleep as being a certain percentage of death. According to Rav Yoshi ben Shofar of Ha Derek Natsarim Judaism, he believe we can gather from the Scriptures that when Yeshua died on the cross and He told the one theft that he would be with Him in Paradise (another name for Abraham’s Bosom), and that this was the Sheol, or the “hell” Yeshua descended too; because even if it was a higher level than Gehenna, you still had to descend to it (Eph. 4:7-10, Acts 2:23-36, I Pet. 3:18-20). In Judaism Abraham’s Bosom wasn’t up in the sky (heaven) and “hell” wasn’t under ground. Yeshua apparently preached to the souls in Abraham’s Bosom showing them that He was the promised Messiah and this 334

at resurrection sometime after he met Mary at the tomb and when appeared in the upper room, he ascended to Shamayim (the heaven where G-d is) and presented those souls to the Father. Then at His ascension after he had been resurrected for quite some time, He took those that rose with him (Matthew 27:52-53) and presented them to the Father as a type of First Fruit offering. Thus Abraham’s Bosom was consumed by Gehenna and is no more, thus the reference to hell opening her mouth and enlarging (Isa. 5:14). Now the righteous goes directly to the Father upon death (I Cor. 5:3) and in the end Gehenna will be thrown into the Lake of Fire originally prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but when man fell, he became a little lower than the angels and by default inherited the Lake of Fire too (Rev.19:20, 20:10-15, 21:8). Rav Yoshi said that the Scripture speaking of “the worm that dieth not” (Mark 9:43-48) is not referring to a literal worm but speaking in a Jewish idiom regarding the fallen, unrepentant soul of man. The Scriptures does not condone or support the doctrine of purgatory, soul sleep or annihilation of the soul. Revelation says that the burning of those in Sheol that were thrown into the lake of fire, it says that their smoke will rise forever (Rev. 14:11). If there is smoke it means something is burning, so eternal smoke denotes eternal burning. If annihilation were true, the smoke would not be eternal. If there is an eternity for the righteous, there must be an eternity for the wicked. You cannot have the Yin without the Yang. Yes, there is much speculation in regards to “hell” and even with the Scriptures, the information we are given, it is as if G-d gives the subject to us on a need to know basis. All that we currently know about “hell” is all we need to know at this time. Now having cleared that up, let us move on from the subject of atonement to that of justification. Justification Justification, like the word atonement has a catchy break down definition which means; “Just-(as) if-I”-never sinned. Just as there are two aspects to atonement there are two aspects to justification; a negative and positive aspect. 335

1. Negative: The remission of the penalty for sin. 2. Positive: The restoration of a right standing before G-d. Justification in my opinion is best explained by the use of a chart which will show the application of Messiah’s atonement work to our account and what takes place where justification is concerned. It is much like an individual incurring debt which he is unable to pay and by accepting the gift of a benefactor who willingly pays our debts for us by crediting his assets to our account so we would not have to suffer time in debtor’s prison. Our payment in return is gladly working for this benevolent benefactor which such employment can bee seen as a gift so as not to ever fall into debt again. Debits • Holiness and Righteousness • Eternal Punishment for Sin Debits • Holiness and Righteousness • Eternal Punishment for Sin

Payment for the Sinner Credits • Unpaid • Unable to achieve absolute • Unpaid righteousness and therefore must receive eternal punishment. Credits Payment for the Believer • Messiah’s • Paid in Full or Holiness and Righteousness Justified by Messiah • Messiah’s Yeshua’s Suffering and Atoning Death, Death Burial, and Resurrection

The way to obtain personal salvation through Messiah’s atonement and justification has been summed up in two concise ways, one commonly referred to as the Romans Road, and one not as well known called the Jerusalem Road; the first taken from the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and the latter from the Tanak (Old Testament). 336

