November-December 2014 Restoration Times Magazine by Yahweh's Restoration Ministry

C O N T E N T S

Magazine

VOL. 4 | No. 6 | November-December 2014

A R T I C L E S

3 | Christmas Unwrapped by Randy Folliard

12 | Is Yahweh Prejudiced? by Randy Folliard

7 | What’s So Happy About New Year’s? by Alan Mansager

9 | Hubris - the Pinnacle of Pride by Joel Wirl

17 | Gnostic Nemesis by Alan Mansager 20 | Feast of Tabernacles Review 21 | Answers in Scripture 23 | Letters

FRONT COVER: It is time to reveal the surprising facts about the biggest holiday of the year.

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

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

Christmas

Unwrapped by Randy Folliard

hristmas – from where did this day arise? Many claim that the Messiah is the reason for the season. They believe that this day is in honor of His birth at Bethlehem. But is this true? Is the Messiah the reason for the season or is there a different reason? Shockingly, the Messiah was never in Christmas. This yearly observance is a hodgepodge of ancient pagan traditions going back thousands of years. This day was established long before Yahshua was born at Bethlehem and it originally honored the sun. Why then do churches celebrate this observance today? Do they not know its past? Why would they meld truth with error? Not unlike many other beliefs, this one was the result of compromise stemming from a desire to grow the influence of the early church. Instead of deeming it heretical and removing any vestiges of its worship, the church adopted Christmas and spiritualized it as a day honoring the Son. They did so by claiming that December 25 marked the birth of the Messiah. If there is one certainty about Christmas, it’s the fact that the Messiah

was NOT born on December 25. Many references freely admit this fact. For example, the New Catholic Encyclopedia reads: “Inexplicable though it seems, the date of Christ’s birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month.”

ties to the Messiah or to the apostolic faith. Why then was December 25 chosen as the date of the Messiah’s birth? This same date was connected with pagan worship, specifically with sun worship going back to Babylon.

Unknown to Church Fathers

In Roman culture there were three observances that led to the timing and customs of Christmas. Possibly the biggest and most popular was the celebration for Saturn, known as Saturnalia. The Standard American Encyclopedia describes the worship of the Saturnalia: “…the feast in honor of Saturn, celebrated by the Romans in December and regarded as a time of unrestrained license and merriment for all classes, even for the slaves.” The Encyclopedia Americana says about the Saturnalia, “A Roman festival commemorating the happy period under Saturn, when freedom and equality reigned and violence and oppression were unknown…Under the Caesars it was celebrated from the 17th to the 23rd of December, during which period public business was closed, masters and slaves changed places, and feasting, giving of

The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature concurs. “The fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity. No corresponding festival was presented by the Old Testament...the day and month of the birth of Christ are nowhere stated in the Gospel history, and cannot be certainly determined.” What we find here is astounding. These resources acknowledge that the church fathers of the first three centuries spoke nothing regarding the celebration of the Nativity. Such a celebration was unknown to the very men who governed the church for the first 300 years. You would think that such an important event would have been understood by these men. The fact that the early church fathers were oblivious to this observance shows that it has no historical

Saturnalia Connection

Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

gifts, and general license prevailed.” It is no coincidence that the date of Saturnalia closely corresponds with that of Christmas. The church would take advantage of it by absorbing Saturnalian rites into its own traditions. This Roman festival was one of the happiest times of the Roman year and included the giving of gifts. However, it also included the suspension of work and easements in cultural norms and ethics. Slaves were given temporary freedom and certain cases of immorality were overlooked. In this Saturnalia resembled Mardi Gras and New Year’s. Mithraism Was No Myth

A belief that contributed to Christmas was Mithraism, which likely originated with the Persians. According to the online Catholic Encyclopedia under Mithraism: “The origin of the cult of Mithra dates from the time that the Hindus and Persians still formed one people, for the god Mithra occurs in the religion and the sacred books of both races, i.e. in the Vedas and in the Avesta. In Vedic hymns he is frequently mentioned and is nearly always coupled with Varuna, but beyond the bare occurrence of his name, little is known of him (Rigveda, III, 59). “It is conjectured (Oldenberg, ‘Die Religion des Veda,’ Berlin, 1894) that Mithra was the rising sun, Varuna the setting sun; or, Mithra, the sky at daytime, Varuna, the sky at night; or, the one the sun, the other the moon. “In any case Mithra is a light or solar deity of some sort; but in Vedic times the vague and general mention of him seems to indicate that his name was little more than a memory. In the Avesta he is much more of a living and ruling deity than an Indian piety; nevertheless, he is not only secondary to Ahura Mazda, but he does not belong to the seven Amshaspands or personified virtues which immediately surround Ahura; he is but a Yazad, a popular demigod or genius.” Even though little is known about Mithraism’s earliest history, its worship was certainly connected with the sun, likely with the rising sun. Sun worship is common with many polytheistic faiths. Depictions from the Neolithic period show the sun riding on a boat. Various drawings of the sun are also found in ancient Egypt; the most famous reference being Ra, the deity of the sun. Evidence of Times Magazine 4 Restoration November-December 2014

