January-February 2013 by Yahweh's Restoration Ministry

C O N T E N T S

Magazine

VOL. 3 | No. 1 | January-February 2013

A R T I C L E S

4 | Freedom in Yahshua by Joel Wirl

6 | You Can Fall from Grace by Alan Mansager

10 | The Sabbath Revealed by Randy Folliard

15 | Compelling Reasons to Keep the Feasts Today by Alan Mansager

19 | Restoration Study Bible Ad 20 | Questions and Answers 22 | Discover the Truth Ad

FRONT COVER: Empty courtroom with grace being weighed in the balance. istockphoto

Restoration Times expounds the close ties between the Old and New Testaments. We teach the continuity and harmony that extend from Yahweh’s actions anciently down through His present activity in Yahshua the Messiah. This was also the conviction of the early New Testament Assembly. This publication is sent free of charge, made possible through the tithes and offerings of those who desire to see the truth of Scripture restored in our day. © 2013 Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry

23 | Letters Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry PO Box 463 Holts Summit, MO 65043 Telephone: 573-896-1000 Office hours M-F 8am-4pm

www.yrm.org info@yrm.org

Editorial

Is Doctrine

Dead? by Alan Mansager

hen was the last time you heard a sermon on Bible doctrine? It has probably been a long time, maybe

even years. How important is Bible doctrine, anyway? Will doctrine save you? As our culture becomes increasingly secular, so do religious criteria and teachings. The trends in churchianity follow the flow of society, moving away from divine absolutes to human-set, relative standards of behavior. Our culture is in the midst of an unprecedented attack on the core institutions of marriage, family, and religion. Helping to fuel this change is a backdoor conditioning process through teachings that say obedience is unnecessary for salvation. Today the common notion is that Bible standards are not as important as belief and faith alone, which is nowhere supported in the Word. In fact, teachings of obedience are the very building-blocks of Scripture. Over and over Almighty Yahweh told Israel to obey; over and over Yahshua the Messiah taught His followers to obey His Father just as He did, Matthew 19:17; John 14:15. If the commands, ordinances, and standards for behavior found in Yahweh’s Word are no longer relevant, then the Bible is useless. Eviscerated to its very core. In 2Timothy 4:3 the Apostle Paul prophesied, “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.” We are now at that point. The masses generally will no longer adhere to clearly defined, biblical behavior and the way of life that the Bible commands all who seek Him to live. Incredibly those who follow this misguided path still claim fidelity to the Scriptures, just as Yahshua the Messiah prophesied that they would, Matthew 15:7-9. The only way not to be deceived by common dogma is to prove it for yourself in Scripture. Verify what you are told before accepting anything. Confirm what you read here as well. Look up the biblical references. Yahweh says His truths are everlasting and they make one wise when it comes to salvation. The Scriptures never change. They’re the same ones taught many thousands of years ago. The Apostle Peter wrote in 1Peter 1:25 that the word of Yahweh endures forever. The Savior and the Apostles never said faith alone is all you need. They said obey the Word, which in their day was the Old Testament. In fact, the New Testament fundamentally still teaches what is in the Old Testament. Yahshua the Messiah said to follow the Scriptures, which foremost included the commands and judgments of the Old Testament. Some shy away from the term “doctrine.” They don’t understand that

doctrine simply means what is taught (Greek didaskalia). We can talk all day about the significance of not stealing, coveting and in keeping the Sabbath holy, but unless we put those biblical laws into living action in our lives, it becomes basically passive, inert information. The Bible’s teachings are meant to be applied to the life of the believer. It is not enough just to understand them. Practicing them in your own life is what separates the genuine truth seeker of Yahweh from the detached and lukewarm nonparticipant. Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of Yahweh, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Elohim may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,” 2Timothy 3:16. If Almighty Yahweh didn’t intend for us to follow what He commanded in the Scriptures, then there was no point in giving us the Word to begin with. Your Bible’s teachings were written and inspired to be studied and then practiced. Yahweh’s Word is the only true guide to life, and it will form the constitutional law of Yahweh’s coming Kingdom at the resurrection, Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2. It reveals how you can find salvation through repentance and a transformed life and ultimately to be a part of that glorious Kingdom to come. Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

Freedom in

Yahshua Part 1

by Joel Wirl

hose of us born in the United States understand the concept of freedom. We haven’t had to live under the iron fist of a dictator or know starvation under the rule of communism. We can truly be thankful for what we have in this country. What exactly made this country so extraordinary in comparison to other nations of the world? Was it the free spirit of man or the willingness to fight for what was right? Partly both, but the main reason for the success of the United States was in the type of government that promoted personal liberty in conjunction with providence. Laws Create Freedom The United States Constitution was a great experiment in government. Great minds like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Clark, and others drew from treasure troves of information from the greatest minds of the past to create a government in the form of a Republic. The goal was to craft a government where every man and woman could have access to freedom and personal liberty. The amendments that they put in place would

Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

correct deficiencies in the laws that were enacted, and by those laws create personal independence within our country. Now it can be debated that laws don’t create freedoms but actually take away freedoms. However, to counter that claim, let’s look at a great example that pertains to driving a car. If you drive you likely had to take a driving exam. You probably spent hours in the car with a family member or guardian learning exactly how to drive, and then learning all the signs and laws associated with operating a vehicle. All drivers should possess this knowledge and skill so that they will prove to be safe on the road. If everyone knows and follows the same principles or laws of driving, then we will all be more free of accidents while driving. What if while driving you didn’t know whether someone was going to be driving on the right or left lane of the road. Maybe they feel like driving 100 mph when they should be going far slower and safer. By following the laws of the road you have less freedom to drive how you want, but doing so is beneficial to all other drivers. Laws keep us safe, and when

it comes to driving, help us get to our destination easier and safer. When laws are based upon timeless principles, they create freedom. It’s only when we give up those principles that we lose freedom. The Law of Yahweh Creates Freedom The whole point of this is to show the importance of law, even from a secular viewpoint. We can apply this same example to the law of Yahweh. In fact the book of Deuteronomy can be used as a constitution for Yahweh’s government. The law of Yahweh was meant to show us what to do and not do in living a free life. Loving Yahweh and loving your neighbor are the two basic tenets of the law, and out of these come the other commandments that expound upon these. So the law of Yahweh is in place for our good, but what happens when those principles are forsaken? In 2Kings 22 we find an example of what happened to the nation of Judah when they forgot the commandments. In verse 8 it reads, “And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.” Skipping over

to verses 11 to 13, “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes,” then talking to his servants, Josiah says “Go ye, enquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” From where did Judah’s problems stem? They as a nation, from the king to the common man, forgot the law. That is why Josiah rent his clothes, because he knew just how far from the mark he and his subjects had fallen. The king was to know the law: Deuteronomy 17:18-19, “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the

throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear Yahweh his Elohim, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.” From there the people were to know the law, Deuteronomy 31:10-11, “And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, when all Israel is come to appear before Yahweh thy Elohim in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.” Knowing and practicing the law is of utmost importance to keeping a people free because it gives guidelines for life in

how we ought to live for our safety and liberty. Slave or Free? There is only one problem though; the law by itself cannot give us true freedom; we are still held in bondage to our sinful nature and the inevitability of death. Yes, we have a means to govern ourselves, but not a means to remove the death penalty that our sins have earned. We need Yahshua, who fulfills this role, to save us from death. Yahshua has freed us from the bondage of death that sin causes and has given us freedom unto life in the resurrection to come. The law is of utmost importance to living a free life unto Yahweh. In the next installment we will go over how the law, coupled with Yahshua, can give us true freedom.

Did You Know?

ow many realize that many of the ideas from America’s forefathers came from the Bible?

Dr. Donald S. Lutz and Dr. Charles S. Hyneman did a study of all the books, pamphlets, newspaper articles, and other writings that America’s forefathers had written and found that 34% of the information in them came from ideas supported in the Bible. The other percentage came from the writings of Baron Charles de Montesquieu, Sir William Blackstone, John Locke, Edward Coke, and Marcus Tullius Cicero, and the first three authors listed found the Bible to be the most reliable book in the study of good government. Did you know that George Washington believed that religion and morality were the cornerstones of a free government? In George Washington’s farewell address as President, he is quoted as saying, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens...It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”

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“I can’t believe it,” he said to himself. “He pardoned me! I can live!” Humbly thankful for the gracious pardon, Sam vowed from that point on that he would be a model citizen. And he never was in trouble with the law again. The foregoing illustrates the concept of scriptural grace and how it works in the believer’s life. Paraphrasing the words of Nathan the prophet to King David, “We are that man.” We all deserve to die because we are all sinners, Romans 5:12; 1John 1:10. We earned our fate and nothing we can do can change that fact. Only the mercy of Yahweh and the sacrificial death of Yahshua can save us. Being sinless, our Savior was the only one who could pay the death penalty in our stead. Yahweh’s grace in sending His Son to die for us is our only hope for salvation. Like the governor in Sam Smith’s case, only Yahweh can release us from the spiritual death sentence our sins earned through the sacrifice of His Son.