The Jerusalem Road • Man was created to have Fellowship with G-D: Ps.16:11 • G-D cannot fellowship with man because of the sin of mankind: Ecc.7:20; Hab.1:13a; Isa.9:1-2; Ps.51:5; I Kings 8:46 (see also: Rom.3:23) • Sin results in death: Isa.59:1-2; Ezk.18:4,20 (see also: Rom.6:23) • G-D will not recognize man’s efforts to remove sin: Ps.49:7-9; Isa.64:6 • G-D requires a blood sacrifice for forgiveness of sin: Lev.17:11; Isa.53:3-8; 59:16a (also see Jn.1:29; Rom.6:23Heb. 9-10, 22; 10:4; 13:10-16; 18:10-16) • G-D provides this atonement through the Messiah of Israel: Zech.12:10; Isa.53:5b; 59:16b; 53:4-6,10-12; Ps.51:7-13 (also see: Jn.3:16; Gal.2:15-16; 5:22-23 Rom.5:8; I Jn.1:9; Mt.10:33) • All that is required is faith and a willing heart: Joel 2:32; 3:5; Zech.13:9b; Gen.15;6; Ps.2:12 (also see: Jn.1:12; Eph.2:8-9; Rom.10:8-10,13) The Romans Road • Everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned: (Romans 3:1012, and 23) • The price (or consequence) of sin is death: (Romans 6:23; John 3:16) • Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah) died for our sins. He paid the price for our death: (Romans 5:8; John 3:16) • We receive salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ: (Romans 10:9-10, and 13; I John 1:9) • Salvation through Jesus Christ brings us into a relationship of peace with God: (Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:38-39; Rom 12:1-2) ABC’s of Salvation • Acknowledge: Acknowledge you are a sinner, that you walk contrary to G-d’s Torah and are deserving of punishment and therefore are in need of salvation.

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• Believe: Believe Yeshua died and was punished in your place so that you might be forgiven and are given the ability to live by walking in the footsteps of Messiah by keeping the Torah. • Confess: Confess that which you just Acknowledged and Believe.

In short just as the people lay their hands upon the sacrificial animal in the times of the Tabernacle and Temple, symbolically declaring by such an act that their sin is laid upon that animal and they in turn take upon themselves the innocence of that animal. So in kind we lay our sin upon Messiah as we take His Righteousness upon ourselves. Just as that animal did nothing to deserve that death so too Messiah was undeserving of such a penalty. The sacrificial animal stood in proxy for us and Messiah was our substitute, receiving the penalty we deserved. So now when the Holy G-d looks upon us because we accepted and taken Messiah’s death and His Righteousness as our own, G-d’s demand for holiness and the punishment for sin has been met and satisfied and thus we can once again have a right standing with G-d. This all is a given that the individual comes to the knowledge and realization that his being is in a fallen separated state from G-d and deserving and in danger of punishment. Therefore we can be sure in saying that individuals such as infants, some children and mentally disabled who are unaware and cannot comprehend such things are exempt. I Sam. 12:23 and Matt. 18:10 support the truth that such individuals do not go to hell when they die. Knowing this we cannot say such individuals are “saved” but “safe.” The reason being is because faith is a requirement for salvation and such individuals are not capable of exercising such faith. For everyone else one is accountable when one reaches what has been dubbed “the age of accountability” the time when a person knows and understands the difference between right, wrong and what we know to be sin and that we are sinners, which is an age depending upon the individuals mentality and understanding, but in Judaism is considered when a boy or girl becomes a man or a woman through the Bar/Bat Mitzvah (13/12 years of age) when one acknowledges the Covenant of Torah and accepts its demands and therefore becomes accountable to adhere to it.

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Adoption We were born into the family of sin of the First Adam and right away G-d chose us and wanted to adopt us through the work of the Last Adam, Yeshua the Messiah and His redemptive work on the Roman cross and through Repentance we chose Him. It is said that adoption, since never mentioned once by Messiah, but by Rav Sha’ul that it was a Roman concept, foreign to the Jew, but this is not so, for in a sense Yeshua was adopted by Joseph, Mary’s husband. For Yeshua being virgin born was not apart of Joseph at all, but Joseph took and treated Yeshua as his own. Also, the Hebraic Levirate Marriage found in Torah (Deut. 25:5-10) which a brother marries his deceased brother’s wife in order to produce children that would carry on his dead brothers name; the child is his flesh and blood, yet carries his dead brothers name but yet has to be raised by the man who conceived him as his own has the elements of adoption within them. So we see that adoption is a very Hebraic concept. Adoption is about that restored right standing with G-d we discussed earlier, being a son of G-d as the First Adam was before the Fall. “It occurs at the same time as do conversion, regeneration, justification and union with Christ… It also significant that trough adoption we are restored to the relationship with God which humans once had but lost.” – Introducing Christian Doctrine, Millard J. Erickson, pg. 310-311

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Eph. 1:5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Gal. 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Rom. 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 339

And just as all parents have rules and even though there is a fear of punishment if broken we keep them by in large because we love our parents. And if and when we break the rules and are punished it is out of love that our parents do so; same with God as our Heavenly Father.