sun worship has also been found in Africa among the Tiv people, a north African nation numbering more than 200 million, which considered the sun as the supreme god. The Aztecs also worshiped the sun. They called the sun Tonatiuh, meaning, “Movement of the Sun.” In one case this was also true for a monotheistic or henotheistic faith. Akhenaton ruled Egypt from 1336 – 1334 BCE. During his reign he removed Egypt’s polytheistic faith for the worship of Aten, symbolized by the sun. Roman Mithraism shares a unique tie with Christmas. This Persian deity was adopted by the Roman mystery cult, which was restricted to only men. Depicted as a warrior god, it was especially popular among Roman soldiers. Interestingly, Mithra acquired many of the same attributes as the Messiah along with a few exceptions. According to Mystery Religions in the Ancient World, “[Mithra was] the creator and orderer of the universe, hence a manifestation of the creative Logos or Word…His birth on 25 December was witnessed by shepherds. After many deeds he held a last supper with his disciples and returned to heaven. At the end of the world he will come again to judge resurrected mankind and after the last battle, victorious over evil, he will lead the chosen ones through a river of fire to a blessed immortality.” Scripture states that the Messiah was the creative Word or Logos, John 1:1-3, that preexisted with His Father, John 17:5. His birth was also witnessed by shepherds, Luke 2:8-20, and He shared a last supper with His disciples, Matthew 26, and was afterward killed and resurrected to heaven, Matthew 27-28. The Bible prophesies of His return in 1Thessalonians 4:16-18, when He will remove evil and conquer all those who oppose Him, 1Corinthians 15:24-28. Because of these similarities, historian and archaeologist Ernest Renan wrote, “If Christianity had been halted in its growth by some mortal illness, the world would have been Mithraist.” Even though Mithra shares many parallels with the Messiah, there is one outstanding parallel. According to legend, Mithra was born on December 25. There’s little doubt that this date played a major role in the establishment of December 25 as the Messiah’s birth.

A Feast in Honor of the Sun

A third rite that historically helped to establish Christmas was the Feast of Sol Invictus. The Encyclopaedia Britannica states, “During the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and ultimately led to what has been called a ‘solar monotheism.’ Nearly all the gods of the period were possessed of Solar qualities, and both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities. The feast of Sol Invictus (open unconquered Sun) on December 25th was celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the Christians as Christmas, the birthday of Christ.” In addition to Mithraism and the Saturnalia, the Feast of Sol Invictus helped solidify December 25 as the date for the Nativity. This ancient celebration was nothing more than sun worship. Rome at this point was considered a “solar monotheism.” The term “solar” refers to the sun, while the term “monotheism” means the worship of only one mighty one. Most ancient religions were polytheistic, meaning that they worshiped many gods. So to find a point in history where sun worship was the monotheistic religion is rare. Amazingly, we still find evidence of sun worship in churchianity today. For example, the word “Sunday” comes from the Latin dies solis, meaning, “day of the sun.” It wasn’t the Bible, but Emperor Constantine who officially changed Sabbath worship to Sunday in 321 CE. In his famous edict he wrote, “Let all judges, the people of cities, and those employed in all trades, remain quiet on the Holy Day of Sunday.” It’s important to note that this man was a committed sun worshiper until he allegedly converted to Christianity upon his deathbed. By simply reading the New Testament, the Bible student will find that the Messiah and His Apostles observed only the seventh-day Sabbath along with the annual Feasts, as Yahweh established in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus. We also find indications that Sol Invictus contributed to Christmas from the New International Dictionary of the Christian Church: “December 25 was the date of the Roman pagan festival inaugurated in 274 as the birthday of the unconquered sun which at the winter

solstice begins again to show an increase in light. Sometime before 336 the Church in Rome, unable to stamp out this pagan festival, spiritualized it as the Feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness.” According to this source, December 25th was marked as the birthday of the sun in 274 CE. About 60 years later, being unable to eliminate this pagan observance, the Church adopted this date as the birthday of the Messiah. Instead of staying faithful to the Word, the church compromised by adopting pagan beliefs and establishing error for future generations Christmas Rejected in Early America