You Can Fall

Grace

from

by Alan Mansager

What happens if, after we are forgiven of our transgressions, we go right back to breaking Yahweh’s holy laws again? Is not His grace granted with the understanding that we will CHANGE our behavior? The Bible shows that this is exactly what Yahweh expects. It is time to understand that grace has a real purpose in the believer’s life.

“

uilty” was the jury’s verdict. The judge’s sentence: death by lethal injection. For Sam Smith, a convicted murderer, the nightmare of that January day seven years ago had played endlessly through his mind. In a jealous rage he had taken a man’s life. He realized that he deserved the death penalty for what he had done. No amount of agonizing or remorse could change that. Regardless of how many times he pleaded for forgiveness from the victim’s family, no matter how much he wished

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he could relive events, one persistent fact remained: Sam deserved to die. The law was the law. He was guilty of a capital crime and he would pay the utmost price for his sin. With nowhere else to turn, he begged mercy from the governor. ‘You Have Been Pardoned’ Just minutes before his scheduled execution, Sam heard the most wonderful words ever spoken to a condemned man: “By the grace of the governor of this state, you have been pardoned.”

From Sin to Obedience In Romans 6 Paul explains the operation of Yahweh’s grace in the lives of human beings. The chapter is a profound study in the transformation that takes place in a True Worshiper under Yahweh’s grace. In the last verse of chapter 5 Paul writes, “That as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Yahshua the Messiah our Master.” Perhaps no other concept is so misunderstood as the subject of Yahweh’s grace. What does Paul mean in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved by grace? Is he saying that the statutes of Yahweh are no longer binding in this New Testament era? If so, what of the many passages warning us of disobedience and the necessity to watch carefully lest we fall again into the condemnation of the unrighteous? Now suppose the condemned man went right out and repeated the crime for which he was pardoned. Wouldn’t his actions violate the spirit of the pardon? Certainly! The governor didn’t save him so that he would go out and commit serious crime all over again. Would not the courts and the governor deal with the man much more harshly the next time? Absolutely! Yahweh’s grace is no different. The crux of the matter is, what’s the point of

Yahweh’s grace—His favor on sinful human beings—if once pardoned we deliberately return to sinful ways? The words, “grace reign through righteousness,” are key. The New Testament in Modern English translates the phrase, “Now grace is the ruling factor, with righteousness as its purpose and its end.” Grace is not static. It is active and it must work daily in the believer’s life. Yahweh’s grace has an objective: that we will turn from sin to live uprightly as we follow in Yahshua’s footsteps. Obedience is the avenue allowing that to take place. That means to obey His laws, since sin is clearly defined as the transgression of the law, lJohn 3:4. Paul explains further in chapter 6 how grace works in the life of the repentant sinner. “What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Yahweh forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”(vv. 1-2) To accept Yahweh’s grace—His pardon for our sins—and then to turn back or continue our sinful ways as if nothing had happened is to pervert the whole purpose of grace. We make Yahweh’s grace a big mistake if we accept His pardon only to repeat the sin. Hebrews 10:26-27 warns of practicing intentional sin: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Further in the chapter we find this solemn warning: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of Elohim, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29). The word “despite” means, “to insult.” If we continue in sin after receiving Yahweh’s grace we show contempt for Yahweh and His grace. Slipping up and making a mistake is one thing, willfully returning to sin is another entirely. In Galatians 6 Paul explains the difference. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you be tempted.” “Overtaken” is the Greek prolambano and means, “to be taken off-guard in a trespass.” “Fault” is the word paraptoma and signifies

a slip or lapse, rather than a deliberate act. We have only this option: obey the law, which is righteousness, or don’t obey, which is sin. If we obey, we can’t be blamed. The next part of the verse reads, “For you are not under the law but under grace.” How clear! Through Yahweh’s grace (His pardon) our former sins will not be held against us. The penalty for breaking the law has been paid. By trusting in His grace we will not need to pay the penalty ourselves, which the law exacts for our thoughtless sins. Under grace the penalty we earned is wiped away because the debt was paid through the shed blood of Yahshua. The wages of sin is death, Paul wrote in Romans 6:23. In our case it is Yahshua’s death in exchange for our own. Can this passage mean that we are free from the law now and can go out and sin again, as some seem to think? The Greek word for grace is charis and is defined as the divine influence on the heart and its reflection in one’s life. The Upright Not Condemnable Simply put, under Yahweh’s grace we now emulate His righteous nature. We begin to think and act as He does. That means refraining from sin, which is the same as adhering to His standard, His laws. When we come in line with His law by righteous living, the law with its incrimination and penalties for the disobedient has no claim on us. In Romans

An unintentional slip is certainly covered by grace for the repentant. But if you continue to repeat the sin you are mocking the spirit of grace and are subject to Yahweh’s wrath. Paul continues in verses 3-12 of Romans 6, asking, how can we who have followed Yahshua into the waters of baptism and have buried our old carnal life, continue in our old ways? Particularly since baptism means a putting to death of the “old man.” We must become dead to sin, he tells us in verse 11. A person who has yielded his life to Yahweh, having put to death his sinful nature, must now live a new life of obedience, Paul explains in verse 13. As he puts it, we become “instruments of righteousness.” Righteousness derives from a Greek word meaning right or just. The opposite is wrong or sin, which is lawbreaking. Law’s Penalty of No Effect Moving on in verse 14 Paul writes, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law but under grace.” Does he mean that after all that he has just said about giving up sin that we are no longer under any obligation to obey Yahweh’s law? How is that possible when the law itself defines what sin is? (‘‘For where no law is, there is no transgression,” Rom. 4: 15.) Let’s examine the verse by segments. First, for sin not to have dominion over us we have to be out from under it. The only

“Simply put, under Yahweh’s grace we now emulate His righteous nature. We begin to think and act as He does. That means refraining from sin, which is the same as adhering to His standard, His laws.” 8:1-2 Paul explains this concept: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Messiah Yahshua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua has made me free from the law of sin and death.” The critical word is “condemnation,” which results from lawbreaking. When we live according to Yahweh’s statutes we are innocent of sin and therefore free from condemnation and punishment.

way to accomplish that is by obedience to the law because sin by definition is lawbreaking. As we have demonstrated, to be free of sin is to be obedient to His law. The same concept is found in Galatians 5: 16, where Paul writes, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” If grace means we are not under obligation to keep Yahweh’s laws, then grace grants permission to sin! To this the prophet Jeremiah speaks for Yahweh in 7:9Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

10: “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other deities whom you know not; And come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?” Yahweh answers that because of these sins and that kind of attitude, “I will cast you out of my sight,” verse 15.

under grace? Yahweh forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Under Yahweh’s grace we are expected to live obedient lives, giving honor and worship to Him alone, doing what He commands of us as His special people. Verse 18 reads, “Being then made free from sin,

“But does that mean that I am not free to do anything I please under grace?” you may be asking. Let’s let Paul answer that question. The very next verse of this chapter, Romans 6: 15, reads, “What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but

you became the servants of righteousness.” To be servants of righteousness is the opposite of being servants of sinfulness (lawlessness). This is shown in verse 20: “For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.”