John 14:15, 21 If ye love me, keep my commandments… He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Heb. 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Our adoption will be full and complete in the World to Come.

Rom. 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

“Here in this world we are incognito; we are not recognized as sons of God. But some day we shall throw off this disguise (2 Cor. 5:10). It doth not appear, it hath not yet appeared what we shall be; the revelation of the sons of God is reserved for a future day.” – The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans p.163

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1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 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.

Sanctification Sanctification is just a fancy word which means to be set aside for a specific use, which in reality is just another word for being holy. Sanctification and justification go hand in hand is inseparable. We can no more have justification without sanctification than we can have sanctification without justification. We get both simultaneously at the moment of our personal salvation. The justification however makes the sanctification possible. Sanctification depends upon justification and not the other way around. Sanctification in the realm of salvation is the continual process of refinement. Justification is a position of standing where as sanctification is a state of being and is experienced. Allow me to lay the two side by side:

JUSTIFICATION • Positional (Ones Right Standing with G-d)

SANCTIFICATION • Experiential (Ones State of Being with G-d Being Conformed into the Image of Messiah Yeshua)

• Objective

• Subjective

• Complete

• Working Toward Completion

• Faith Righteousness

• Works Righteousness

• Absolute Righteousness

• Relative Righteousness Now But Complete in the World to Come

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The goal justification is restoration of ones relationship and standing with Gd and sanctification’s goal is restoration of the nature of ones being that created the need for justification in the first place. We are positionally sanctified (set apart) by G-d at the moment of salvation and we are experientially sanctified only as we practice holiness and that is by walking in the footsteps of Messiah Yeshua by walking in and following the Torah. This is what it means to be “in Messiah (Christ)” and a “new creature” (Rom. 3:24; I Cor. 1:3; II Cor. 5:17). Justification gives us that change of our inner constitution and sanctification is the proof of that change, it affects the anatomy of the soul and changes for the better how we think, feel and act and is a change that works from the inside and ends up manifesting itself outside ourselves in our everyday life. It connects us to the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) of G-d and causes us to know and understand His Will (Torah) not just intellectually in our minds, but intimately in our very being, all the will maintaining the free will of our being. Leroy Forlines said, “In our relationship with God, we are both dependant and independent. We are dependant in the sense that we need His help and cannot be what we should be without His help. We are independent in the sense that even though we cannot be what we should be without God’s help, in a real sense our actions are own. God does not treat us like puppets. We have latitude for obedience and disobedience.” This Free Will is exactly why Rav Sha’ul wrote these words which describe the struggle of every true believer.

Rom. 7:14-25 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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In Judaism we call this the Yetzar Hara and the Yetzar Tov, the Evil inclination and the Good Inclination, both of which is said to help us toward greater holiness and observance of Torah, the Yetzar Tov makes it easy, the Yetzar Hara makes it hard, but is necessary for resolution, fortification and growth in our faith, just like steel when it is heated and beaten it is tempered and made stronger. The Yetzar Tov/Hara deal with our Nefesh sometimes referred to as the animal soul. So temptation is meant by the Evil One to make us fall, but as Romans 8:28 says, G-d uses it for our good, if we allow it, for as another passage says, that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond the resist of temptation (I Cor. 10:13). The Good and Evil Inclination reminds me of the old Native tale of the good dog and the bad dog, both chained juxtapose to each other and they both break their rope and begin fighting. Who will win? Depends upon which dog you feed and cared for the most.