Because of its paganism and the fact that Christmas resembled the debauchery of a European Mardi Gras, the Puritans refused to observe this holiday. Author Robert J. Myers in his book, Celebrations, states, “In England, for example, the Puritans could not tolerate this celebrating for which there was no biblical sanction. Consequently, the Roundhead Parliament of 1643 outlawed the feasts of Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, along with the saints’ days.” Consider the changes we would see if this same standard were followed today. Much of today’s error and subsequent problems would be removed and a time of unparalleled truth would flourish. We need only to ask of any practice: is it sanctioned by the Word of our Father in heaven? If not, we should avoid it! In addition to the Puritans, this day was viewed with disdain by many early Protestants. In response to this scorn, the Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted the following law between 1659-1681: “For preventing disorders, arising in several places within this jurisdiction by reason of some still observing such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other communities, to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered by this court and the authority thereof that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shilling as a fine to the county” (Massachusetts Travel Journal: http://masstraveljournal.com/ features/1101chrisban.html). According to the History Channel, “In the early 17th century, a wave of religious

reform changed the way Christmas vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver the work of the hands of the workman, Cromwell and his Puritan forces took with the axe. They deck it with silver and over England in 1645, they vowed to rid with gold; they fasten it with nails and with England of decadence and, as part of their hammers, that it move not. They are upright effort, canceled Christmas. By popular as the palm tree, but speak not: they must demand Charles II was restored to the needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be throne and with him came the return of the not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, popular holiday. neither also is it in them to do good,” verses “The pilgrims, English separatists 1-4. that came to America in 1620, were even Does this sound familiar? Let’s take more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than a closer look: one cuts a tree out of the Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not forest; they deck it with silver and gold; a holiday in early America. From 1659 to they fasten it with nails and with hammers; 1681, the celebration of Christmas was and they stand it upright. If you’re like me, outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting you’re thinking Christmas tree. While this the Christmas spirit was fined five isn’t referring specifically to the modern shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown Christmas tree, it reveals that many of settlement, Captain today’s Christmas John Smith reported customs have origins that Christmas was rooted in many longenjoyed by all and forgotten practices. passed without inci In verse 2 of Jeredent. miah 10 we are told, “After the Ameri“Learn not the way can Revolution, of the heathen.” Is English customs fell Christmas found in out of favor, including the Bible or does Christmas. In fact, it not grow out of Christmas wasn’t heathen worship as declared a federal we have seen? holiday until June 26, When Jeremiah 1870” (http://www. spoke these words history.com/topics/ he was referring to christmas/history-ofall pagan worship, christmas). including days like Christmas was Easter, Halloween, looked upon with and Christmas. contempt by many Besides the very religious Europeans clear warnings in and early Americans. Ya h w e h ’ s Word, Sinterklaas, on his horse called Slecht Weer This fact, along with history shows that Vandaag from the Netherlands the unsavory past tree worship was of the holiday, should make every Bible also common anciently. According to the believer pause and ask, “Should I be Golden Bough, “...Tree worship is well observing this day?” attested for all the great European families of the Aryan stock. Amongst the Celts the The Tree and St. Nick oak-worship of the Druids is familiar to Tree worship, especially of the evergreen, everyone. Sacred groves were common has been ongoing for millennia. among the ancient Germans, and tree A reference to tree worship can be worship is hardly extinct among their found in the tenth chapter of Jeremiah. It descendants at the present day.” reads, “Hear ye the word which Yahweh What about Santa Claus? According speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus to many historians, the tradition of this saith Yahweh, Learn not the way of the jolly elf is connected with Saint Nicholas, heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs a Greek bishop of Myra in the 4th century. of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed He was known for his kindness and at them. For the customs of the people are compassion. He also had a reputation for Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

gift giving. While this man may have been a sanitized version for the modern Santa Claus, the fact is Santa Claus has a more chequered past. In the book, Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men, we find that Santa Claus may have roots in Odin, a major deity in Norse mythology: “…children would place their boots filled with sugar, carrots or straw, near the chimney for Odin’s flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir’s food with gifts or candy. This practice survived in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands after the adoption of Christianity and became associated with Saint Nicholas as a result of the process of Christianization and can be still seen in the modern practice of the hanging of stockings at the chimney in some homes.” The story of Santa Claus has early historical roots that go back to German and Dutch folklore, none of which is sanctioned by Scripture. Messiah’s Biblical Birth

