Restoration Times Magazine July / August 2011

C O N T E N T S

Magazine VOL. 2 | No. 4 | July-August 2011

A R T I C L E S

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3 | False Prophets 101

by Alan Mansager

10 | The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

by Randy Folliard

6 | ‘Prophet’eers Merchandising the Message

by Ryan Mansager

8 | Preparing for the Feasts

14 | The March of Truth

by Robert Wirl

16 | Questions and Answers

Restoration Times is published bimonthly by Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry. We have restored the true names of the Heavenly Father, Yahweh, and His Son, Yahshua the Messiah. These names were hidden by biblical scribes and translators and can be easily proved in any good encyclopedia or dictionary (under “God,” “Jehovah,” “Lord,” “Jesus” or “Yahweh”). They are found in ancient manuscripts from which we derive our modern translations.

Our desire is to return as closely as possible to the pure teachings of scripture. That includes rooting out many popular doctrines and traditional teachings that are not Biblical, but which developed through the centuries from human custom or by compromise with error. We encourage each reader to prove scripturally for himself what he reads here, 1Thessalonians 5:21.

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.

by Donald Mansager

18 | The Truth About Acts 15

by Donald Mansager

23 | Letters FRONT COVER: Art work

by Joel Peeters, believer and artist from Belgium.

Depiction of the 2nd horse and rider in Revelation 6:4

Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry PO Box 463 Holts Summit, MO 65043 Telephone: 573-896-YAH-8 (9248) Fax: 573-896-9533 www.yrm.org info@yrm.org

False Prophets

101

by Alan Mansager

Yahshua the Messiah clearly said of His Second Coming, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power,” Acts 1:7. No one has any business trying to discern exactly when the Savior will return to earth. Yet, that is the first thing so-called prophets do.

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odern “prophets” are highly predictable.

A self-appointed prophet garners national attention by prophesying the end of the world, pinpointing a precise date and even a specific hour when the Messiah will gather His elect. The news whips many into a frenzy. The prophet’s followers sell their possessions, believing they won’t need them anyway.

As the anticipated day comes, then goes, the false seer wipes the egg off his face while unapologetically admitting to a miscalculation. Still, he holds to his belief that the Second Coming is imminent. The bogus prognosticator follows up with a new and improved date and his prophetic fables gain new

traction with his gullible audiences.

Fraudulent prophets are a dime a dozen. Yahshua’s first response when asked about the final days of man’s rule said, “Don’t be deceived.” When the real treachery appears in the form of the Man of Sin, the charlatans will look like pikers. Millions will swoon in adoration when the False Prophet performs eye-popping miracles on the world stage.

False Prophet Begins a Movement The religious spectrum has been beset with so-called prophets for millennia. It has been prophesied in Yahweh’s Word and also by Yahshua the Messiah for thousands of years. This fact should be a red flag to the gullible.

One such error-plagued prognosticator was William Miller. The nineteenth century Baptist preacher is considered one of the fathers of the Adventist movement. Miller predicted that Yahshua was returning (hence “advent”) sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, basing his belief principally on the rabbinic Jewish calendar and the prophecy of

Daniel 8:14: “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Miller assumed that the cleansing of the sanctuary meant the Earth’s purification by fire at Yahshua’s Second Coming.

Calculating the time by using the “day-for-a-year” formula, Miller started with the year 457 BCE, the year of the decree of Artaxerxes I of Persia to rebuild Jerusalem. Simple arithmetic produced 1844 while the Jewish calendar gave him March 21.

But when that date came and went, Samuel S. Snow, one of Miller’s protégés, presented a correction that became known as the “seventh-month” message or the “true midnight cry.”

In a discussion based on scriptural typology, Snow presented his conclusion (still based on the 2300 day prophecy in Daniel 8:14), that Yahshua would return on “the tenth day of the seventh month of the present year, 1844.”

Using the Karaite Jews’ calendar for the Day of Atonement that year, the date was determined to be October

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July/August 2011

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22, 1844. He had studied the feasts of Israel and discovered that the major events in Yahshua’s life occurred on “Jewish” feasts. He observed that Yahshua died on the Passover, he rose on the day of waving of First Fruits, and the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost. So he assumed Yahshua would come on the Day of Atonement.

Being mathematically inclined, he calculated this day to be Oct. 22, 1844.

Followers sold their possessions, stood atop haystacks, looked skyward…and waited...and waited, What followed became known as the Great Disappointment. On the heels of his own disappointment Miller rejected the seventh-day Sabbath and died five years later.

Another Prophetic Dud Edgar Whisenant, a self-appointed prophet and former NASA engineer, announced to the world in the late 1980s that the rapture would occur at the Feast of Trumpets, 1988. He even gave 88 reasons why. Almost 5 million copies of his little book were distributed. His famous line was, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town.”

Here was a man claiming to know more than the inspired Scriptures. Even more than Yahshua Himself! Trinity Broadcast Network was so convinced he was right that regular programming was interrupted to provide special instructions on preparing for the Rapture.

Whisenant, like so many before him, said he simply miscalculated and followed up with still more prophecies predicting the return in 1989, then 1993, followed by 1994 – all the way up through 1997.

False prophets are legion, and we will see them coming out in droves in the years just ahead of us.

Throughout the New Testament we find warnings against both false prophets and false Messiahs, and believers are cautioned to be vigilant 4

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and not fall to their devices.

Yahshua told His disciples in Matthew 7: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruit...Not every one that says unto me, Sovereign, Sovereign, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven,”15-16, 21.

He warned that false prophets will come looking like the real thing; even appearing to be true prophets and wanting just to warn people. But they will have a hidden agenda, a desire for personal gain.

Distinguish the Fruits How can we distinguish the true prophet? First, by his fruits. He does

Yahweh’s will. He calls on Yahweh’s Name and keeps biblically commanded days of worship and other laws ordained by our Father in heaven. The false prophet, on the other hand, does not observe Yahweh’s commands, which is defined as sin, 1John 3:4. Why would Yahweh bless with divine revelation an individual who can’t even align his life to the basics of True Worship?

Again, Yahshua gives us instruction on this point. “Many will say to me in that day, Sovereign, Sovereign, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity,” Matthew 7:22-23.

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Whom does Yahweh bless with “inside” knowledge and understanding?

The prophet Amos in 3:7 answers, “Surely the Sovereign Yahweh will do nothing, but He reveals His secret unto his servants the prophets.”

His prophets are those who serve Him. They follow closely His teachings.

“Servants the prophets” means those who serve Him in all things.

Another key passage distinguishing a true prophet from a charlatan is 2Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of Yahweh spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” It is the Holy Spirit that transmits prophecy.

The problem is, a man who doesn’t obey Yahweh and His laws doesn’t have the Spirit. He’s not inspired.

Yahweh is not with him. What he says is only his own imagination.

Yahweh’s Spirit is what bestows accurate understanding. And His Spirit is given to the obedient.