2 Cor. 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Eph. 6:12-18 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 343

You see I believe that the word Ruach and Neshamah are essentially the same because Ruach and Neshamah in Hebrew have similar meanings, Ruach is Wind, Breath and Spirit and Neshamah is Wind, Breath and Divine Inspiration. In making distinctions I would say that the Ruach is what the Neshamah is called before it is regenerated and the Nefesh (Soul) is “saved” redeemed by the blood of Yeshua Ha Moshiach and the infilling of the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit), that the Ruach is actually latent within an individual until the regeneration occurs via the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha Kodesh) and the Nefesh is transformed. For greater detail please refer to the above article called “The Anatomy of the Soul and Salvation.” We can also call the Nefesh, the Mind. And it is the Holy Spirit of G-d that is continuously changing, with our permission, our minds/animal soul into the Mind of Messiah, a mind that is in sync and compatible with Messiah Yeshua’s. Rom. 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Titus 3:5-8 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. II Cor. 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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It is a matter of surrendering our will and letting the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) rule our Spirit, (He is the pilot and we the co-pilot if you will) which in turn rules over the Nefesh (Soul) which then mediates between the Neshamah and the Gof (body) and good works are manifested in this outer world. It is living after the Spirit (Ruach/Neshamah) and not the Flesh (Nefesh).

Romans 8:5-14 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

This is what Christians call “Regeneration” and basically it is a work of Synergism; G-d works with you as you act in faith/faithfulness to His Torah. It is a continual and daily progress until we reach the World to Come and the ball is in our court whether in this process we progress, stagnate or, G-d forbid, regress. The proof will be in the pudding as Ya’akov (James) put it: Jam 2:14-26 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto 345

him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This is why it is detrimental to realize, accept and apply that the Torah is an inseparable and essential part of ones personal salvation experience. Without it, it is similar too trying to take a long journey without a map, or trying to live in a foreign society without first learning the laws and customs that are acceptable to living in harmony there. You may be able to get by, but only at a severe disadvantage and with frequent unpleasant repercussions.

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Apostasy, Willful Sin in Regards to Personal Salvation In dealing with the Hebraic concept of personal salvation based on the Covenant of Torah this leaves open the possibility of what Christians call Apostasy. Poor verbiage that is often used to describe this calls it, “loosing ones salvation,” as if it were like car keys which one can accidentally misplace. I prefer to use the more accurate term, “forfeit ones salvation.” Because as we have discussed salvation is like a marital contract with conditions, stipulations and obligations on both parties, therefore we can choose to walk away from it; we can, like in a marriage, “divorce” ourselves willing from salvation. The burden lies with us to maintain the covenantal relationship with G-d; G-d is perfect and has no problem keeping His end of the contract. Apostasy has been defined as the falling away from G-d’s Truth and or the formal religious disaffiliation or abandonment or renunciation of one's religion. The word derives from Greek αποστασία (apostasia), meaning a defection or revolt, from απο, apo, "away, apart," στασις, stasis, "stand," "standing". So to say one can loose their salvation is ludicrous because this would imply one has no control over if they are saved or can stay saved, that ones condition of salvation is left up to the whims of a fickle god; no, we have the free will to choose to forfeit or abandon our salvation. Here is but one example in the Scriptures of Apostasy:

2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I

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put my name for ever: Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

This account shows an unrepentant, conscious, total walking away from the Torah and doing the exact opposite. It is an embracing and accepting of sin as acceptable behavior without consequences. Sin is defined as breaking the Torah (I John 3:4). It is a walking away due to rebellion, unbelief, the acceptance and belief in false doctrine a perversion of the Scriptures, the hardening of the heart and spiritual blindness and accepting the doctrine of men and demons.

Heb. 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Acts 20:29-30 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. II Tim. 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. II Peter 3: 15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Heb. 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Acts 7:54,57 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teethâ&#x20AC;Ś Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. Acts 28:25-27 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet 348

unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 1 Timothy 4: 1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Rav Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ul shows Timothy how to mark such people:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The above entails a resisting of the truth and practicing deception and immorality and is given example of such in these Scriptures.

II Tim. 3:7-8 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. II Cor. 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also

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be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. II Pet. 2:14-15-22 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

It is thought that apostasy is an unforgivable and unredeemable state, and it is true there is a danger of one dieing in the state of apostasy, but one can return to the truth.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Unless their conscious has been seared (I Tim. 4:2) which no one but G-d and the individual knows, they cannot return to G-d from that apostic state. But what about the issue of blasphemy against the Ruach HaKodesh, what some people call the unpardonable sin?