Let’s now transition from the historical roots of Christmas to the scriptural facts about our Savior’s birth. For starters, when was He born? Scripture shows that He was likely born in the fall. Evidence for this is found in Luke 1:5. “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.” Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, served at the temple and was assigned to the priestly course of Abia (at this point John the Baptist had been conceived). There were 24 courses of service at the temple. Each priest was required to serve twice a year. The first course was at Abib, the first month of the biblical year, and was from Sabbath to Sabbath. Abia was the eighth course and would have fallen around the beginning of June. Based on this, John the Baptist was conceived somewhere around early June. Luke 1:26 says that Mary conceived Yahshua six months after Elisabeth conceived John the Baptist. From this the timing of the Messiah’s birth can be determined. If John the Baptist was conceived in early June and if Yahshua was conceived 6 months later, He was

Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

likely conceived in early December, placing His birth somewhere around September, possibly during the Feast of Tabernacles. Frozen Shepherds?

The traditional Christmas story states that shepherds tending sheep received a miraculous message about the infant Messiah on December 25th. This story is based on Luke 2:13-18. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising Elohim, and saying, Glory to Elohim in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass which Yahweh hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” The question is, are shepherds out grazing flocks in December? According to most scholars, this scenario is not only unlikely, but unthinkable. Barnes Notes states, “Remaining out of doors, under the open sky, with their flocks. This was commonly done… The Jews sent out their flocks into the mountainous and desert regions during the summer months, and took them up in the latter part of October or the first of November, when the cold weather commenced…It is probable from this that our Saviour was born before the 25th of December, or before what we call ‘Christmas.’ At that time it is cold, and especially in the high and mountainous regions about Bethlehem.” The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary agrees. “From this most critics, since Lightfoot, conclude that the time which, since the fourth century, has been ecclesiastically fixed upon for the celebration of Christ’s birth—the 25th of December, or the midst of the rain season—cannot be the true time, as the shepherds drove their flocks about the spring or Passover time out to the fields, and remained out with them all summer, under cover of huts or tents, returning with them late in the autumn.”

For good measure, Adam Clarke’s Commentary states, “It was a custom among the Jews to send out their sheep to the deserts, about the passover, and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain: during the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As the passover occurred in the spring, and the first rain began early in the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and November, we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole of the summer. And as these shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced, and that, consequently, our Lord was not born on the 25th of December, when no flocks were out in the fields; nor could he have been born later than September, as the flocks were still in the fields by night. On this very ground the nativity in December should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the fields is a chronological fact, which casts considerable light upon this disputed point.” Many other scholars freely admit that the December 25 date for the Messiah’s birth is highly unlikely because of poor weather conditions in late December. While the exact date is not known, we can know with certainty that it was not the traditional birth date celebrated today. Confusion About Wise Men

Let’s consider one more piece of the puzzle, the wise men. The account is from the second chapter of Matthew. It reads, “Now when Yahshua was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him…When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Miriam his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh,” verses 1-2, 1011. Tradition states that three wise men visited the infant Yahshua in the manger to honor His birth. First, Scripture says nothing about three wise men, only mentioning three kinds of gifts that the

men brought. Second, they did not visit the infant Messiah at the manger, but the “young child” at His house. And third, the wise men were not there to worship the birth day of the Messiah, but to worship the King of the Jews. Other than wise men visiting the Messiah, common notions are nonexistent in Scripture. There is no mention of three wise men, nothing about their visit to a manger, and no word of the Messiah’s birth. He was up to two years of age when they arrived (Matt. 2:16). “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent

forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.” The story of Christmas is not found in the Bible. From pagan Roman tradition the Church adopted Christmas rites through a process of compromise. What does our Father Yahweh say about such compromise? As we read in Jeremiah 10, we’re commanded not to learn the ways of the heathen. Based on the facts that Christmas contains no scriptural foundation and

borrowed its rites from pagan worship, as believers we’re to abstain from the keeping of this day individually and with family. While a common desire is to accommodate our loved ones by not offending them, we must ask, is it not better to avoid offending the One we worship? As believers in the Messiah we worship in spirit and truth. This means that we must avoid any and all worship that is foreign to Yahweh’s Word. For those who do, Scripture promises that they will be called the sons and daughters of Yahweh Almighty!