Acts 5:32 is clear: “And we are his witnesses of these things [Yahshua’s activities], and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to them that obey him.”

A man’s (or woman’s) charisma, attractiveness, or artful communication prove nothing. Fruits are the key. The individual could be the most charming, silver-tongued orator ever, who makes his prophecy highly convincing and flawless. But ask yourself, does he honor Yahweh in his private life? Does he obey the One he claims to speak for and worship?

In sum, prophesying is a work of the Spirit and you don’t get the Spirit by leading a life apart from Yahweh.

A Prophet Leads a Pure Life Does a supposed prophet meet all the qualifications of a scriptural leader?

The prophets of old certainly did, as did the New Testament prophets, 1Timothy 3, Titus 1. Does he live a clean, praiseworthy life? Are his children under his control? Is he spoken well of by outsiders? True prophets of Scripture

led impeccable lives. Further, they had no ulterior motives and nothing to gain or desire personally. Most suffered for their prophecies, even losing their lives for them.

Suppose an alleged prophet uses the sacred Name and even casts out unholy spirits. Should we believe his prophecies? Here is what Yahshua said, “Many will say to me in that day, Sovereign, Sovereign, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity,” Matthew 7:22-23.

A litmus test of a prophet has nothing to do with his prophecy. Iniquity is the condition of being without law, without obedience to Yahweh’s commands. It happens either because you are ignorant of them or because you deliberately, openly and wantonly violate them.

Yahshua said many will flock to bogus prophets in our day, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many,” Matthew 24:11. Their pronouncements will be all the buzz on the Web and in the news. Back in 1844 prognosticators drew so much press that they even spawned new church movements! And all they did was claim to reveal the date of Yahshua’s return, which they are commanded not to do.

Of Spiritual Treachery In one of their early stops after being ordained, Paul and Barnabas encountered a false prophet named Elymas on the island of Cyprus. “And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, [the capital] they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Yahshua [he probably gave himself that name]: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabah and Saul, and desired to hear the word of Elohim. But Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with

the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of Yahweh? And now, behold, the hand of Yahweh is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.

And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand,” Acts 13:6-11.

Here is a man publically identified as a false prophet. By dealing in black arts, he obviously was not a true prophet. This account shows that anyone only partly involved in false worship is tainted by that error.

More Ways a Prophet Proves Phony In Deuteronomy 13 and 18 we find another requirement of a true prophet.

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Many will flock to bogus prophets in our day

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“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder. And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto you, saying, Let us go after other elohim, which you have not known, and let us serve them; You shall not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your Elohim proveth you, to know whether ye love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after Yahweh your Elohim, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from Yahweh your Elohim, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the

house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which Yahweh your Elohim commanded you to walk in. So shall you put the evil away from the midst of thee,” 13:1-5.

In the same way if a “prophet” invokes spurious words in Yahweh’s Name or prophesies in the name of other deities he falls under condemnation just as one who does not obey the Word.

“But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other elohim, even that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him,” Deuteronomy 18:20-22.

Specifically, can anyone know the day and hour of Yahshua’s return?

Here’s what He Himself said: “But of that day and hour knows no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only,” Matthew 24:36.

Some have twisted what He said to mean that the people of Yahweh will know because they are of Him. To which we respond, then why didn’t Yahshua Himself know? Why don’t the angels know? He specifically told His followers, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.” The word for seasons is kairos and means “a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for.”

If an individual comes on the scene teaching truth but with a failed prophecy, don’t believe him. If his prophecy proves true but it leads to false doctrine or he teaches false doctrine, don’t believe him. First and foremost, that individual must be a true follower of Yahweh, using His Name, and obedient to the One he claims to worship. And then his prophecy must prove totally accurate. The Holy Spirit doesn’t make mistakes. n

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ong before the days of the slick, silver-haired as well as silver-tongued televangelists there were those who found gain and personal profit from the Word of Yahweh.

The account of the moneychangers in the temple is one of the most shameful and condemnatory behaviors Yahshua addressed in the New Testament. It is also one of the only times we see His anger flare into a physical response.

“And Yahshua went into the temple of Yahweh, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves,” Matthew 21:12-13.

Today’s Moneychangers Modern examples of shameless moneychanging in the temple are found in large and small congregations alike.

Coffee shops and other vendors pollute church vestibules, carnivals raise cash in the church basement and restaurants and book stores do brisk business on days of worship inside some megachurches. The justification is always the same: “This is to help fund the work of g-d.” What’s next, selling tickets for next week’s sermon?

All of this is really not surprising, considering that most of today’s Bible believers do not understand or keep the Sabbath command in any way, shape or form. The prohibition of buying (or working) on the Sabbath is not even an afterthought. Blind followers of the blind stop at the chain store on the way home from church to purchase materials for their Sunday afternoon hobby or building project after visiting the family steakhouse for lunch.

I am really not surprised with those L-rd’s-day worshipers who have strayed so far from the Torah of Yahweh. Their behavior is a foregone conclusion. What concerns me is a little closer to home.

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‘Prophet’eers Merchandising the

Message

by Ryan Mansager

Blurring Lines For decades the Sacred Name Movement has been relatively free from the commercialization common in churchianity. You would never find a Sacred Name believer merchandising the Word of Yahweh. The Sacred Name standard has always been to “Freely give” all materials, or for more expensive works like books, a donation to cover “just the costs.”

As the Hebrew Roots movement has grown in the last 15 years (springing from Christianity and adopting the Sacred Names and the Feasts), the lines between what many today call “Messianic” and Sacred Name have been considerably blurred. As one July/August 2011

brother put it, “The Sacred Name was Hebrew Roots before Hebrew Roots was cool.”

Among the church baggage that has been brought over into this movement. i.e. trinity, oneness etc., the merchandising of Yahweh’s Word has been the most evident.

Many of these teachers beg for money, collect tithes, and then sell books and videos for outrageous prices. Some give excuses for such merchandising, saying, “Well, they have to live as well.” Such was an acquittal from an individual who was defending the cost of a $30 holy day calendar (YRM gives them away free of charge).

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One “teacher” sends several e-mails a day selling or “hawking” his religious merchandise. Visit some Messianic websites and from the jargon you would think you accidentally clicked on the site of some department store.

Advertising slogans like “limited time offer” or one of my personal favorites, “inventory reduction sale” pepper their promotions.

Repackaging the Truth The Sacred Name has been proclaiming and publishing the Name of Yahweh gratis for eight decades. Recently an attractively packaged DVD expounding the Sacred Name of Yahweh was being offered for $50. The part that made my stomach turn was finding out that this is the same material the Sacred Name movement has been teaching for free.

Many of these teachers beg for money, collect tithes, and then sell books and videos for outrageous prices.

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The Word of Yahweh was never meant to be sold but freely distributed.

Yahshua says in Matthew 10:8: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” One of these

The Poor Widow’s Challenge “A Lesson on Tithing”

Self-sacrifice is key to what Yahweh expected of all His people both anciently and now. Make Him your top priority. Find out why it is so important to give your tithe.