Matt. 12:22-32 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 350

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

In context of Scripture this is attributing the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit to satanic or demonic activity and or power; calling that which is holy, unholy. This is the conclusion I have reached that every sin of which one can repent can be forgiven. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. Therefore blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a sin of which a man cannot repent. (Gen. 6:3; Acts 19:9; 1 Tim. 4:2.) Sometimes the question is asked: "If God, Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit are One, when one blasphemes one, does he not also blaspheme the other?" The answer is "No," because it is dealing with an attributed function not ones words or person. I mean and imply different things if I were to say, “John Doe is of the devil.” This implies John rubs shoulders with the Devil. If I said, “John Doe’s speaks the words of the devil.” I imply he speaks things the devil would speak, implying a choice to speak them or not. If I said, “John Doe’s actions are of the devil.” I would imply that the acts he performs are done so only by the power and agency of the devil, which would imply the devil achieving actions through the possession of John and therefore Johns will, his being is submitted and subject to the devil himself.

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“Because of what Paul said, and what God revealed about the result of blaspheming God in the Old Testament, my opinion is that when a person understands the Divine Nature of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit and then reviles or curses either of them, knowing he is thus speaking of all of them, he can not be forgiven. In the Old Testament, when a person cursed God, he was not offered a chance to repent. He was killed! If a person had said, "God is a liar," but was speaking of his false God, whether Baal, Zeus, Jupiter or some other false concept, he would not be held guilty of blaspheming Jehovah-God. I knew a person who said, "I hate God." When I questioned her, I discovered she hated the concept she had which she thought was God. When I explained about Jehovah and His love for her, she obeyed the gospel. She might have cursed her concept of God without blaspheming God. One cannot even know there is a Holy Spirit without also knowing His nature. So, if one knows the God of the Bible and the Holy Spirit of the Bible, and curses them, he has probably gone past the place of repentance (Cf. Heb. 6:7, 12:17).” -- T. Pierce Brown: http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Brown/T/Pierce/1923/blasph-1.html

Many people become terrified and wonder if they have blasphemed the Ruach HaKodesh, this is a scare tactic of the evil one, for G-d is not the author of confusion and hasn’t given us a spirit of fear (I Cor. 14:33; II Tim. 1:7). For somebody who is concerned about having committed this unpardonable sin we can safely say with assurance that if you can repent of it, you have not done it. One can commit sins in ignorance, but one cannot actually blaspheme the Ruach HaKodesh accidentally and not know it. The nature of the act and the Person whom it is against makes it impossible. Some may bring up I John 1:16 and ask what is the difference in blasphemy against the Ruach HaKodesh and "the sin unto death" mentioned in 1 John 1:16? What this means is that any sin that a person will not repent of is a sin unto death, for the wages (price to be paid for) sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a specific sin that a person will not repent from on account that his heart has become irreversibly hardened. Therefore because of the condition of his heart he will not repent as long as he lives, his heart must become so hardened that he realizes and understands the nature of the Ruach HaKodesh and curses or reviles Him.

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What of willful sin? We have learned that there was a sacrifice for that in the Levitical sacrificial system. But what of the passage in Hebrews one may ask.

Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

When we take a look at verse 26 in the NASV we see that the verse is not talking about a single act of willful sin. It says, "For if we go on sinning willfully," therefore the sin spoken of here is a habitual, truly unrepentant way of life rather than individual acts of sin. Plus, all sin other than sins of ignorance is willful sin; we cannot keep away totally from them. David said:

Psa. 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Presumptuous sin IS willful sin, the book of Hebrews is speaking of that fact that once you make a sacrifice for willful sin and you commit that same sin again, willfully and knowingly, that you have to offer another sacrifice, the initial sacrifice does not cover it. Also it implies that because when one offers a sacrifice for such sin and they are in no way repentant the sacrifice was null and void anyhow because the person wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t truly repentant. If they were they would go to great lengths and measures to keep from committing that sin again. This passage in Hebrews also implies that if one continues to sin willfully and unrepentantly that they will eventually become desensitized to the sin and no longer seek forgiveness for it. Talk about grace in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Testament,â&#x20AC;? G-d says He forgives our transgressions, meaning our rebellion, our willful sins, and as stated before there has always been a prescribed sacrifice for such sins.

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Exd. 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

I hope this alleviates many unfounded fears and gives one the proper understanding of the subject of apostasy, willful sin and ones personal salvation.