What’s So Happy

About New Year’s? by Alan Mansager

t the stroke of midnight, December 31, a large ball will drop in Times Square, New York City, signaling the start of a new year as it has for nearly a century. With hugs all around, millions will toast with champagne and cheerfully wish one another a happy 2015. But does January 1, a deep-winter month and the coldest time of the year, seem like the right time to begin a year? New Year’s is one of the oldest secular holidays still celebrated. Pagan Babylon gave birth to the observance thousands of years ago, just as it did many others. It was originally an eleven-day festival at the vernal equinox. Many cultures used the solar and lunar cycles to set the “first day” of the year. For

many in the ancient world the new year began in the spring as the Scriptures prescribe. Springtime, the season of rebirth, is the natural starting point when the earth is reawakened by the sun’s returning warmth, and verdant flora come alive. Blame Superstition for January 1

It was the year 45 BCE when for the first time New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1 as the Roman Julian calendar took effect. This calendar was initiated for course corrections. Soon after becoming Roman emperor, Julius Caesar decided that the old Roman republic calendar needed reform. Introduced about seven centuries previous, the Roman calendar followed the lunar cycle but in time

it fell out of sync with the seasons. The Roman leadership also sometimes manipulated the calendar by adding days to extend their political terms in office, which ended on January 1. Caesar enlisted Sosigenes, a Greek astronomer, who advised him to do away with the lunar cycle entirely and follow the solar year, as the Egyptians did. Sosigenes made January 1, rather than March, the start of the year. Caesar favored a more logical starting date that coincided with the solstices or equinoxes. But it happened that January 1 of 45 BCE was a new moon and to change it would have invited bad luck, according to prevalent beliefs. January is named after Janus, the twofaced Roman god of beginnings and transiRestoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

tions. Gifts were offered to him on January following in History.com: “Following the From gift-giving to appeasement of the gods 1. “Sacrifices were made to Janus; gifts and first new moon after the vernal equinox in late to immoral behavior of celebrators, we see an visits were exchanged, and masquerading March, the Babylonians of ancient Mesopo- undercurrent of fear and an attempt to appease and feasting were general,” Encyclopaedia tamia would honor the rebirth of the natural nonexistent deities. It is remarkable that similar Britannica, 11th edition, “New Year’s Day.” world with a multi-day festival called Akitu. practices are sanctioned today. Gift-giving was an old custom initiated by the legendary Roman King Tatius, to whom branches of vervain gathered in the sacred Grove of Strenua, the goddess of strength, were presented as a good omen on the first day of the year. “The Persians celebrated the beginning of the year by exchanging presents of eggs. The Druids distributed as New Year’s gifts branches of the sacred mistletoe,” Ibid. The early church recognized the danger of adopting pagan customs. “Participation in the ordinary New Year’s Day observances as well as in the Saturnalia of December was from the first discouraged by the Church. Christians were expected Persepolis, an all nations staircase. It depicts people from across the Achaemenid Persian Empire bringing gifts. to spend the day in quiet meditation, readScholars have speculated the occasion to be Nowruz meaning “[The] New Day”), the name of the Persian New Year. ing of scripture and acts of charity,” Ibid. In the Middle Ages observance of Janu- This early New Year’s celebration dates back ary 1 as New Year’s Day lost popularity partly to around 2000 BCE, and is believed to have The Bible’s True Calendar because the Julian calendar was out of sync been deeply intertwined with religion and Yahweh says He hates man’s observances. No in computing the solar year. By the year 1000 mythology. wonder! They inevitably come from or lead to it was off by seven days, and by the mid-15th “During the Akitu, statues of the gods idolatry. New Year’s is no different. century it was off 10 days. were paraded through the city streets, and Yahweh’s new year begins in springtime, In yet more calendar reform, Pope rites were enacted to symbolize their victory when barley reaches Abib stage. Abib is also Gregory XIII commissioned Jesuit astronomer over the forces of chaos. Through these ritu- the name of the first month of Yahweh’s year Christopher Clavius als the Babylonians as we find in Scripture. “Observe the month to come up with a believed the world of Abib, and keep the passover unto Yahweh new calendar. Towas symbolically thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib Yahweh day’s secular Gregocleansed and recre- thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt rian calendar, named ated by the gods in by night.” for this pope, is used preparation for the From Exodus 12:2 we learn that the by most of the world, new year and the month of Abib, which encompasses Passover, being implemented return of spring.” starts the biblical year: “This month shall be in 1582. It corrected T h e B a b y l o - unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the discrepancy isnian New Year’s the first month of the year to you.” sue by advancing the celebration bears There is no need to add days or months calendar 10 days in remarkable simi- or incorporate leap years to make the biblical that year and establarities to supersti- calendar jibe with the seasons. Just look for lishing a leap year to tions of Hallow- the greening barley grain each spring and you adjust for the future. een. In both we have Abib, the month of “green ears” of grain find an attempt to and the beginning month in the biblical year. Heinous History defeat forces of While the world celebrates its new year As with nearly all evil through vari- with trumped-up revelry and resolutions that ancient, human ous rites and ritu- won’t be kept, Yahweh’s year begins with observances, New als. It also draws personal redemption through the Passover. Year’s has a long parallels to the What better way to celebrate the true new and sordid past. A Roman Saturnalia, year than with genuine, spiritual reform that Drawing from the Calendar of Philocalus, a 4th-century key new year ritual the preChristmas comes at a time of year when Yahweh deals manuscript produced in 354 CE for a wealthy Roman Christian named Valentinus. It depicts the month of in ancient Babylon observance of su- with our sins through the redemptive act of December, with Saturnalian dice on the table and a mask or is described by the perstitious pagans. Yahshua the Messiah? oscilla above, hung up as an offering to a deity. Times Magazine 8 Restoration November-December 2014