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What ‘Under the Law’ Means The converse is just as true: to be righteous is to be free from sin. No one can be legally arrested for doing good. No sheriff will arrest me for saving a drowning man. There is no law against it! When you do good you are not under the condemnation of any law. The demands of the law are already met, therefore, and you have no debt to the law. This is what Paul means by not being under the law. It does not mean the law is no longer in effect, as we will now show. We’ve seen that grace is a pardon for sin. Sin results when a law of Yahweh is broken. Therefore, the need to pardon us for sin exists because the law is in operation. A murderer would not be condemned to die if there were no law against murder. And he would not need a pardon or grace. Yahweh offers His grace and sent Yahshua to die for our sins for the plain and simple fact that the law is still in effect. Because the law is in force the penalty for breaking it is also real, or else we would have no need to fear sin’s consequences. Some will argue that Yahshua came to do away with the law and thus we are put under grace. This idea falls flat if we can find grace in the Old Testament. Sure enough, in Genesis 6:8 we find, “Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh.” Because of grace Yahweh saved him from the penalty of death by drowning. Exodus 34:5-7 reads like something out of the book of Galatians. It speaks of Yahweh’s mercy, grace, longsuffering, and abundance in goodness and truth. If grace existed in the days of ancient Israel, then why does Yahweh command Israel to keep the Ten Commandments? Why should it be any different with us? We are under grace so long as we do not continue to break the law. Grace is not a permanent condition of the believer but a gift granted by Almighty Yahweh. That gift can be rejected through our own attitude of rebellion and acts of disobedience and Yahweh can remove it as well. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of Elohim; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,” Hebrews 12: 15. Salvation Is Not Earned Being law observant has nothing to do with “earning” salvation. I don’t get any

special reward for paying my taxes on time, for keeping the peace, for not robbing my neighbor or mugging a stranger. I’m simply obeying laws. I’m not earning a thing by being law abiding, except the right not to be troubled by the authorities. Paul writes in the book of Ephesians, “For by grace are you saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Yahweh: Not of works, lest any man should boast,” 2:8- 9. Nothing we humans can do earns us a place in the Kingdom because Yahweh has not defined obedience that way. Obedience simply engenders Yahweh’s favor and demonstrates our faith in and love for Him. Obedience to His way of life also shows our gratitude for His pardoning of our past sins. Disobedience, contrarily, reveals an indifference toward what He has done for us and, more seriously, a contempt for Him and His Savior. Now if I fail to pay my taxes, if I rob a bank, disturb the peace or mug someone, I will come under the law. Yahweh says in Galatians 5:19-21 that those who practice sin are also lawbreakers. Yahweh Rewards Obedience Unrepentant lawbreakers will not inherit the Kingdom. Yahweh’s people love Him and want above all else to please Him. In several Scriptures we find that the love of Yahweh is defined as the keeping of His commandments. (See John 14: 15, 21; lJohn 2:5; 5:3; 2John 6.) Rest assured, only Yahweh can grant salvation and at His own pleasure. Therefore, we want to be sure we have His favor by being obedient to what He commands. “And being made perfect He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him,” we read in Hebrews 5:9. Lawkeeping is not salvation by works. Rather, it is salvation by obedience. Obedience can’t guarantee me a position in the Kingdom, but disobedience surely will keep me out of it! Now note verse 10 of Ephesians 2, a continuation of Paul’s thought: “For we

are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yahshua UNTO GOOD WORKS, which Elohim has before ordained that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.” James tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone (2:17). Our works perfect our faith, James writes in verses 2122. “Was not Abraham our father justified

“I just can’t let him die,” the king said to himself. “He is my sister’s son!” As he was about to order the man released, his chief aide interrupted, “The only way this man can be set free is if you offer the ransom of your own son. It’s the law.” “But how could I do that?” the king responded. “I have only one son!”

by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith wrought with his works, and by his works was faith made perfect?” We complete our faith by following through with action. A faith that is sincere is proved by what we do about it. When we obey Yahweh’s commandments and other laws in our daily life we prove our faith in Him while pleasing Him at the same time. Paul’s letter to Titus sums up the issue. “For the grace of Elohim that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Teaching us that denying unrighteousness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and devoutly in this present world.”

“Aren’t you the supreme monarch?” asked a guard standing nearby. “Just rescind the law and the man can go free!” But the aide again cautioned, “If you do that, your dominion will fall and end in ruin. Everyone will know that your kingdom’s laws are just relative. What kingdom could stand under those conditions?” Our King, Almighty Yahweh, paid the penalty for our sins with His Son’s life. The very fact that He did so proves that He loved us. He could have just eliminated the law and saved Yahshua horrible suffering and death. But by not doing that He also demonstrated a key truth: Law is not to be altered or eliminated. The only way we can be pardoned from sin’s death penalty is through a substitute sacrifice of One far greater than ourselves. Through Yahshua’s payment of our sins with His own life, Yahweh’s grace saves us from the law’s penalty, which stands firm and unalterable against all violators. Yahweh’s grace is a wonderful gift. May we never forfeit that grace through willful disobedience.

Law Stands Firm An aging king was out riding his horse one day and recognized his nephew about to be hanged on the gallows at a local village. “Cut him down!” the monarch ordered. When he inquired of the man’s crime he was told that his relative had defected to a rival kingdom and had been sentenced to die as a traitor.

Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

The

Sabbath

Revealed by Randy Folliard

hat day of the week did the Messiah and His apostles worship on in the New Testament? According to most ministers, it was Sunday, the first day of the week. What if we told you that this is not what we find in the New Testament; that they actually worshiped on the seventh-day Sabbath and that Sunday was only the result of man’s tradition? In this study we will consider six facets about the Sabbath: (1) its origin; (2) the sign of the Sabbath; (3) its meaning; (4) why this day is still valid; (5) examples of this day in the New Testament; and (6) examples of the Sabbath being observed in the Coming Kingdom. Where do we find the first mention of the Sabbath? The command goes all the way back to the beginning of Creation. In Genesis 2:1 we read, “Thus the heavens and

Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which Elohim created and made.” We see that Yahweh, our Father in heaven, rested on the seventh day following the six days of creation. We also see that He blessed and sanctified this day. As believers in the Word, we are to follow this example and do as He did. He rested for a reason, which was to give us a pattern to follow. Now what does it mean when it says He “blessed” and “sanctified” the seventh day? The word “blessed” comes from the Hebrew word barak. This is a primitive root in the Hebrew language and literally means, “to kneel; by implication to bless Elohim” (as an

act of adoration). The word sanctified comes from the Hebrew qadash, which again is a primitive root meaning, “to pronounce as clean.” We find first that the Sabbath is the seventh day, which corresponds to our Saturday. Second, our Father in Heaven set the example by resting, blessing, and sanctifying this day. This day is filled with importance. Yahweh told Moses in Exodus 31:13: “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Yahweh that doth sanctify you.” What did He mean by “sign”? It comes from the Hebrew word owth and refers to a signal as in a flag, beacon, monument, or evidence. So through this word we find that the Sabbath provides a sign or evidence of

His people. This passage also says that Yahweh sanctifies us. Sanctify is to set something apart as holy. We must understand that no other command is called a sign in the Word. It is unique to the Sabbath. How do we observe the Sabbath? To begin with, the Sabbath is a day of rest. We find this in the Fourth Commandment, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of Yahweh thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates” (Ex. 20:8-11). We learn that the Sabbath is a day of solemn rest and is mandated to all within our household. This restriction is embedded in the meaning of the word Sabbath. The primitive root is shabath, meaning, “to repose” or “to cease from exertion or labor.” On this day our labor or work is to be suspended and we are to allow ourselves to rest. This was and is the main purpose for the Sabbath. Our great Creator and Designer understood the need for the human body to rest one day out of seven. Science is now finding a seven-day cycle within nature and the need for the human body to rest, confirming what our Father in Heaven established some 6,000 years ago. Everything in Yahweh’s Word has meaning and purpose. Yahweh gave this special time for our own benefit. Therefore Yahshua said the Sabbath was made for man, Mark 2:27. Problematic Passages Explained Let’s look at a few of the reasons some believe that the seventh-day Sabbath is no longer necessary in the New Testament. The most common case made against this time is the belief that Yahshua’s resurrection supposedly changed the day of worship. Many theologians believe that our Savior rose early Sunday morning. What if I told you that Yahshua did not rise Sunday morning but late on the Sabbath? According to Matthew 12:40, Yahshua said that He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the fish’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Tradition says that He was

buried Friday evening and resurrected Sunday morning. In this time span there is only one day and two nights. Have you ever wondered why? Clearly this is not when He was in the tomb! If you study the evangels you’ll find that He was placed in the tomb Wednesday before sunset and then resurrected late on the Sabbath, as we find in Matthew 28:1. “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 sepulchre.” Notice the resurrection occurred at the end of the Sabbath. In ancient times the Sabbath was from sunset Friday through sunset Saturday, which continues to this day in the true biblical calendar. It says that the women came to the tomb as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week. At first glance it certainly sounds like Sunday morning. However, we find an eye-opening truth in the Greek of the passage. The phrase “as it began to dawn” is from Greek epiphosko and can be rendered, “to draw on.” It occurs only twice in the New Testament. The other instance of this Greek word is found in Luke 23:54: “And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.” The phrase “drew on” here is from the Greek epiphosko. Based on this we find that the first day of the week was drawing on, but had not yet come. The women came to the tomb late on the Sabbath or near Saturday sunset.