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Communal Salvation I will briefly skim this topic and the next seeing has how it is a part of out discussion, but not the main focus. This refers to a group of people, usually and ethnicity, community or a religious group seen as a whole. This is seen in and what is usually meant by salvation in today’s non-believing Jewish circles; the restoration of Israel, rescue from national enemies and foreign occupiers and the like. Rav Sha’ul spoke of this corporate salvation in Romans Chapters 9-11. This was built upon such passages in the Torah as The Exodus, the conquering and settling of the Promised Land, in the Tanak such as the events in the Book of Judges and the establishment of a Kingship and thus a bonafide national presence recognized by the other nations in the books of I-II Samuel, I-II Kings, I-II Chronicles as well as Isa. 2:1-4; 11:910; 27:12; 33:22; 42:1-6; 45:14,23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 52:7-10; 56:1-8; Chapters 60-66; Ezek. 17; 20:42; 34; 36:9-12; 47:13-48; Daniel 7; Micah 4; 5:10-15; Amos 9:11-13; Zech. 8:20-23; 14:1-11; just to name a few. Though personal salvation was expressed in the Garden with Adam and Chavah (Eve), the Levitical sacrificial system and the theology wasn’t dominate in Judaism until it was fleshed out through the writings of the Qumran community and their idea of the Messiah.

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Global Salvation This refers to the world, mankind seen as a whole and draws upon the concept of communal salvation but applied to the world and the redemption of all believers and the vanquishment of all enemies of YHWH and His people, we clearly see this Rav Sha’ul’s (Paul’s) and Kefa’s (Peter’s) words as well as in Yochannon’s (John’s) words regarding the Revelation, where everything returns to a perfect, sinless, eternal Edenic state and Messiah Yeshua reigns on the New Earth for all eternity. Rom. 8:18-23 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. 2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Rev. 21:1-2And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

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In Conclusion: How Salvation Has Affected Me. I was raised in a Protestant Christian Free Will Baptist home, was “saved;” by that I mean personally asked God to forgive me of my sins and I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart to be my personal Lord and Savior, when I was six years old. I backslid when I was around ten or twelve until I was thirteen and then rededicated my life to the Lord sitting in a darkened hallway in front of my homeroom door in Junior High before school started and have been serving Him ever since in a multiplicity of capacities without ever looking back. I may not have a TBN or Hallmark Movie style testimony. I may never pack out an arena to tell my salvation experience. I was never into drugs or alcohol, and I’ve never joined a gang, been in a juvenile hall or locked up in prison. I never been homeless or lived on the street, I was a virgin when I married at twenty one. I don’t have a criminal record. Sure I’ve got speeding tickets and as close to drunk or high I ever got was when I accidentally took to much Nyquil when I got a real bad cold. Some people wonder how great can my testimony be then? Greater perhaps than the drug addicts and criminals because G-d kept me from that. I didn’t have to suffer all of that to find Him. I am living proof that one can live in this world and not succumb to those life destroying temptations. He gave me the power to live and stay free from such bondages. I can’t explain why I had such a hunger, thirst and curiosity about G-d since I was a small child but He has always been real to me and close to me. And seeing salvation experiences of druggies, prostitutes and criminals and seeing the real tangible change in their life only solidified the realness and surety and power of my own personal salvation. Besides, the outward addictions and decadence which makes salvation more pronounced in a person is only what we can see with our physical eyes. Perhaps more powerful of salvation is from ones self, ones fallen nature. Just because I never battled drugs or what have you doesn’t mean my life has been easy or that I was born with a spiritual silver spoon in my mouth I fought hard with such things as self righteousness, pride, and lust of all kinds. Messiah saved me from myself, a bigger satan than satan himself! But because I was born fallen and in sin I was in satan’s clutches and the inclination of my fallen nature seemed magnified with out Messiah to rule my life. All it takes is a look at the nightly news, our broken society filled with broken people to see what could have been and what I have been saved