See back cover to order your free copy

religion salesmen twisted this Scripture by adding the word “now” to it, saying “Freely you have received now you freely give.” (That still didn’t explain his price tag.)

Revelation 22:18 harshly denounces anyone who puts words in Yahweh’s mouth: “For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, Elohim shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

Dividing the Messenger We are instructed to rightly divide the Word of truth and hold teachers accountable for their actions. The Word of Yahweh is not an avenue to wealth or personal gain but quite the opposite. The Truth of Yahweh should be a sacrifice of love and deep concern for the salvation of others by bringing them into right understanding. That was always Yahshua’s example. He never merchandised His message.

Yahshua once ran into a rich young ruler seeking salvation and claiming to have followed the commandments from his youth, but was more concerned with his “possessions” than following Yahweh: “Now when Yahshua heard these things, he said unto him, Yet you lack one thing: sell all that you have, and distribute unto the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Yahshua saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of Elohim!” Luke 18:22-25.

This ministry will always freely distribute the Word without profiting by it. Your tithes and generous offerings allow us to do that. We will abide by the same means Yahweh established to promulgate His Truth by never selling it for profit. Making a commodity of the Word is one of the most egregious of sins, utterly detestable to Yahshua, and believers must turn from those who traffic in it. n

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Preparing for the

Feasts

by Donald Mansager

We often hear, “But how can I afford to go to the Feast this year?” Yahweh had already anticipated the question and gives this response.

Y

ahweh’s annual Feast days are one of the greatest blessings He bestows on His people. Unless you have kept them in the place where He puts His Name, you can’t imagine what a joy they truly are. A veritable Kingdom on earth!

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Yahweh’s purpose was established at creation when He made the lights in the heavens: “And Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons [Hebrew, moed], and for days, and years” (Gen. 1: 14).

The Hebrew word moed means 8

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an “appointed time.” His Feasts are special times that Yahweh has set aside and that He will use to accomplish His will. The seven annual Feasts are these appointed times when He meets with His people. Until we recognize that His Feast days are appointments that we keep with Yahweh, we miss important truths revealed to His people.

The fact that these Feast days will be kept in the Kingdom (Ezek. 45:2125) shows that they are of special importance now. We cannot ignore them and still be His people.

Sign and Seal Ignored The two most ignored commands in the Bible are the sign He has given us and the seal by which we are preserved.

The sign is keeping His Sabbaths: “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a SIGN between me and them, that they might know that I [am] Yahweh that sanctify them.” (Ezek. 20: 12) “And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between. me and you, July/August 2011

that you may know that I [am] Yahweh your Elohim” (Ezek. 20:20).

By keeping His Sabbaths, Yahweh will sanctify us so that we are set apart as a sanctified people for a holy purpose. The Sabbaths are a special time in which we learn to know Him and we draw closer to Him. The world in general is irresponsible and ignores these days, believing that they are free from all obligations and responsibilities.

The seal is His Name: We are sealed with His Name upon baptism (Rev. 14:1) and already carry His Name for we are known as “His wife” (Rev. 19:7), and have prepared or made ourselves ready. The sealing agent is the Holy Spirit: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of Yahweh, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).

Financing the Feasts The seven annual Feasts are not optional for the people of Yahweh,

but convocations in which all Bible believers are commanded to gather.

They are a part of that sign showing that we are truly His people when we keep His commanded days. His Feast days also set us apart, sanctifying us, as they did Israel In His command Yahweh was very detailed, making provisions for the financing of our trips to His gatherings without having them become a great burden. After all, His Feasts should be a delight, the highlights of the year.

Just as we are expected to tithe to Yahweh so that His plan of salvation can be proclaimed around the world (Mat. 23:23), He also shows us that we are to set aside funds to keep the Feasts.

Notice: “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before Yahweh thy Elohim, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear Yahweh thy Elohim always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose to set his name there, when Yahweh thy Elohim hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before Yahweh thy Elohim, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee” (Deut.

14:22-27).

This is a special tithe to use for the Feasts. It is to be kept and managed by the individual to assure that one has funds to attend the Feasts. It is separate from the tithe to proclaim the evangel to the world, which is holy

unto Yahweh and to be used for that purpose.

Instead of setting aside cash as the world does in a “vacation fund” or some “Xmas savings plan,” Yahweh long ago gave us this guide as assurance that we could always attend His Festivals.

Savings accounts and payroll savings plans are actually patterned after Yahweh’s ancient method of assuring that His people can attend His Feasts.

The majority of Yahweh’s people plan their vacations and time off work in accordance with the Feast days.

What better way to spend a vacation than to gather with others of like faith and clearly identify with the “sign” Yahweh gives us that we might learn of Him by keeping His Sabbaths. Spiritual enrichment for the entire family is a part of His plan that we get to know and share our joy and experiences with the future kings and priests of His coming Kingdom!

Making Feast attendance a part of our lives is a maturing experience as we discipline ourselves to obey our Father and gather where He has placed His Name.

See YOU at Tabernacles!

The three “Pilgrim Feasts” are: the seven days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the eight days at Tabernacles. Preparations such as airplane reservations, transportation, accommodations, and auto repairs should be taken care of early. Israel was commanded to eat of the tithe of their produce at the Feast. For those traveling a distance, Yahweh says, “… bind up the money in your hand, and go unto the place which Yahweh your Elohim shall choose,” which He does through His ministers (Deut.

14:25).

Consider the words of Moses to Israel just before they were to cross over into the Promised Land, just as the saints will some day come into the Kingdom: “Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh your Elohim in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened

bread, and in the feast of weeks and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty” (Deut. 16:16).

Yahweh promises a blessing for those who obey Him. Who wouldn’t want to be blessed? Isn’t it time you came out of the world of sin and erroneous teachings in these last days and prepared for your eternal life in Yahweh? We look forward to seeing YOU with us at the 2011 fall Feasts! n

Make Plans

NOW!

We invite you to this year’s Feast of Tabernacles in southern Indiana at Shakamak State Park from the evening of 10/12 through 10/20. This pristine state park is located approximately thirty minutes south of Terre Haute and two hours southwest of Indianapolis.

This will be a lifechanging event you will never forget! Come fellowship, praise and worship, enjoy a huge lineup of activities and hear powerful messages from long-time grounded ministers in the word!

To register visit:

www.yrm.org/registerforfot.htm

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T

by Randy Folliard

urn on the television or browse the Internet and you will find many signs pointing to the fulfillment of end-time prophecy. Even false prophets are in the news lately.

Yahshua in His parable of the fig tree explained how we could use indicators as a gauge to His Second Coming. “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh. So likewise, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matt. 24:3233). Just as nature’s changes reveal the coming of the seasons, prophetic trends reveal the timing of His return.

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Two specific collections of prophecies tell us much about the tribulation predicted to precede Yahshua’s coming: the Olivet Prophecy and the prophecy of the Four Horsemen.