As we’ll see, not only is there no command, but we also have many examples of the Apostle Paul and others still worshiping on the seventh-day Sabbath. One passage often used as an attempt to prove that the apostles worshiped on Sunday is Acts 20:7. It says, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” It is not hard to see how some can read this passage and believe that it refers to Sunday worship. But again, as we saw in Matthew 28:1, we must look beneath the surface to uncover the truth. So let’s do that now. The word “week” here is from the Greek Sabbaton and refers to the weekly Sabbath or the time between two Sabbaths. Also, the word “day” here was added by the translators, meaning that it’s absent in the Greek text. With this in mind, this passage literally reads, “and upon the first of the weeks.” The other fact about this passage is that it falls chronologically between the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, as found in verses 6 and 20. For this reason some scholars believe that this passage refers to the first week of the count to Pentecost, including E. W. Bullinger in his Companion Bible. He states: “...the first day for reckoning the seven Sabbaths to Pentecost. It depended upon the harvest (Deut. 16:9), and was always from the morrow after the weekly

“Science is now finding a seven-day cycle within nature and the need for the human body to rest, confirming what our Father in heaven established some 6,000 years ago.” Where’s the Authorized Change? For a moment let’s just assume that the Messiah rose early Sunday morning. Is there any passage commanding us to change the Sabbath to the day of our Savior’s resurrection? To the surprise of many, there’s not one verse in the New Testament providing such a command. The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature verifies with this startling statement, “....it must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day.”

sabbath when the wave sheaf was presented (Lev. 23:15).” Pentecost was determined by counting seven complete weeks or Sabbaths from the firstfruits of the barley harvest during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Based on this evidence, this passage likely refers to the count to Pentecost and not to the first day of the week. A Day Regarded Another passage that is frequently used to support Sunday worship is Romans 14:5. Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

Paul says there, “One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Is Paul saying that we have the authority to choose any day for worship and that it doesn’t matter which? This is how many interpret this passage. With Yahweh’s Word it’s always important that we consider the context of the passage. In this case if we simply continue reading we’ll find that this passage has nothing to do with a day of

passage. The word “day” here again was added and is not in the Greek text. This passage actually reads, “upon the first of the week,” a non-specific time. For this reason this passage may not refer to Sunday at all, but to the second or even third day of the week. So if this passage is not referring to Sunday worship, to what then is it referring? At the time this epistle was written there was a great famine in the land of Judea, as we find in Acts 11:27-30: “And in these

“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of Yahweh come.” worship. Verse 6 reads, “He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto Yahweh; and he that regardeth not the day, to Yahweh he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to Yahweh, for he giveth Elohim thanks; and he that eateth not, to Yahweh he eateth not, and giveth Elohim thanks.” The context shows that this passage is referring to fasting. What is fasting? It’s going without food and drink to show one’s devotion and sacrifice to the one worshiped. As with the previous passage, this one has absolutely no connection with Sunday worship. Paul was simply making the statement that fasting was a personal conviction and should not be restricted to a specific day. In other words, it doesn’t matter which day a person may fast. It is a personal conviction. Nothing is said about a day of worship. Another passage that’s often misunderstood as referring to Sunday worship is 1Corinthians 16:2. It reads, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Paul tells the Corinthian assembly here to collect something on the first day of the week. Many think he means tithes and offerings for the Sunday offering plate at church. Let’s again look beyond the surface and decipher the true meaning of this

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days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” In 1Corinthians 16 Paul was organizing a relief effort in response to the famine. He was gathering food items for his fellow believers in the land of Judea. So once more this passage has no correlation with the first day of the week as a day of worship; instead the Apostle Paul was gathering supplies in advance for those suffering in Judea. Matthew Henry notes in his commentary, “He begins with directing them about a charitable collection on a particular occasion, the distresses and poverty of [believers] in Judea, which at this time were extraordinary, partly through the general calamities of that nation and partly through the particular sufferings to which they were exposed.” Matthew Henry is also addressing the famine. ‘Day of Yahweh’ Is Not Sunday Consider another passage that many use to support Sunday worship. In Revelation 1:10 we find, “I was in the Spirit on Yahweh’s

day….” You may know this as the “L-rd’s Day.” What day is it? Is it referring to a day of worship? Actually this passage has been twisted from its original intent! It is describing the day of our Savior’s Second Coming, when He will pass judgment upon mankind. How do we know this? It can be verified from several Old Testament prophecies. Here are just a few: ● “Woe unto you that desire the day of Yahweh! to what end is it for you? the day of Yahweh is darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18). ● “The great day of Yahweh is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Yahweh: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Yahweh: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung” (Zephaniah 1:14-17). ● “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of Yahweh come” (Joel 2:30-31). From these passages we see that the day of Yahweh will not be a time to be desired; it will be a day full of darkness, desolation, wrath, trouble, and distress. It is, again, a prophecy of Yahshua’s return, when He will come to reap the wicked. So as we find, this day doesn’t describe a time of worship, but of anguish. New Testament Sabbath Proof Let’s now move on to the evidence we find in the New Testament for the seventh-day Sabbath. Possibly, the biggest surprise to many Bible believers is the fact that the Apostle Paul faithfully observed the seventh-day Sabbath. One of the first accounts is in Acts 17:2: “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” This is an important passage. Here Paul habitually worshiped on the seventhday Sabbath. The word “manner” is the Greek ethos and refers to a habit or custom

that is either a personal conviction or by from the early apostolic church, to transfer Testament. This included not only the command. the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday” (1843, Sabbath, but many of the popular holidays In this case we know it was both – Paul p. 186). that are observed today, including Christmas observed the Sabbath from both a personal Dr. Neander, who’s birth name was and Easter. True to suspicions, we find an conviction and from the fact that it was David Mendel, was a protestant minister association between Sunday and Christmas. required in Yahweh’s Law. and professor. In his book he validates that Both were connected with sun worship. This passage took place some 20 years the change to Sunday was not inspired by According to the Webster’s Dictionary, after Yahshua’s death and ascension. Now the apostles, but was established on the law the word Sunday literally means, “day you would have thought that after 20 years of man. As we saw earlier, there is no law of the sun.” (1966, p. 1826). Sunday was Paul would have received the memo about in the New Testament promoting Sunday the ancient day of sun worship. In like a change in worship, yet Paul continued to worship. All examples expressly establish manner, Christmas was chosen because worship on the Sabbath as he always did. the seventh-day as the only inspired Sabbath. of its connection to a Roman cult known We find here also that he reasoned in In his book History of Romanism, John as Mithraism. This cult worshiped the sun the synagogue for three Sabbath days. This Dowling confirms that paganism entered the deity Mithra, whose birth was on December phrase refers to three consecutive Sabbaths. early church. He writes, “There is scarcely 25. Once the church realized that they could There should be no question as to on which anything which strikes the mind of the not overcome the popularity of this pagan day the Apostle Paul worshiped. careful student of ancient ecclesiastical cult, they decided to adopt December 25 as But just in case doubts remain, we find history with greater surprise than the a Christian day of worship. another example in Acts 18:4. It reads, “And comparatively early period at which many he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, of the corruptions of Christianity, which Constantine Commands Sunday and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” are embodied in the Roman system, took Issuing the first civil edict making Sunday Not only was it Paul’s the day of worship for custom, but we find that his Roman Empire was he literally observed every Constantine I, also known Sabbath. What did he do as Constantine the Great. on the Sabbath? Besides He was emperor from 306 worshiping his Father CE to 337 CE and according in heaven, we see that to history was the first he persuaded both Jews Roman emperor to convert and Greeks. The word to Christianity. However, “Greeks” is from the Greek prior to his conversion it is word hellen and refers to well documented that this “a Greek-speaking person, man was a sun worshiper especially a non-Jew.” and only converted upon This confirms that his death bed. This is the Paul was persuading same king who required both Jews and Greeks Sunday observance by civil on the Sabbath. Why command! were Greeks worshiping In his famous edict of 321 in the synagogue on the CE, Constantine declared, Sabbath? According to “On the Venerable Day of many theologians, the the Sun let the magistrates Sabbath is only for the and people residing in Statue of Constantine the Great cast in bronze in York, England, near the Jews. They were all still cities rest, and let all very spot he was proclaimed Augustus in 306 CE worshiping on the Sabbath workshops be closed. In because the day of worship never changed. their rise; yet it is not to be supposed that the country, however, persons engaged when the first originators of many of these in agriculture may freely and lawfully Enter Mystery Worship unscriptural notions and practices planted continue their pursuits; because it often In addition to the New Testament, we also those germs of corruption, they anticipated happens that another day is not so suitable find evidence for the seventh-day Sabbath or even imagined they would ever grow for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest throughout the history of the “early church.” into such a vast and hideous system of by neglecting the proper moment for such According to Dr. Augustus Neander in his superstition and error as is that of popery” operations the bounty of heaven should be book The History of the Christian Religion (13th Edition, p. 65). lost.” and Church: “The festival of Sunday, like According to Dowling, the paganization Think about this — a sun worshiper all other festivals was always only a human of the church went far beyond the Sabbath. changed the day that our Father in heaven ordinance, and it was far from the intentions It touched almost every facet of the church established in favor of a day that was being of the apostles to establish a Divine com- and in so doing polluted what Yahshua honored and observed to the sun. This edict mand in this respect, far from them, and and His apostles established in the New undeniably verifies the paganism of Sunday Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