the Pinnacle of Pride P

by Joel Wirl

ride has been a trait of man since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was Adam and Eve’s self-seeking pride that got them into their mess, and pride still plagues us today. Pride in all its vileness and arrogance can be excessive. That kind of pride is called hubris. Hubris is excessive pride or selfconfidence. In fact, the word hubris was used in Greek tragedy for those who expressed extreme pride in defiance of their mighty ones. It is still pride, but of ultimate arrogance. It is acting without regard to Yahweh or any higher power. It is the belief that one single individual is better than all of creation. It is the absolute lack of humility. To understand this word an example from history may be a better teacher. Assyrian King Attacks Judah

In its history Israel was not always united. In the books of Kings and Chronicles we find a nation divided into two parts, the northern area of Israel and Samaria and the southern area of Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. Because of the great sin that the people of Israel and Samaria had committed, Yahweh allowed it to be overthrown by the Assyrians as recorded in 2 Kings 18:11. Verse 12 of the chapter says they were taken into captivity “because they obeyed not the voice of Yahweh their

Elohim, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.” The same doom might have been thrust upon Judah if it were not for the reforms of King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah, at the age of 25, began his reign four years before the siege of the land of Israel by the Assyrians. So many of the other kings of Israel and Judah either lacked the courage to clean up the idolatry in their respective countries, or they just bought into the belief of paganism. But King Hezekiah was different. He took action, as he wanted to do what was right in Yahweh’s eyes. To see the kind of reforms that King Hezekiah initiated, look up 2Chronicles 29-31. It’s absolutely amazing how he turned that country around. Through his love and trust in Yahweh, the land of Judah was spared the attack by the Assyrians years later. Now let’s fast forward from the siege of the Assyrians against the land of Israel to seven years later. King Hezekiah is still king of Judah and the people are still following Yahweh. Shifting the scene to Assyria we find that the kings have changed. Sennacherib had succeeded the throne from the deceased Shalmaneser, the king who conquered Israel. It might have been enough for Sennacherib to have been satisfied with the land that he had inherited from his