These two mirror and expound on one another and foretell the events of the first three-and-a-half years of the sevenyear covenant that the Antimessiah will establish (Dan. 7:29).

Widespread Deception A key trait of both prophecies is deception: “And Yahshua answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Messiah; and shall deceive many… For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:3-4, 24).

Yahshua warned that if it were July/August 2011

possible, even the elect could be led astray. The events of the end will require complete faith in and devotion to the One we worship. If we are deceived by a false prophet or false messiah into forsaking Yahweh, we will forfeit our eternal salvation (Rev. 14:9-11).

This is the reason our Savior began His prophecy with a warning about deception. He knew that this sign would be the most pernicious. As believers in Messiah we’re to be cautious about being deceived. We’re to obey the commandments and hold to the faith of Yahshua the Messiah, our Savior (Rev. 14:12). Anyone claiming to be a prophet and teaching that Yahshua is not the Messiah is to be avoided. (See article, “False Prophets 101” on p. 3 of this issue.)

Now we may think that we could never be hoodwinked by a man claiming to be a either a prophet or the Messiah Himself. Don’t forget what

Yahshua said; these false prophets and false messiahs would show great signs and wonders and if possible, deceive the very elect of Yahweh. For this reason all believers should put on the whole armor of Yahweh, including the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16), to avoid this deception.

First Horseman – Antimessiah?

In Revelation 6:2 we find the first horseman: “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

Debate swirls among scholars as to what this horseman represents. Some attribute him to the Messiah; however, a far more likely interpretation is to deception and by extension, the Antimessiah. One reason why this view is favored is the parallel between Yahshua’s Olivet Prophecy and the Four Horsemen.

Yahshua began in Matthew 24 with a warning against deception, and we find the same message here in Revelation.

Let’s consider some of the attributes of this horseman. The rider travels upon a white horse, comes forth conquering, and wears a crown, indicating kingship.

While this horseman resembles the Messiah, he also bears a striking resemblance to the Antimessiah. The Antimessiah will go forth conquering (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:4) and rule this earth as the ultimate despot (2Thess.

2:4; Rev. 17:12-13). Also, the fact that this horseman carries a bow with no apparent arrows is another indicator of

the deception by the Antimessiah or the first beast of Revelation 13:1.

An Atmosphere of War Along with deception, Yahshua also warns about wars and rumors of wars.

“And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matt. 24:6-7a).

An increase in war is also the hallmark of His coming. He said specifically that nation would be against nation and kingdom would be against kingdom. The word “nation” comes from the Greek ethnos and means a

race or tribe. Yahshua prophesied that we would see civil and racial wars before his return. Since 1550, over 100 civil wars have been fought throughout this world. At present, Colombia, Afghanistan, Uganda, Somalia, Yemen, Chad, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, and Syria are experiencing civil conflict.

In addition to civil war, Yahshua also prophesied that we would see war between kingdoms. The word “kingdom” is derived from the Greek basileia and refers to sovereign territories or nations.

According to the website G l o b a l S e c u r i t y. o r g , Algeria, Angola, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United States are presently engaged in war (note: this and the previous list contain only a

sample of nations at war).

Because of conflict, millions have suffered and countless others have lost their lives. It’s reported that in the last decade over 2 million children have died as a result of these engagements (www.care.org).

Besides ongoing wars, our Savior said that we would hear of potential conflicts. Today the Middle East is abuzz with conflict, especially those nations influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, as can currently be seen in Egypt and other nations on the Mediterranean coastline.

Blood of War In Revelation 6:3-4 we find another horseman in this prophecy: “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great

sword.”

This red horse likely symbolizes the blood of war. According to the

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Strong’s Concordance, the word “power” is not found in the original text; howbeit, based on the context, this can be assumed. This horseman is given authority to cause death through the act of war, which is symbolized by his great sword.

As we find in the Olivet Prophecy as well as here, before Yahshua’s Second Coming this earth will suffer horrific conflict. The timeframe is the first threeand-a-half years of the Tribulation, also known as Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7).

This war will likely provide an opportunity for the Antimessiah to bring peace (Jer. 6:14) and unite all nations under him for the last three-anda-half years of the Great Tribulation.

Prophecy also indicates that as Israel suffered through the first four plagues in Egypt that the saints will suffer from the activities of these four horsemen.

Parallels with Old Testament Israel beome important in studying New Testament prophecy.

War Brings Famine Another phenomenon common to both the Olivet Prophecy and the Four Horsemen prophecies is famine, just Yahshua prophesied in Matthew 24:7. The word famine comes from the Greek limos and means a scarcity of food. Before tribulation there will 12

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be a shortage in foodstuffs. It will be partly the result of war. According to worldhunger.org, “Despite some largescale repatriation movements, the last three years have witnessed a significant increase in refugee numbers, due primarily to the violence taking place in Iraq and Somalia. By the end of 2008, the total number of refugees under UNHCR’s mandate exceeded 10 million. The number of conflict-induced internally displaced people reached some 26 million worldwide at the end of the year.”

According to Bread for the World, a not-for-profit religious organization with the purpose of ending world hunger: • [In] 2008, nearly 9 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. One third of

these deaths were directly or indirectly related to hunger and malnutrition.

Malnutrition is not having enough nourishing food, with adequate amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals and calories to support physical and mental growth and development.

Children who survive early childhood malnutrition suffer irreversible harm—

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including poor physical growth, compromised immune function, and impaired cognitive ability.

• Around the world, 178 million children under 5 are stunted in their growth, 90 percent of whom live in just 36 countries, most of them in subSaharan Africa and South and Central Asia.

• Despite years of progress against hunger, in 2010 it is estimated that 925 million people suffered from hunger. This is the result of a sudden spike in global food prices and the onset of a world-wide economic crisis (United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization).

Even though most in the United States enjoy an overabundance, the plague of famine is real, killing millions every year.

This plague is also seen in the third horseman of Revelation: “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst

of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Rev 6:5-6).

Barnes’ Notes reveals about the balances, “This word properly means a yoke, serving to couple anything together, as a yoke for cattle. Hence it is used to denote the beam of a balance, or of a pair of scales-and is evidently so used here.”

These balances indicate the shortage and scarcity of food. The word “penny” refers to the denarius, a Roman coin worth about one day’s labor. A quart of wheat or three quarts of barley is considered the rations for one man, specifically a soldier.

Consequently, famine will be so severe that it will require an entire day’s wage to purchase the rations for one man. Where will this leave families with children and those tending to the needs of others?

Now, why is this horseman told not to hurt the oil and wine? This passage has led to several interpretations. Some point out that these represent items typically reserved for the rich. While bread, represented by the wheat and barley, will be scarce, these luxury items, which are not able to sustain, will be plentiful.

Plague of Pestilence The last plague is death brought by pestilence. In Luke 21:11, a parallel to Matthew 24, Yahshua prophesied, “… and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

The word “pestilence” comes from the Greek loimos and means a plague or disease. Before Yahshua’s coming, diseases will increase. One of the worst plagues in our modern age is the AIDS epidemic. Ironically, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the leading means of transmission is homosexuality and drug use; both are diametrically opposed to Yahweh’s

Word. Homosexuality is defined as an abomination (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:27; 1Cor. 6:9).