worship. There is not a single verse in the New Testament confirming that the day of worship changed from the seventh to the first-day of the week. This change was only through the pen of man, not through the inspiration of Almighty Yahweh, the only One with whom we should be concerned. At the Council of Laodicea in 325 CE, sixteen years after Constantine’s original edict, we find a second attempt to remove the Sabbath. In this decree the counsel of bishops declared, “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.” Not only did the bishops state here that Sunday was to be observed in lieu of the seventh-day Sabbath, but we find that they also forbade Christians from Judaizing the Sabbath. This provides irrefutable evidence that for 300 years after the death of Yahshua there were still “Christians” observing the biblical Sabbath. It also shows the desire of the church to move away from its Jewish or Hebraic heritage. In addition to absorbing pagan converts, antisemitism was a key reason the Church abandoned many of the beliefs taught by the Messiah and His apostles, including a rejection of the Passover and the acceptance of Easter, a day that originally honored Eostre, a Teutonic (Germanic) g-ddess of light and spring. It is essential to note that Sunday observance was not left to man’s freedom, but was, again, enforced by strict command of the government. In essence, it was forced obedience to man’s dogma, i.e., man-made doctrine. Through this decree and others that would come afterward Sunday became the counterfeit Sabbath. However, even with these efforts to criminalize those who would honor the true Sabbath, there are records showing that Sabbath observance was never completely removed. For example, W.T. Skene writes in his book Adamnan Llife of St. Columbs about the Scottish church in the sixth century, “In this latter instance they seemed to have followed a custom of which we find traces in the early monastic church of Ireland by which they held Saturday to be the Sabbath on which they rested from all their labours”

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(1874, p.96). As believers we must realize that our assurance is rooted in the Hebraic faith, the same faith given to Abraham. To deviate from this is to forsake the faith of the Messiah and the forefathers of the Old Testament. In expounding upon His own coming, Yahshua made the following statement in Luke 24:4: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled,

Infamous Firsts

hile the seventh-day Sabbath is supported by 60 verses in the New Testament, only eight verses in the entire New Testament speak of the first (day) of the week. Not one supports worship on Sunday. Here are the eight: ● Matthew 28:1 “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 sepulchre.” The women came to see Yahshua’s tomb while it was still the Sabbath. Yahshua was already gone. ● Mark 16:2 “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” They had bought spices before the Sabbath and came to anoint Him as this was now a work day, not a worship day. ● Mark 16:9 “Now when Yahshua was risen(,) early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” The comma properly belongs after “risen.” ● Luke 24:1 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.” Again, this is a Sunday work day, not a rest/worship day. ● John 20:1 “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” This was still dark Saturday night. The day had ended at sunset. ● John 20:19 “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Yahshua and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” With Yahshua gone the disciples were hiding from the Jews, not worshiping on Sunday. ● Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” This was not a Sunday service, but an after the Sabbath dinner talk. ● 1Corinthians 16:2 “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Paul was organizing a relief effort for the famine in Jerusalem, not passing an offering plate at Sunday church.

which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Nowhere in those Old Testament writings is there anything about Yahshua’s life or resurrection changing the Sabbath. Sabbath in the Millennium In addition to the scriptural and historical evidence, do we find evidence for the Sabbath in the coming Kingdom? In Isaiah 66:23 we read, “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.” In Yahweh’s very Kingdom everyone will worship Him from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another. At that time Yahshua will rule this earth for a thousand years. So in the coming Kingdom we find that all people everywhere will be required to observe Yahweh’s Sabbath. We also see proof for the Sabbath in the coming millennial Kingdom in Ezekiel 46:1, 3: “Thus saith my Sovereign Yahweh; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened...Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before Yahweh in the sabbaths and in the new moons.” In the coming millennial Kingdom Yahshua and His saints will govern this world for 1000 years. The gates will be opened two special times – on the Sabbath and new moons. While the new moon is not a day of rest, it shares one requirement with the Sabbath: both are days of convocation and worship. Knowing this, does it make sense to have the Sabbath observed in the Old Testament, kept by the Savior and His apostles in the New Testament and will be observed on into the Kingdom ‒ but is not necessary for those of us now in the New Testament? Such a question illustrates the inconsistency of stating that the seventh-day Sabbath is no longer required today. With this being the case, should we not follow the Fourth Commandment today? Remember that it’s the only command called a sign of Yahweh’s people within the Word. No other command shares this same blessing. May you honor your Father in heaven through your faithful observance of His Sabbath.

Compelling Reasons

to Keep the Feasts Today

by Alan Mansager

he typical reason many study the seven annual Feasts of the Bible is to wonder at the curiosities of days gone by. For most the intent is not to inquire into keeping the Feasts. Rather, it’s more about what quaint tidbits that can be picked up about “Jewish” worship. Almost universally ignored is that the Feasts were strictly observed in BOTH testaments. The Feasts were kept by our Savior throughout His lifetime and followed by a faithful observance of all His apostles after His death, including Paul. These days will also be enforced on the pain of plague in the coming Kingdom. These facts alone should convince even the staunch skeptic that there is great importance in these days. Most think we are in a kind of donut hole today where there is nothing to do or follow, just believe. If you really want to be blessed by your Creator Yahweh, just do what His Son did. Follow everything He taught and practiced. If you do, you will find that He also kept the seven annual observances with His family as a child and afterward as an adult.

Feasts’ Amazing Milestones Most all the major events in the life and ministry of Yahshua revolved around Yahweh’s annual observances. That is one of the most profound and well-concealed revelations of the ages. In fact, Yahshua was very likely born on one of them (Tabernacles), died on another (Passover - while not a Feast, this is one of Yahweh’s annual observances) and was resurrected three days later during yet another Feast (Unleavened Bread). The Holy Spirit was sent on still another Feast (Pentecost) and Yahshua may return at the Feast called Trumpets. These profound truths should shake every Bible believer to the core of his beliefs. With so much significance for us today, how can anyone ignore the Feasts of Leviticus 23? These are the only yearly holy days decreed in Scripture. No other annual observances are commanded in your Bible. In fact, Yahweh directs us not to observe other days. “Hear ye the word which Yahweh speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith Yahweh, Learn not the way of the

heathen, and be not dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good,” Jeremiah 10:1-5. According to the “it’s only for Israel” group, nothing in the Old Testament is for us today. Therefore we must be consistent. If the biblical Feast days are only for the ancient house of Israel, then this command would only apply to them as well. We today should be conscience-free to learn and practice all the ways of the heathen. We can worship Dagon and Moloch and Vishnu, and Buddha. Now we can bring trees into the house, adore them and place gift offerings beneath them. If the Old Testament is only for Israel, then this warning and all others against false Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

worship also apply only to Israel. Of course, that is not the case. The Bible is a consistent unit, teaching the same salvation message anciently as it does today. By the way, the term holiday is a contraction of the Old English haligdæg or “holy day/Sabbath.” Holiday means a holy Sabbath. Why don’t today’s mainstream “holidays” live up to their name by being observed as holy, Sabbath days? Maybe they should be called something else, like “pointless practices” or “superficial superstitions.” Either would be far more fitting. Even though the world has concocted its own annual observances, only the yearly Feast days of Scripture are holy, and only the COMMANDED celebrations encompass Sabbaths and impart deep, spiritual blessings on the faithful who observe them. Is it any wonder that man’s observances typically end in a big letdown? When you follow the ways of Scripture there are always benefits from obedience. Yahweh guarantees it. If that weren’t enough, just a brief analysis of these special celebrations will deliver up a bounty of insights on a number