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from. Even though I was saved at an early age nonetheless I am not above anyone else, that it could have been me and angry, addicted, aimless, strung out mess of a human being in a whore, crack or jail or cardboard house. But I didn’t have to be any thing like that to realize how empty and miserable I was, what a rotten person I was and yeah, how it should have been me under the knife or on the cross, not a sacrificial animal not Yeshua that took my place. I deserved everything Yeshua didn’t. Though as unworthy as we I am He gladly took my place and is why I can and do have a personal salvation. Allow me to tell you how I got here from there; from Christianity to Natsari Judaism. Now, it certainly didn’t happen overnight. It was approximately a 10 year journey for me to come to where I am at today. I had to ask the hard questions, and rethink everything I knew. It all started when I was a very young believer. I remember one time when I had a wall in my room devoted to Missions work in the particular denomination I grew up in. I remember looking at the wall of heroes with and almost euphoric burst in my chest that said, “We have the Truth,” Thinking that even we were more correct than any other Christian denomination out there. It was the honest sincere ignorant zealousness of youth. O how G-d must wink at our ignorance more oft than we might think. At the moment HE must have smiled at my sincere zeal for Him, and like a father hiding a surprise present, HE must have said, “Yes, but I’m so much more!” At the time I had only half the Truth and I thought it was the whole shebang and was happy with it. It wasn’t till I was older and deeper into my walk when I felt like there had to be more. Like a gadget I had used one way for years only to have someone show me to my surprise that it had another attachment or could be used in a different way, it’s like I had a brand new and improved gadget. That’s the way it was with my faith when I knew the Living Torah only to discover the Written Torah that had always been there with it! The watershed moment that brought me to where I am today all began when my wife and I were attending a Bible college and commuting 30 minutes to and from our school. One fateful, cloudy, dismal, rainy day I sat in the passenger seat of our car. As my wife drove, I was looking out the window, feeling a million miles 358

away from Elohim. I asked Him in my heart, “Why do I feel so distant from You? I cannot think of any sin in my life that has separated us. Is this all there is to this Christian life? There’s got to be more!” The reply HaShem gave me didn’t directly answer my question, or even make sense to me. But strangely it gave me shalom (peace). He said three times in my heart and Neshama (Soul), almost audibly, “Get back to the first century.” And so began my study of the first century and its followers of Yahshua Messiah, their customs, culture, beliefs, and practices. As I began to learn more and more, I saw how the Christian church didn’t line up with the Scriptures, and that it actually opposed them at times. I began correcting faulty Christian doctrine in my own life. I slowly started separating myself from the Church. I felt compelled to take on more and more Jewish practices. My first step was that I started following the dietary laws, eating Kosher. My family and I then did away with all the pagan holidays and began keeping the Biblical Feasts. Then I bought a Tallit Katan, the small poncho like garment with the fringes (tzitzit) that is worn under the cloths. I wore it all the time to fulfill the command to wear fringes at the four corners of your garments (Num.15:36-41). I was given a Tallit (Prayer shawl) by my former Rabbi to use during prayer and synagogue services; he eventually adopted me into his family which is from the Tribe of Levi. This is the prayer closet referred to by Yeshua in Mt.6:6. Think about it, only kings and the extremely wealthy had closets. Most people had one or two room houses. Your closet was understood in Yeshua’s time as your prayer shawl. Closets are really a more Western World modern amenity. I then bought a kippah (head covering) which I began to wear all the time as well. I then purchased a Siddur (prayer book), and began praying three times a day. My wife and I then discovered that we both had Jewish ancestry in our families; this confirmed in our minds that we were on the right track. I stopped attending Church all together, and began to look for a Messianic (for I knew nothing of the Netzarim at the time) synagogue. The one we had been attending was so small that it had to close its doors. Yet in my search I never found a Messianic synagogue that met the Scriptural criteria. Most of them were either cults, or Baptist churches with Jewish décor. Also during this time frame my wife and I both found out we have Jewish ancestry in our family trees, both on our mother’s side. She comes from a line of Russian Jews, and I Cherokee Jews (I’ll elaborate later). This all confirmed that my wife and I were traveling the path G-D had intended for us. After a while I obtained a set of Tefillin, to wear during Morning prayers. By this time I had found a Natsarim synagogue and became totally involved. I felt if my 359