Other serious maladies include: cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. In addition to these are ominous diseases of recent note, including the Avian flu and Mad Cow disease. These and others are also seething below the surface waiting to emerge with greater vengeance. Then

we will see new infections, such as the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria outbreak recently in Germany.

A parallel to this sign is found in the fourth horseman. “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Rev 6:7-8).

The word “pale” is the Greek chloros and means greenish (Strong’s Concordance Greek Dictionary). Some scholars attribute this pale-greenish color to sickness and disease. The rider

on the horse is called Death, which is the ultimate result.

The word “hades” simply means the grave. In addition to this horseman’s representation of pestilence, it likely also refers to the cumulative death that will befall mankind during the Tribulation. This horseman is given power to bring death by sword, by famine and by disease. In essence, this horseman symbolizes the consequences of the previous three.

Saints to Endure Tribulation As Israel again had to endure the first four plagues of Egypt, it appears that the saints may suffer hardship from these Four Horsemen. Consequently, it is imperative that believers remain strong in Almighty Yahweh and Yahshua the Messiah. We must place our trust in the one whom we worship. If we falter in faith, we may lose the very hope that we treasure.

While some may become filled with fear and worry about events in the world, Yahshua gave us hope in Matthew 16:25, that should any lose their lives for His sake, that they would be rewarded with life in the coming Kingdom.

John in Revelation 2:10 wrote Yahshua’s words: “Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Although this was written to the assembly in Smyrna, the message also applies to the last days. There is not a greater promise in Yahweh’s Word. No matter what we may suffer in this life, all of it is inconsequential compared to the promise of Yahweh’s Kingdom.

Prophecy is written not so that we can anticipate every event before it happens or to glory in our understanding, but so that we will be prepared spiritually when we see these things happen. n

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March of Truth

by Robert Wirl

At times in the history of Israel the work of Yahweh’s true ministry reached a point where course corrections were necessary for the preservation of truth and righteousness. Corrupt influences crept in and threatened to destroy Yahweh’s true work. Men such as Noah, EliYah, Jeremiah and even our Savior Yahshua stood in the gap to choke off the occasional evil threatenings.

Y

ahshua the Messiah has warned us to come out of the corruption of Truth represented by Babylon.

Babylon encompasses all of corrupt religion, including all religious groups that are not keeping the Truth in accordance with the Sacred Scriptures no matter how great or small their defection is from the Truth.

Consider the following in light of the prophetic plea that Yahshua makes to his people in the Book of Revelation: “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality 14

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with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.’ I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and Yahweh has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her’” (Rev. 18:1-6).

Yahweh will severely judge Babylon and those associated with it. Babylon the Great is usually understood to represent grossly corrupted religion. It also applies to groups like the Pharisees of Yahshua’s day.

As caretakers of the sacred Scriptures within the confines of synagogue worship, the Pharisees were part of the iniquity of Babylon. Being a close counterfeit of the Truth made them the greatest threat to True Worship.

Yahshua chastised them for following the traditions of men (which were derived from Babylon) rather than keeping the true commandments of Yahweh.

Notice what He says in Mark 7:5-10.

“The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, ‘Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?’

And He said to them, ‘Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it

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is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. Neglecting the commandment of Yahweh, you hold to the tradition of men.’”

He was saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of Yahweh in order to follow your tradition.”

We must especially be aware of modern-day Pharisees who pay lip service to the Truth while they teach man-made traditions and neglect the commandments of Yahweh. Any association with them will bring judgment from Yahweh.

Breaking From Corruption Those seeking truth must thoroughly examine the workings of groups to see if indeed they are “True Worship.” Just because they keep the Sabbath and feast days, just because they use the Sacred Names, just because they eat clean foods, and just because they keep the sabbatical year, does not in and of itself mean that these groups are in fact True Worship. As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the proof of doctrine is in the doing.

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast Continued on p. 17

Your Journey Starts with One Click...

www.yrm.org

in Scripture I came across your welldesigned website, which carries a lot of spiritual truth – the most important of which is acknowledgement of the Sacred Name, Yahweh. Are you, as an Assembly, open to discussions about your doctrines, in the spirit of advancing knowledge of the truth, or are you pretty much immovable in everything you have published? – Elias, E-mail

Our teachings are the result of more than 40 years of in-depth study.

Our doctrines undergo a great deal of scrutiny and have withstood numerous tests over the years. Our Bible studies are open and we encourage questions. If new information is presented we would be more than happy to take a look at it.

We have never shied away from truth no matter where it comes from. Every one of us is enjoined in 1Thessalonians 5:21 to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

When did the idea or institution of church or synagogue become a standard? Is it required to gather on the Sabbath with other believers? It seems there is very little evidence of synagogue or church attendance on the Sabbath. It seems that the scripture speaks only of no work and rest on the Sabbath. Please write back. I am hungry for the truth because it is the way of life! –SH, email 16

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According to the reference, The Dictionary of the Christian Church, the origins of the institution of the synagogue are uncertain.

Neither the Old Testament nor the New gives any details. Most scholars believe worship in synagogues sprang from the 6th century during the Babylonian captivity when participation in Temple service was curtailed.

The first mention of synagogues is in the Old Testament, Psalm 74:8, which may prophetically be describing the havoc unleashed by Antiochus Epiphanes during his second century persecution. The word synagogue comes from the Greek Septuagint. By New Testament times the synagogue was the local center of Jewish life where both socializing and worship took place.

It is not the case that only work and rest are scripturally required on the Sabbath. Yahshua was often found teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, Luke 13:10. In fact, His practice was to go on the Sabbath into the synagogue, Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16, and 6:6. Paul and Barnabas worshiped in the synagogue on the Sabbath as well, Acts 13:14, 42-44; 17:1-2; 18:4. James said true teachers and worshipers have for many generations been teaching in the synagogues EVERY Sabbath, Acts 15:21. Yahweh says in Leviticus 23:3 that the Sabbath is a day of solemn rest AND a holy convocation or formal assembly. We must make every effort to attend organized worship on the Sabbath, just as believers did in Old July/August 2011

Testament Temple times as well as in our Savior’s day in the synagogues.

I would greatly appreciate some help in understanding the biblical calendar. You say that in the Bible the rules for the correct calendar are to use the sun and moon to mark seasons and months, 7 days to a week (7th the sabbath), months start at the new moon, and Abib is the start of the year. You state that the correct day of the Sabbath is the 7th day which is Saturday. But in looking at your calendar it seems Monday is the 7th day. As you can see I am a bit confused here. On your calendar counting out seven days from the first new moon puts the 7th day on Monday and to count seven more days ends in Monday. This is all rather very confusing to someone who just wants to truly follow [Yahweh’s] Word. How do I know the proper day? Does it matter what day the Sabbath falls on as long as the 7th day is marked as the Sabbath?