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of key, biblical teachings. Feasts Full of Fundamentals First, Yahweh’s holidays reveal the important work of the priesthood, while pointing to the ongoing work of the Messiah Yahshua, today’s High Priest. Second, they show us proper worship through the scores of lessons they teach. Third, opening the way to physical life for the people in the Old Testament, today they point to everlasting life for those in the New through their New Covenant lessons. The Feast days not only encapsulate the plan of salvation, but by keeping them as part of an obedient life, the seeker of Truth will also find the path to everlasting life. It is no secret that the Father in heaven demands obedience while punishing disobedience. It is a fact in BOTH testaments. He says in Malachi 3:6, “I change not.” What He demanded of Israel He demands of the True Worshiper now. The statutes of old remain active statutes today. Yahshua plainly and clearly said He did not come to destroy them in Matthew 5:17. Rather, He said He came to establish them. He came to reveal their GREATER importance. He came to reveal their great

spiritual side as well. Understanding the significance of the Feast days in the whole plan of Scripture, it is nothing short of incredible that the Bible’s only yearly holidays have been glossed over for centuries, or simply brushed off as “just for Jews.” But if they were just Jewish holidays, why was Israel commanded to keep them? The fact is the Jews or Judah made up only one of the 12 tribes of Israel. A common mistake is to interchange the terms “Jews” and “Israel” as if they were the same thing. All Jews were Israelites, but not all Israelites were Jews. In fact, only a fraction of Israelites were Jews. The Jews were just a part of the greater family of patriarch Jacob, whose name became Israel when he wrestled with that angel. The angel finally decided that the man wasn’t going to give up so he blessed him. That is why his name means, “Contender with Elohim.” Almighty Yahweh says about His Feast days in Leviticus 23:1-2: “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even

these are my feasts.” Why didn’t He call them, “feasts of the Jews”? Because they belong to Him and were not “owned” by the Jews nor were they exclusive with them. Keep them, He said, because they are sanctified gatherings. Being that they are His should be reason enough for those who desire a close relationship with the Father in heaven to include these days as a central part of their worship. Anyone serious about their eternal future needs to look into the clear necessity to keep the Bible’s seven annual observances called Yahweh’s Feasts. We cannot blaze our own trail to the Kingdom. Yahweh Himself set down the only road to salvation and we His worshipers need to be faithful in following it, not widen the narrow way and add alternative routes as we see fit. The word feast is related to festival. The root of festival means to celebrate a religious holy day. These seven annual observances of the Bible are packed with significance and are crucial for today’s worship in a number of ways. Each of the Feasts marks a milestone in biblical teaching. Beyond that, they are historical and prophetic markers, as key events occurred on them and will happen again as we near the close of the age. If you know the meaning of each Feast and the significance of its teachings, then you have the true key to the timetable of the Savior’s return and the close of this age. Yahweh’s Feasts reveal the special blueprint plan for His people and ultimately, and this is quintessential, they impact salvation itself. Can you name any other observances that reveal so much Truth as Yahweh’s annual moedim? Yahshua the Messiah is clearly seen in every one of the annual holy days. If all of this is not enough to fire your interest and desire for His Feasts, Yahweh Himself comes right out and commands the truth seeker to observe His Feast days. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. These are the feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons,” Leviticus 23:2, 4. If you want blessings, keep the days Yahweh commands. Nothing on earth is more important than to receive the rewards

that come with obedience to your Father in heaven. Some may still say these observances are for ancient Israel and not for them. If so, then the entire Bible is meant for someone else, seeing these Feasts are in both testaments for Israel and gentile alike. They were observed by the apostles long after Yahshua died. He never abolished them or His Father’s laws. Others may say they just don’t have the time or means to keep them, but they have no trouble finding the time and means to keep superficial worldly holidays every year, not to mention the man-made observances that lack any blessings like the Feast days. Agriculture Themes Are Key To lay some groundwork in the basic understanding of these days, we must start with fundamentals.

pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of Yahweh of hosts hath spoken it.” The agriculture theme is prominent and central in the Bible. Firstfruits of the harvest translate to firstfruits of the spiritual harvest of souls. This speaks to the first resurrection, where those relatively few who are faithful and obedient now will rise to meet the returning Savior. The Bible’s sacred calendar is based on the growing patterns and harvest cycles with the greening of the barley crop to establish the first month called Abib. The feast days continue with this motif with harvesting of souls. With all of the importance in the Bible’s annual observances, it is mindboggling that these scripturally mandated, yearly holidays

“Yahshua the Messiah is clearly seen in every one of the annual holy days. If all of this is not enough to fire your interest and desire for His Feasts, Yahweh Himself comes right out and commands the truth seeker to observe His Feast days.” Our word month and the word moon derive from the same source word. That’s why “month” sounds like “moon.” At one time the moon was used to establish the start of every month. Now it floats all over our modern wall calendars. But Yahweh’s biblical calendar still begins the months with the moon. Namely, the visible new moon crescent, which marks the first day of the biblical month. In addition to the moon, the Bible’s calendar is also agriculturally based. The creation of man was in the garden called Eden. The word Eden, actually pronounced “Aden” in Hebrew, means, “delight, luxury, pleasure.” It was literally a paradise until sin entered the picture. Prophecy in Micah 4:3-4 indicates that those in the millennial Kingdom will return to an agricultural lifestyle as the intended environment for man. “And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into

have been totally ignored by New Testament believers for millennia, and replaced by observances that are far more secular than religious. Which will you choose: secular or religious? Blessings or no blessings; obedience to the Father in heaven or disobedience? Trivial Pursuits In the grand picture, this world is nothing but a striving after wind and for that which will tarnish and perish. If there is any one word that best summarizes our physical existence, it’s “temporary.” You can be consumed all your life in a quest for status, and advancement, but at retirement it all comes into focus. You may enjoy it for a brief few years, and then comes the Alzheimers or the stroke or the heart attack. And you give it all up for a life of convalescent living and looking at what comes next… I’d far rather have Yahweh smiling back at me for a life lived in obedience than staring at a reward of pitch blackness of Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

eternal death when my day comes. Whatever rewards our life earns us, it will be for an eternity. What we do here in obedience is setting the permanent mold for what we will do or not do in the coming kingdom. They Are YAHWEH’S Feasts Someone once asked a minister the following: “Some Christians are keeping the Holy Days; Feast of Atonement, Unleavened Bread, Trumpets, Tabernacles, and are claiming real blessings from [Yahweh] as a result. Should we be keeping [Yahweh’s] Holy Days as a way of drawing closer to Him and worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth?” The minister wrote back: “Thank you for your question. There are indeed some who are advocating that Christians return to their Jewish roots and start keeping the feast days. They teach that by doing this you will be blessed by [Yahweh]. However, it is important to base what we believe upon the teachings of Scripture and not on personal testimony or experiences. “Is it scriptural that Christians are to keep the Jewish festivals of the Old Testament in order to worship Him in spirit and in truth, obtain His blessings, and have the Spirit move in our lives? Let’s let the scriptures answer for themselves. “Leviticus 23:2 reads, ‘Say to the Israelites, the set feasts or appointed seasons of [Yahweh] which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, even My set feasts, are these…’ “Leviticus 23:37 tells us, ‘These are the set feasts or appointed seasons of [Yahweh], which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to present an offering made by fire to [Yahweh], a burnt offering and a cereal offering, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its own day. “Leviticus 23 records seven feasts or appointed seasons of [Yahweh] in which the Israelites would gather to meet with [Yahweh]. Notice that they were to be for the Israelites to keep. There isn’t any mention of the Gentiles being required to observe these feasts.” First, he ignores the clear statement that these are Yahweh’s Feasts, not Israel’s or Jewish Feasts. Yahweh told Israel that His laws are an ordinance forever. So is this what you

Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

have: Israel, commanded to keep the Feasts even today, running on a parallel track with gentiles who don’t have that requirement? Is Yahweh the same yesterday, today and forever? According to Malachi 3:6 He is. He does not have a double standard for different people. Note how the minister continues: “These were the seven feasts that [Yahweh] gave the Israelites, His chosen people, to keep in the Law of Moses. These feasts were not optional. They were part of the Law [Yahweh] gave the nation of Israel. Blessings only came by keeping the entire law (Deut. 15:4-5). If you broke any part of it, you broke it all (James 2:10; Gal. 3:10).” He is absolutely correct. Consider this, there are lots of ways you can fall off a roof. Your ladder can slip as you reach the top; you can trip and roll off; you can lose your balance and go down headlong. No matter how it happens, you are going down. Breaking any law of Yahweh is still breaking law and carries the penalty of punishment. Any disobedience still violates Yahweh’s command. It all falls under the category of sin. Few would ever even think of murdering or stealing, but by not following Yahweh’s commands regarding His Sabbath and Feasts, His law is still violated, regardless. Paul wrote in 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.” The last part of this verse is rendered by the New Testament in Modern English as: “indeed it is the straightedge of the Law that shows how crooked we are.” To correct that situation we need to straighten out, and that can only mean to align with Yahweh’s law. First, acknowledge the consequence of your sin, stop sinning, and become law-obedient. But What of My Relatives? We ran across a letter someone had written in an effort to excuse herself from Feast keeping. Her reasoning is all too common with those who can’t break themselves free of entrapment by unenlightened relatives. “It would be lovely for me to be able to keep the proper biblical Feasts, however I live with a family who always celebrate the “church” events such as Easter, Christmas, etc., and it would be very hurtful to them if I suddenly dropped out of family celebrations. So I try to commemorate the biblical feasts, whilst at the same time joining in with the

other stuff. It isn’t easy, but it would be very hurtful to not celebrate with my lovely family.” The pressures that a believer’s relatives can exert are among the most powerful and seductive deterrents to the Truth that most truth seekers will ever face. We see it all the time: the husband who defers to the wishes of an unbelieving wife even though He knows he must follow his Savior when it comes to Sabbath and Feast keeping. This is just what Yahshua meant when He said He didn’t come to make everything peaceful. To defer to spouse or relatives when it comes to obedience to the Word is to turn one’s back on Yahshua and accept error over Truth. He said in Matthew 10:3537: “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Who are you willing to offend most? Family or Yahshua? Is your salvation worth the risk? Once you understand the truth you are then accountable to walk in it. The unenlightened are not at the same level of understanding, where Yahweh demands we make hard choices. At the same time you teach by what you do. The broad superhighway that leads to destruction is the way of the Adversary. This is his world. Why stay lodged therein when Yahweh opens the way of truth to you? Is it our goal to make the ignorant comfortable in error, or is it to show them the way of Truth and salvation out of genuine love for them? Many will only dabble in the truth for fear of what their spouse or family will say if they went wholeheartedly into Truth. The reaction of others should not be our concern. Yahweh is calling YOU right now. He is the one separating you out. Being afraid of what relatives may say is only frustrating what Yahweh is trying to do with you. Let Him work with the rest of your family in His own time. Your time is now, so don’t let anyone hijack it. Yahweh hates a lukewarm attitude that tries to please everyone by condoning sin. This walk of Truth is not for the weak of heart or passive of will. Take a bold stand and see how your own resolve will influence others to be obedient to the Word in all things as well.

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e are scheduled to receive the second edition of the Restoration Study Bible (RSB) from the publisher mid to late-February. This one-of-a-kind Bible had its inception when Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry (YRM) recognized the need for not only a Bible with the Sacred Names of the Father and Son restored, but also one with key study tools allowing the Bible student himself to delve deeply into the Scriptures. The RSB is the result of an organized effort of more than twenty seasoned believers and a combined 150 years of in-depth study from four veteran ministers. Here in one source you will find: 2,500 eye-opening study notes, cross references on important passages, biographical profiles, charts, original illustrations, an expanded topical reference on essential subjects, chapter headings to facilitate referencing, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance numbering in the text and Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. With all these features we believe the Restoration Study Bible will be your Bible of choice for in-depth research and learning. This Bible will answer all those nagging questions, including: Is the Old Testament for Jews only? What happened to the law in the New Testament? Are we saved by grace alone? Is any name acceptable for baptism? Is Yahweh part of a heavenly triumvirate? Was the Sabbath replaced by Sunday? Is there a place of perpetual torment? And what are the signs of our Savior’s coming? You no longer need to rely only on what “scholars” say — now there is a Bible that clearly proves the answers to hundreds of perplexing issues that have troubled Bible students for centuries. Even though we’ve added approximately 400 pages to the 2nd edition, the donation amount of $25, plus shipping, will remain the same. The popularity of the cover material in the first edition prompted the decision to use a similar shade of brown in the same soft synthetic leather. If you are looking for a Bible that will help you understand and uncover the meaning of your Father’s Word, we encourage you to order a copy of the RSB once it is available! As an added convenience, we will also be taking orders over the phone with Visa, Master Card and Discover during normal office hours, Monday Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, CST. We hope to have the RSB available for ordering by mid February.

We are not currently taking pre-orders

in Scripture “I have been attending Sabbath services for the past year in Ohio at a Church of G-d. I am actually counseling for baptism. My problem is that I feel it is important to know and use G-d’s name. They do not do this at the church. Can you give me advice? I know it is important to gather on the Sabbath, but something doesn’t feel right there.” You are correct, it is very important that we call and use the correct name of our Father in heaven. As we find in Isaiah 52:6, “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.” Worship is an important part of a believer’s life. For this reason, proper worship is critical. Calling upon the proper Names of the Father and Son is essential. Consequently, I myself could not worship using titles that do not honor our Father in heaven and Savior. I would encourage you to come out and worship Yahweh in spirit and “complete” truth. I do not know of an assembly in your area, but we do broadcast our Sabbath service live at 1:30 pm, CT. As for baptism, Scripture says that there’s only one name where salvation is found (Acts 4:12). This Name is Yahshua. It’s imperative that you are baptized into this Name and not a counterfeit. We encourage you to join us for Yahweh’s Feasts, where we could offer you baptism into Yahshua’s Name. “What do you see is the symbolic significance of being forced under water by another individual as opposed to doing it by oneself when the total

Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

dedication is there but circumstances do not permit another person to be present?” I believe that your question somewhat misrepresents the act of baptism. If selfbaptism were appropriate, it would have been better for Yahshua to baptize Himself since He was the most qualified, being the only person without sin (Matt. 3:15). We also find no example of self-baptism. Instead, we find baptism along with ordination always being performed by another who was previously ordained to that position (Acts 2:38; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). In the case of baptism and ordination, only ordained elders have this authority. Deacons appear to have the authority to baptize, but not lay on hands (Acts 8:12-17). I understand your desire and constraints, but encourage you to begin making plans to attend one of Yahweh’s Feasts with an assembly of solid core beliefs (including baptism into Yahshua’s singular Name). “I am very interested in your ministry. What I am wondering is, why your name is not “Church of G-d” this or that? The church in the Bible is always referred to as the Church of G-d. Maybe once as the Church of Christ, since He is the head of the church. I have attended a couple of the churches coming out of the World Wide Church of G-d and your teaching is more or less the same. I have bought your new Bible and found it to be helpful.