Messiah did these things and they were good enough for Him, then I should too. Wow! What a privilege to wear, do, celebrate, and live out the very things my Messiah did! Because Practicing Believers in Netzarim Judaism are few and far between, I am pretty much a self made Jew. Almost everything I know up to this point has been self taught. I sought this knowledge out on my own until just recently when I came under the Mentorship and Tutelage of my current Rabbi. Now, approximately 10 years later, here I am, a convert to Netzarim Judaism through hatafat dam brit (ritual circumcision) and mikvah (baptism). I am now a 21st century Orthodox Natsarim Jew. The way I discovered my Jewish linage is from my mother’s side. Ever since I was a teenager I have been drawn to Jews and Jewish things. I have officially became Jewish through the Hatafat Dam Brit (ritual circumcision) and Mikvah (Baptism). I wrote in my testimony that I cried out to G-d from my heart that there has got to be something more and indeed I found that “more” three times oever. First was at age six when I discovered the very thing to fill the “G-d shaped hole,” in my being I found that in a personal relationship with Yeshua the Messiah, who us G-d in the flesh. From ages 6-13, because of the awkward time created by the western world called adolecence, a sink holw developed in my herat because the things of this world, such as peer pressure, popularity and materialism compromised the foundation of the G-d shaped hole and I had to have the Living Waters that is Yeshua, to be poured like concrete to fill and solidify in that G-d shaped hole. The second “more,” the second inate, born with hole that needed to be filled in my being was an undefined chasem, a hole as changing and as undefined as a glob floating around in a lava lamp. This hole needed a frame before it could be filled, it needed defined boundaries. A five sided frame of Genisis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The foundation stone of Yeshua was set in its place instead of what most people put in this hole, a foundation of sand, pulverised bits and peices of truth, not rock solid truth itself (Matt. 7). The third hole in fact encompassed the two. It’s as if the first hole as the land, the second was the foundation and the third was the hole where the finished house should be, symbolizing the harmony of the coming together of Land and Foundation, creating a place wgere one can live and have 360

purpose, meaning and fulfillment. You see, everyones land and foundation will be the same. The house however is individualized and unique as a snowflake and is ones unique purpose and calling in ones life. That hole is beyond the scope of this book. At least I gave you a good head start so you can work on the third hole right away. I have never been more happy or complete in my whole life! I finally feel like I’m home, and that I have a family. I finally fell like I belong. I have direction, purpose, and meaning in life now. I finally realize my true calling and purpose in HaShem’s plan for my life, to be a Natsari Rabbi. All that you’ve read above is but a thumbnail sketch, a “Cliffs Notes” version of my discoveries from that fateful rainy day till now. And so the journey continues…

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Bottom line is, apart from the Hebraic language and culture which the Whole of Scripture comes through by the Divine and Sovereign choice of Gd, one cannot correctly understand, interpret, apply correctly and effectively a personal salvation experience. It is detrimental for the sake of our eternal souls that we take G-dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word, not mans word or mans interpretation of His Word, regarding the issue of Personal Salvation. I have made it very clear that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian world is missing a vital link, that of the relevance and obedience to Torah through Messiah, which could negatively affect some individualsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eternal state and destination. It behooves every human being to evaluate and take stock of ones knowledge and understanding of the terms and acceptance of ones personal salvation. I pray the reader has found this work stimulating, revelatory, insightful, edifying and beneficial to them. In the service of the God of Israel, Shalom,

10/12/09 24th of Tishrei, 5770

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NOTES:

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Bibliography • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

King James Version of the Bible Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle, Ervin Hershberger Biblical Systematics: A Study of the Christian System of Life and Thought, F. Leroy Forlines, Randall House Publications Introducing Christian Doctrine, Millard J. Erickson, Baker Book House Publication The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans, Moody Press The Key Word Study Bible (KJV), AMG Publishing The Full Life Study Bible (KJV), Zondervan Comparative Study Bible (KJV, Amplified, NASB, NIV), Zondervan Hebraic Roots Version, James Scott Trimm The Stone’s Edition of the Tenach, Artscroll Mesorah Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Nelson Legends of the Bible, Louis Ginzberg, Jewish Publication Society Illustrated Bible Dictionary of Bible Life and Times, Reader’s Digest Manners and Customs in the Bible, Victor H. Matthews, Hendrickson Publishers Jewish Book of Days, Jill Hammer, Jewish Publication Society www.chabad.org www.aish.com The Talmud The Archko Volume All other sources have been cited after the quotations taken from them.

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