What about the idea that in marking the months with the moon that the season would steadily slip back through the calendar year. How then would the feasts be kept at the same time. You could see how this can be confusing. – CB, email In Genesis Yahweh established the Sabbath day by resting on the seventh day of creation. That put in motion the Sabbath that fell every seventh day perpetually up to today, and created the seven-day

week throughout history. He called it THE Sabbath, not A Sabbath. The numbering of weekdays in today’s Gregorian (Catholic) calendar does not correspond to the scriptural calendar.

Those who accept the lunar Sabbath doctrine are attempting to start not only the month but also the week by the new moon. See http://www.yrm.org/ lunarsabbath.htm for a detailed study of this doctrine.

Nowhere in Yahweh’s Word are we instructed to start the week by the moon. Month, yes, but not the week.

Yahweh has already done that for us by creating the Sabbath on the seventh day, to which the Jews for thousands of years and Yahshua Himself adhered.

If you are thinking that establishing the Sabbath by the new moon is somehow more scriptural than our wall calendars, consider again that it was Yahweh who made the perpetual Sabbath, which has always been in rotation in the week since the seventh day of creation. You can’t get more accurate than following Yahweh’s own example and practice. Yahshua had no issue with the day the Scribes and Pharisees kept for the Sabbath and never mentioned a problem with the Sabbath calendar. The Jews have since kept the same day Yahshua kept.

By replacing His divinely ordained week with their own system, lunar proponents are in violation of Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32 and Revelation 22:18. The first fatality in this man-made scheme is the erroneous counting of Feast days like Pentecost with partial weeks instead of full weeks (Lev. 23:15), and the automatic creation of leftover days and partial weeks at the end of the month that no one knows what to do with.

As for the seasons’ slipping further and further back in the year, that won’t happen if we use the scriptural Abib barley to begin the year. The seasons take care of themselves when we follow Yahweh’s calendar. If you need more information, we have four indepth calendar studies at http://www. yrm.org/onlinestudies.htm.

March of Truth continued from p. 14 What is Nomina Sacra?

-WS, OR Nomina Sacra in Latin means “sacred names.” It refers to the abbreviated writing of divine names or titles in Greek manuscripts of the Bible since the first century.

Nomina sacra were formed by taking the first one or two letters of the name or word, omitting the intervening letters, and drawing a line over the whole.

Bruce Metzger’s book Manuscripts of the Greek Bible, lists 15 such expressions from Greek papyri: the Greek counterparts of God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, Son, Spirit, David, cross, Mother, Father, Israel, Savior, Man, Jerusalem, and Heaven. Initially this masking was done specifically for “names” and references to the Father and Son. This practice is of special interest to the Believer. The case is strong that it is but a continuation of the effort begun by Jewish scribes to hide the Sacred name through manipulation or substitution of its letters.

From the Nomina Sacra we see that a manipulation on the “sacred names” was also done in the Greek. No wonder that most translations today lack the revealed, personal names of Father and Son in both testaments. And from the Nomina Sacra we can also show that neither are the words “God,” “Lord,” “Jesus,” and “Christ” found in the Greek New Testament.

The believer should find these facts quite eye-opening. n

out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matt 7:22-23).

It is an astounding thought that Yahshua will reject many who use his Name because they practice lawlessness. Again, be advised that there are also modern-day Pharisees who outwardly are circumspect about keeping the law. Inwardly, they lack the true love of Yahweh. They therefore are guilty of practicing lawlessness. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all,” James 2:10.

The brethren who are involved with this ministry have made a break from the error they found in former religious affiliations. It became necessary to follow the precept of Revelation 18:4 and come out of the sins of Babylon.

This ministry is in fact not something new. It is a continuance of Yahweh’s True Worship. Just as Yahshua separated Himself from the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees of His time so we have separated ourselves from modern equivalents.

Prophecy Being Fulfilled We have seen the fulfillment of various prophetic passages of scripture. This has caused us to join as a body of believers for the purpose of preserving Yahweh’s True Worship in these endtimes. It is our intention to warn others of the falsification that most face in their religious affiliations and to offer those who heed that warning a place in which to go.

The Apostle Paul warned his disciple Timothy of this subversive corruption.

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and Continued on p. 21

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Photo: Bernard Gagnon

The Truth About

Ancient Roman road which connected Antioch and Chalcis

Acts 15

by Donald Mansager

A first-century lesson to new converts who had a background in pagan religion clears up a common misunderstanding today.

S

uccesses in the ministry of the Apostles was generating a lot of interest among the Gentiles.

The pressure by the Sadducees and especially the Pharisees had stifled the conversion of Jews to the Savior.

Now the pertinent question confronting the Antioch Assembly, which Paul and Barnabas were to help answer, was how necessary is circumcision for the Gentiles? The Jewish leadership said it was mandatory.

“And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).

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Missionaries of the Assembly at Antioch, however, had accepted uncircumcised Gentile believers into their ranks. Because the issue was raised, Paul and Barnabas, along with some others, were sent by the Assembly to Jerusalem to see what should be required of the Gentiles coming into the Assembly.

Jerusalem’s Influence In Acts 8:14, the Jerusalem apostles had sent Peter and John to help the brethren in Samaria with their question concerning baptism of Gentiles. A later Jerusalem meeting recorded in Acts 21:18 was to clear suspicions of Paul. Jerusalem was looked upon as the spiritual center for the scattered assemblies. Now they were to recommend a course of action in dealing with Gentile converts.

Peter said there is no difference among peoples in Yahweh’s eyes: “And Elohim which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy July/August 2011

Spirit, even as He did unto us, and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:8-9).

Peter emphasizes that Yahweh gave the Holy Spirit to both Samaritans and Romans, that everyone potentially can be saved by the grace of Yahshua. The nagging question remained: Why then was circumcision required for any man to enter the Temple? (Ezek. 44:7).

One issue was already clear. Yahshua is now our High Priest and we are not required to offer animal sacrifices in the Temple. We can approach Yahweh directly once we accept Yahshua, who is our High Priest.

He explained this to the woman at the well: “But the hour comes, and now is, when the True Worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.

Yahweh is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).

Sacrifices and Circumcision Change Upon hearing of the matter of circumcision of Gentiles, both Paul and Barnabas recalled their miraculous experiences and the wonderful events that had taken place among the Gentiles who gladly accepted their message. James the brother of Yahshua then summarized the decision of the Apostles: “Simeon [Peter] has declared how Yahweh at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written” (Acts 15:14-15).

James goes to some length to show that Yahweh’s purpose is to reveal Himself to the Gentiles, to take from them a group of people for His Name.

Not to save the world now, but to take out a nucleus of chosen faithful from both Israel and the Gentiles. These will become the kings and priests to rule in the Kingdom, Revelation 1:6.

The salvation of the world comes later, Revelation 20:6.

“After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after Yahweh, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my Name is called, says Yahweh, who does all these things” (Acts 15:1617).