Our name reflects the initial purpose of the Ministry. YRM was actually not established as an assembly, but as a ministry with Isa. 58:12 as our Mission Statement: “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” The word “restoration” was meant to convey that we are in the process of restoring truth. Regarding the word “church,” we refrain from this due to its possible etymological ties to the pagan idol Circe. We’re glad that YRM and the new Bible has been a blessing to you. (Please watch for the second edition of the Restoration Study Bible later this February. You can find updates at www. restorationstudybible.org. -ED) “Is there anything that states that the new moon must be sighted at sunset? Would it count to sight the new moon in the morning?” The new moon must be seen shortly after sunset because that is when the day begins. You can’t wait till morning when half the day is already gone to observe a Sabbath, or a Feast day like Trumpets. The Jews always looked after sunset, never waiting till the morning (in the morning the crescent is on the opposite side of the moon as well). Depending on where you live on the planet, it is possible to first see the moon on different days if it is a “borderline”

new moon. The Jewish calendar, however, doesn’t require a sighting but is based on calculation, and those who go by the Jewish calendar will often be off a day from the visual sighting. “I am becoming more passionate every day in my walk with Yahshua and in following the laws of Yahweh. I live in Westchester County, New York. Can you give me a short list of churches in my area where I can bring my family to worship on the Sabbath?” It is a blessing to learn of your desire to live by the Truth and not just acknowledge it. Living by what the Bible commands is the point of studying the Scriptures. We regret that we do not have branch congregations yet, so the question about finding local fellowships is a common one. The best we can do at this time is offer live online worship services. Logging in to them is becoming popular, and we have had as many as 100 computers linking up to YRM on a given Sabbath. You can log on at: http://www.yrm.org/yrmchannel.htm We also offer biweekly mailings of DVDs of our Sabbath worship for those who have no online access. Visit yrm.org to learn how to receive DVDs mailed bimonthly. “Some people say Yahweh is the only Mighty One, so how can He have a son? Also some believe that dualism (a Father and Son) is as bad as Trinitarianism. When I ask about the references to the word “Son of” in the Scriptures, I am told that this was just an idiom. I welcome your response.” Yahshua in Scripture is called the Son of Yahweh and that makes Yahweh the Father supreme. Yahshua even said His Father is greater than Himself, John 14:28. Yahshua also said that only Yahweh the Father knows certain things like the day and hour of the Son’s Second Coming, Matthew 24:36. We suspect that today’s worship that focuses mostly on Yahshua the Son has helped to blur the Father-Son distinction for many.

But a big hindrance to understanding is the doctrine of the Trinity, which says the Father, Son, and Spirit make up separate but equal mighty ones who in essence are coequal and constitute “one.” This is one of those doctrinal areas that is easily solved when the proper names and designations are restored for the Father and Son. Compounding the confusion are passages in our English Bibles that use the all-encompassing, generic G-d in referring to either the Father or Son, leading some to think that it always means the Father even when used of the Son. The same goes for L-rd in the New Testament. The Hebrew designation “Elohim,” from which “G-d” has been translated, can mean either one, not just the Father. Our Restoration Study Bible has corrected many of these issues of the Name. A third problem is in not recognizing that Yahshua is the Spokesman (Hebrew dabar) for the Father. So when He speaks in the capacity of the Father He is not actually the Father Himself. J o h n 1 7 : 5 “And now Father, glorify me in Your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Here Yahshua stated that He was with the Father before the world began. No idiom here. Colossians 1:13-20 reads, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible Elohim, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the assembly; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in

everything He might have the supremacy. For Elohim was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the tree.” Here we see the term “Son of Elohim” brought to light: “the image of the invisible Elohim.” No idiom here, either. Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us: “In the past Elohim spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of Yahweh’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Again, we see the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the Father and the Son disclosed in John 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim and the Word was Elohim. He was with Elohim in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made... He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.... The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth... No one has ever seen Yahweh, but Elohim the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side has made Him known,” John 1:1-3, 10, 14, 18. Yahshua again said, “Don’t you know me Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” John 14:8, 10. Note that He didn’t say, “I am the Father.” Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

Watch Weekly

More networks added! See below (times based on CST):

● Church Channel: Wednesdays at 9:30 pm and Saturdays at 10:30 am (Direct TV 371, Dish Network 258). View on your mobile device ‒ search: TBN Mobile app, online: churchchannel.tv/watch ● Angel One: Wednesdays at 5:30 pm and Sundays at 11:00 am (Dish Network 262) ● The CW (Mid Missouri): Sundays at 9:30 am ‒ VHF channel 8.3 for Columbia, Jefferson City

As seen on:

For a complete list of satellite, tower and cable stations visit: www.discoverthetruth.tv

Feedback Feast Memories “I had a wonderful time at the Feast of Tabernacles and look forward to the next one. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. I drove most of the way home with tears… but I am already planning for the next one. There are not enough words to express how I feel since I was immersed into Yahshua’s Name…inner peace and cleanliness, joy and gratitude, excitement and awe, relief and hope, thankfulness and humility, a deep desire to serve Yahweh and walk in the footsteps of Yahshua, praying that I will be found worthy of the calling and be in the first resurrection. I want to spend the rest of my life sharing with the world what Yahshua has done for me, proclaiming Yahweh’s Word and letting my life be a testimony of His grace and mercy, knowing that I deserve nothing but am receiving life through Yahshua and His sacrifice. I am so blessed to have been called. And blessed to have found YRM. I can’t thank you enough for all that you all do to reach the lost and teach the Truth.” –DS, PA Name Restoration Needed “We pray blessings upon your ministry for the wonderful, informative work you are doing. Our Father began to open our eyes to His Name just a few years ago…we are so grateful for the small pamphlet, Your Father’s Name. How grieved and how angry our Father must be with the church, as they are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, as well as the Bible translators who have removed His Name! Every false religion knows and uses their god’s name. We need repentance and restoration!” – G & DC, NC New Truth “Thank you for the DVDs, and I love your magazines you send. I learn something new from each of them.” – AT, NV Phone operator’s report from DTT: This lady was so very excited to have found

our television program this evening. She said “When you hear the truth, you know it.” She is an ex-Catholic, and her present pastor could not explain to her why they don’t observe the feast days. She wants to know more about the feast days, so I told her that we’d send the Amazing Biblical Feasts booklet also and she was thrilled. She has Internet access and was visiting our site, yrm.org, as we were speaking. Enlightening Bible Lessons “Thank you for your wonderful, anointed TV Bible lessons. Your lessons are very enlightening to me and I rejoice to have such dedicated and knowledgeable presentations. Our Father Yahweh has had me on a very intensive learning curve, and I rejoice at the opportunities that you have made available to me. I have especially enjoyed Your Father’s Name booklet…I am a lifelong learner. I feel my current television Bible ‘course’ work is the most enlightening, rewarding, and fascinating ever. I am enclosing a money order gift in thanks for your wonderful dedication to the Word of our Father Yahweh.” –LB, MI Stay Tuned for More DTT “I dropped my Dish Network, with the understanding that Clear-cast would give me most channels. They lied, so now I don’t get your TV program. I am so gullible!” –MV, TX We have good news for you. We are now also on the Church Channel, which is an arm of the largest broadcaster in the world (Trinity Network) with worldwide coverage on Dish, Direct, cable, and over the airwaves. Check your listings or visit www.discoverthetruth.tv for a complete station listing. You may still be able to find DTT. –ED Gideon’s Few “It never ceases to amaze me how small a group there is at YRM and yet how fruitful the ministry is. The amount of work you all do and the growth that we are seeing is nothing short of Yahweh’s hand reaching

Send us your comments Visit: yrm.org/feedback

out! I think about how Israel, Yahweh’s chosen, are such a small number, yet MIGHTY in strength. It’s a beautiful thing to see the outreach and hard work that is being put in to spreading the truth of Almighty Yahweh.” –KP, OH Long-distance Views “I want to tell you how much I appreciate your sending me the DVDs from your services. It’s like a light in darkness! I feel as if I actually have a “church family” on Sabbath as there aren’t any Messianic gatherings near here. I was getting you on the Internet and so looked forward to Discover the Truth programs, but recently my PC was tampered with and your program is hard to pull up now, so I am discontinuing Internet service and all I have to look forward to are your wonderful, informative DVDs. My sister, who lives in Cleveland, OH, also gets your program on the Internet. Each Sabbath she calls me and says, ‘It’s time for church—are you ready?’ We watch it together, even though she is in Ohio and I am in Mississippi. What a blessing you guys are to us!” –CW, MS Studies Over the Air (Literally) “I just received the Restoration Study Bible. I love it…I asked Yahweh to lead me to a version that would help me teach and be humble. This Bible is great for both! I love the numbers on significant words, I like the study notes, explanations, etc., the calendar in Leviticus and prophet lifelines are great too. I love the cover. I am in prison and teach 25-30 guys on an air vent system. We are all in different areas but communicate through air ducts. We study like this every day!” –Pastor JG, Sr., FL As you may know, the second edition of a greatly expanded RSB should be out sometime in February. You wanted even more in-depth notes and information and this edition will have it. See advertisement on page 19 in this issue. –ED Restoration Times Magazine January-February 2013

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