James emphasizes that Yahweh is now calling out a special people.

The called-out ones today are of the Melchizedek priesthood under Messiah.

Animal sacrifices and circumcision are not required of us, for this “residue of men” will be baptized into His Name, and called by His Name. Circumcision has a deeper meaning already explained in the Old Testament as being humble and of a willing heart: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked” (Deut. 10: 16).

We are to love Yahweh with all our heart and be obedient to Him in all things. He will soften the heart of our offspring and lead them to obedience: “And Yahweh your Elohim will

circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deut. 30:6).

Circumcise the Heart The New Testament teaches that circumcision is not a great concern for the people of Yahweh. Our goal should be obedience to Yahweh and to His Commandments, His way of life: Paul wrote, “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Yahweh” is what is important (l Cor. 7: 19).

When a person is baptized into the body of Messiah, he or she stands before Yahweh as sinless. All sins are washed away, and we are justified in Yahweh’s eyes, washed clean of our past.

Henceforth we can go directly to Yahweh in prayer and have our sins forgiven. We are now a new creature, a son or daughter of the Most High Elohim. Baptism is a cleansing, and with repentance is referred to as the circumcision made without hands.

“In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah” (Col. 2: 11).

James then goes on to caution the brethren not to make things difficult for the new Gentile converts by expecting them to keep the sacrificial laws and be circumcised. When one is converted to Yahweh’s truth and follows it, then one is circumcised in heart. That is what Yahweh wants! Once the heart is right with Him, everything else He asks of us will follow.

Remove Practices of Heathenism His next suggestion was that a letter be written to all the Gentiles with the following message: “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath

day” (Acts 15:20-21).

This letter to the Gentiles has four special prohibitions mentioned: • have nothing to do with idols, • flee fornication, • eat no strangled animal, • drink no blood.

Why these four? Simply because these customs of the Gentiles played prominently in their former worship.

They had previously worshiped idols and gamboled with temple prostitutes.

In their pagan worship they often ate strangled animals in order to consume the life-blood of that animal. They also drank blood from an animal, assuming to transfer to themselves the strength that was in the blood of a bull or goat.

The Gentiles were to stop these four habitual practices immediately. Then, James says, they will in time learn the rest of Yahweh’s truth because when they attend the synagogues or assemblies every Sabbath, the other laws of Yahweh will be preached and explained to them.

James’ summary of the proposed action pleased the apostles and elders along with the entire assembly. They decided to send their selected men to Antioch with the following letter: “The apostles and elders, your brother, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings, We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agree to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah. Therefore, we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.

You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell” (NIV, Acts 15:23-29).

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They Had to Start Somewhere This letter does not specifically include the point that each Sabbath the laws of Yahweh would be taught by reading of the Torah each week in the synagogue.

But from verse 21 we learn that such is the intent. An immediate removal of offending practices was the starting point, while more truth would be revealed once these abominations were eliminated.

Silas, Paul, and Barnabas stayed in Antioch for some time teaching the people more of Yahweh’s truths.

Paul and Silas later went on to Derbe and Lystra where Paul met young Timothy. They continued to deliver the letter warning the gentiles to desist from idol worship, from drinking blood, eating strangled meat, and from sexual immorality. They were also expected to observe the Sabbath each week and join in worship with the assembly.

“And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the assemblies established in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:4-5). In Acts 21 Paul was commended for his activities among the Gentiles.

The elders glorified Yahweh over the thousands among the Jews that believed.

However, there was gossip that Paul was teaching the Jews who were among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after their customs.

To convince the people of his integrity, Paul was advised to purify himself with four other men who had a vow. Paul then could dispel any doubting, while the truth would be shown that Paul was orderly, keeping the law, verses 21-24.

kept the law and taught us to keep it as well.

“As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written [and] concluded THAT THEY OBSERVE NO SUCH THING, SAVE ONLY that they keep themselves from [things] offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them” (Acts 21:25-26).

To recap, Acts 15 is the account of the Jerusalem meeting of the Elders in deciding how to deal with Gentiles who become a part of the assembly. There were four pagan customs they were to refrain from participating in as they began their walk with the Savior.

They were also expected to meet with brethren on the Sabbath where they would have Moses, meaning the law of Yahweh, taught and the Torah expounded to them. To repeat, the Gentiles were to be taught from the Old Testament the teachings of Moses.

This is long after Yahshua had ascended and the apostles had been engaged in teaching the New Testament nations the truth of Yahweh. The truth of Acts 15 is the exact opposite of what most believe.

Astonishing Bible Truths That Your Church Never Taught Would you be surprised to learn that your church misses some of the most important teachings of the Bible? Get ready to look at the Scriptures in a much different way, and learn some of the greatest truths ever given to man by the Father in Heaven.

Words Added to the Text Verses 25-26 are quoted below to show that translators have added the capitalized words that are not in the text of Acts 21. Carnal man strives hard to do away with the law and set aside obedience, calling it bondage. But Paul 20

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Perhaps some day we can join the great throng Yahweh is preparing and teach and help others in the Kingdom to learn His will and ways.

We read of this prophecy in Isaiah: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people-shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2:2-4).

Paul answers those who would turn from the truth of the Messiah to their old ways that neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love” (Gal. 5: 6).

May his words be a guide to all who would miss the spirit of the law while keeping the letter, and to those who confuse legalism with honoring the One they worship. n

To order your free copy see back cover July/August 2011

March of Truth continued from p. 17 advocate abstaining from foods which Yahweh has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Tim 4:1-3).

We are living in the latter times spoken of here. It is important to our salvation that we be aware of how this prophecy applies to us as Yahweh’s end-time believers. The fallen ones are busy following deceitful spirits instead of the Holy Spirit. They teach their own ideas rather than sound Biblical doctrine.

Corrupt leadership on a massive scale makes void the law of Yahweh with doctrines of demons. They are guilty of violating the covenant by adding to and diminishing from Yahweh’s Word, Deuteronomy 4:2.

What the Apostle Paul writes here ties in with what we have already learned. These charlatans are at work teaching counterfeit and confusing doctrines that come from the paganism of ancient Babylon.

The doctrines of demons are in effect the teachings or policies of any man that take precedence over the Word of Almighty Yahweh.

Yahweh will always continue His Truth by bringing forth His true people from the spiritual Babylon of modernday Pharisees.

New Wine, New Wineskins During his ministry, Yahshua was continually being confronted by the religious establishment of his day, typically the Sadducees and the Pharisees.

The Sadducees were of the priestly Aaronic aristocracy. They controlled Temple worship and were strongly associated with King Herod and his governmental control. The Pharisees functioned on the local level, being in control of the synagogues.

Yahshua’s ministry was totally separate from these groups. He recognized that it was impossible to reform them because of their corruption.

He chose rather to call out the various

followers of those groups to join His ministry.

Yahshua did not start something brand new. He brought forth purity from that which was corrupt. “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:21-22).

Yahshua is proposing here the continuation of the Truth by putting renewed teachings in a fresh structure.

The religion of the Pharisee’s would have represented one aspect of the old wine skins that cannot hold the new wine of His teachings.

Mainstream Judaism for the most part had Truth, but they obviously lacked important spiritual aspects.

Yahweh seeks out those who will worship him in a specific way. They must be new wine skins if they are to hold the new wine. They must worship Him in both spirit and truth. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

Yahweh is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

We see from this passage that there are two main components of True Worship, the Holy Spirit of Yahweh and the Truth of the Word. There are many Truth-oriented religious groups.

But, having the truth alone is not enough. The true Body of Messiah must have the Holy Spirit along with that Truth. Bear in mind that it is possible to have the Truth and not have the Holy Spirit. Yahweh grants His Spirit to those who obey His Truth, Acts 5:32.

The Apostle John has warned us that there is the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Once again, we must beware!

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they

are from Yahweh, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of Yahweh: every spirit that confesses that Yahshua the Messiah has come in the flesh is from Yahweh; and every spirit that does not confess Yahshua is not from Yahweh; this is the spirit of the antimessiah, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from Yahweh, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from Yahweh; he who knows Yahweh listens to us; he who is not from Yahweh does not listen to us.

By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1John 4:1-6).

The Word of Yahweh shows repeatedly that the Holy Spirit is the spirit of Truth (see John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13, and 1John 4:6). Each of theses verses refers to the Holy Spirit as the spirit of Truth! True Worshipers will always have the Holy Spirit of Yahweh along with the Truth.

The Fruit of the Spirit Those who have the Holy Spirit of Yahweh are keeping Yahweh’s commandments, Acts 5:32. Along with that, they are bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

Love is at the forefront of that fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Messiah Yahshua have impaled the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another” (Gal. 5:22-26).

We want to possess the Spirit of Truth along with the fruit of the Spirit and thereby worship Yahweh in Spirit and in Truth. For this reason we have separated from former religious affiliations.

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Considering what Yahshua brings out against the Pharisees, it is no wonder that He chose not to reform them. Instead, He rose up a continuation of the Truth out of the perverseness the Pharisees had created. By having the fruit of the Spirit and most importantly by having true love, Yahshua and his disciples were in opposition to the Pharisees and all that they stood for.

Yahshua’s life was a living testimony to what the Apostle Paul taught in 1Corinthians 13. He teaches that regardless of the greatness of a person, if they don’t have love, they don’t have anything. Love is the great barrier between truth and error. Obviously ancient and modern Pharisees lack that important fruit, love.

Persecution Energizes True Worship The corruptness of these hypocrites, then and now, is such that they are the ones who do in fact persecute Yahweh’s true people. Literally and figuratively, the forefathers of these people persecuted the prophets of Yahweh in ancient times. They themselves persecuted Yahshua and the apostolic assembly. And, in these end-times, the modern-day Scribes and Pharisees persecute the saints.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:10-12).

Don’t be discouraged by oppression from false worshipers. Yahshua revealed them for what they are so that his true people could be encouraged and raised up from the depths of depression.

Yahweh has made a way for his people to go whereby they can find safety in a spiritual body of believers, who are the continuance of Truth. Yahweh brings them out of the corruption of the modern-day Pharisees.

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of the Messiah at the end of the age is the direct result of persecution.

Although it is difficult to deal with, persecution is the fire that purifies Yahweh’s true spiritual people. It is the force that brings forth the true end-time members of Yahweh’s ministry.

“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Cor 3:12-15).

Those who keep His Word will be persecuted but Yahshua shall keep them safe during the tribulation that is to come on all the earth. “And to the angel of the [congregation] in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

“Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Rev 3:7-11).

The persecution of the saints at the end of the age will most certainly have the effect of separating the spiritual body of the Messiah from those of the synagogue of Satan (those who have defected from the truth). Remember that those whom He and his disciples separated themselves from were the July/August 2011

ones who persecuted Yahshua to death.

Yahshua, the Apostles and disciples remained separate from the religious corruption around them.

Devotion Causes Separation Many times Almighty Yahweh has allowed divisions to occur within the physical body of believers to separate the good who possess a spiritual attitude from the evil who are motivated by the flesh. That was the case in the Corinthian congregation. “For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you” (1Cor. 11:19).

Spiritual hardships that some of Yahweh’s people face are difficult to bear. Yet, these things are happening for good reason, the revealing of the true Assembly of believers in these last days. They are known by their good fruits. They are contradicted and opposed by wicked counterfeits of whom they must beware.

Yahshua tells us to watch out for false prophets. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits” (Matt 7:15).

The fruit that comes forth must determine our religious affiliation.

Those who associate with corrupt people will ultimately be corrupted!

We must be willing to separate from evil and corruption. The Truth will continue and Yahshua will return regardless of the stand we take or our position on Truth. Yahweh does not need us, we need Yahweh. The choice n is ours.

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“Thank you, thank you, thank you for the book you sent, Your Salvation Is Not Assured Until the End. I started reading and obeying the words of Yahshua in 2002 and I can’t just gloss over where He says, “He that shall endure to the end the same shall be saved,” Matthew 24:13. I came out of an organized religious body that taught once saved, always saved. That is not even a Scripture in the Bible. Also, Yahshua speaks of this ‘Gospel of the Kingdom.’ I’m afraid I have never heard the ‘Gospel of the Kingdom.’ Do you have literature on that? We were mostly preached to about how He died for our sins. People feel Yahshua came so they could sin and charge all their sins to Him. They seem to just ignore what He taught.” – RH, TX The biggest anomaly in history is that nearly the entirety of New Testament religion today teaches about Yahshua, but almost never teaches what He taught. If they did, millions would be taught to keep the Scriptural Sabbath, annual holy days, and other laws Yahshua taught and kept. Instead, most are told that obedience is unnecessary and even harmful to your spiritual well being. – ED

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Always I wanted to be a bold witness and it never happened before – I was too timid. Finally I have the truth and so much to share. I just keep talking to people and they are listening and wanting more information. So I get to give them my full testimonial on how Yahweh has changed my life, how being baptized in Yahshua’s name, obeying the commandments, and Yahweh’s Feasts is a whole new life.”

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years from cancer and many other illnesses that have taken over her life.

I was sharing about Yahweh’s Name and Yahshua’s. I was very glad that she was listening and not interrupting.

She had not gotten out of bed yet as she was in terrible pain on her feet, legs, and mostly knees. She asked me to call her back in 15 minutes. When I did, this is what she said, ‘I kept asking Yahweh to forgive me, and thanking Him for revealing Himself through my sister. I hadn’t realized that as I was doing this, I got out of bed, went to the restroom, then to the kitchen, got water, went back to the room and noticed that I never got my cane, was able to do everything without pain, nothing hurt.’ She was very happy, saying she was never going to use other names and was going to get rid of idols in her home. This is the reason I am requesting your magazine and booklets for her. I love ALL your information and DVDs.” – IE, NM

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