predecessor but it was not enough for Sennacherib. He looked upon the land of Judah as a hungering predator. In 2Kings 18:13 Sennacherib launched his first attack on Judah by attacking the fenced cities. Hezekiah responded to Sennacherib by saying to him in 2Kings 18:14, “I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear.” Sennacherib requested three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold from Judah. They accepted the offer most likely in hopes of appeasing this Assyrian king. However, it did not. In 2Kings 18:17, Sennacherib sent Tatan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish along with a great army to go against the city of Jerusalem. Rabshakeh, the spokesman for Sennacherib, spoke thus to Judah: “Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trust? Thou say, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do thou trust, that thou rebel against me? Now behold, thou trust upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. But if you say unto me, We trust in Yahweh our Elohim; is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my sovereign the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Am I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.” Rabshakeh is doing his best to deal a heavy insult to Judah. He insults the people’s trust in their king, their trust in their ally Egypt, their trust in Yahweh, and insults the strength of their own army. He even insinuates that Yahweh was for the destruction of their city. Such arrogance is dripping from these passages. Yet Rabshakeh does not stop there but continues by saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: Thus says the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us. Hath any of the mighty ones of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the mighty ones of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? Have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? Who are they among all the mighty ones of the countries that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?” Oh the arrogance in these words! This is what hubris is all about. Rabshakeh speaks about how all these nations that his king has conquered were no match for his king’s might and power. He then makes the ultimate offense by saying that not even Yahweh could help them be delivered from Times Magazine 10 Restoration November-December 2014

the hand of Sennacherib. Sure, Sennacherib did defeat these nations who trusted in false mighty ones, but to defy the living Elohim Yahweh is too much. Here is an example of hubris. A belief that one person is above all others and can do as he pleases without consequence to self and in defiance of Yahweh. What is interesting is how similar Rabshakeh’s words mirror those of Satan’s actions. Satan sought to take Yahweh’s throne, to exalt himself above all others. Satan believed that his power was no match for Yahweh and his hosts. He had and still has an over-inflated sense of self and hubris. All who have this attitude of hubris get it from the father of pride – Satan. And all who keep this attitude will meet the same end – destruction. Assyrian King Defeated

As we continue, Hezekiah, after hearing these words from Rabshakeh, rent his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, went into the house of Yahweh, and prayed for deliverance. Hezekiah knew he and his people were in a tough spot. The Assyrians clearly had a stronger army and Hezekiah knew that this battle could not be won through mere physical force. Yahweh was their only hope for deliverance. Hezekiah sent messengers to the prophet Isaiah in hopes of hearing something from Yahweh regarding this most tumultuous matter. Yahweh said this through Isaiah in 2Kings 19:6-7, “Be not afraid of the words which thou has heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” Deliverance was promised to Judah, but not before Sennacherib had sent a letter to Hezekiah with more words of venom that spoke of Sennacherib’s great military strength. Hezekiah laid the letter out before Yahweh and prayed. Yahweh responded to Hezekiah’s prayer through Isaiah by saying in 2Kings 19:32-34, “Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, says Yahweh.”

Note what happened next: “And it came to pass that night that the angel of Yahweh went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch, his mighty one, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia.” Sennacherib was a man of great hubris who sought to defy nations and their mighty ones. He was successful until he messed with the wrong mighty one, the true Elohim. How silly he must have looked to Yahweh in thinking that he could defy Yahweh. Sennacherib’s army was destroyed in one fell swoop by the angel of Yahweh. And when he returned to his own country his own sons assassinated him. What a tragic end to this king whose life had to end this way. His over-confidence in himself and his army caused his defeat. Beware of Hubris

Destruction is the end of all who live a life of hubris. They will all eventually meet an end like Sennacherib’s. Our world is not exempt from such behavior. The last hundred years have produced Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong-il, Suddam Hussein, and many more who have been drenched in hubris. Hubris is seen in leaders of nations now as well as in the general population. Is it not hubris to see the pride in gay parades? When we hear the insults of many atheists against religion, is this not hubris? When we see even those in religion who speak smooth words to prey upon the people’s pocketbooks, is this not hubris? Excessive pride is all around us. Yet even we should not feel that we are exempt from such behavior. Was is not David who sinned against Yahweh by committing adultery and having a most trusted friend and soldier killed? It was David who was chosen king from his youth, the one who trusted in Yahweh and slew the giant

Goliath, the defender of righteousness by not slaying King Saul when he had the chance, and a man who was said to have had a heart like Elohim. Yet, even he made a horrible mistake. And if he could make a mistake such as this, then we too could make similar ones. Humility Is the Answer

This is not to frighten or cause anxiety, but to draw attention to our own weakness. Those who think they stand ought to watch lest they fall. We are all sinners and need not get an inflated sense of self. This goes for everyone, from the lowest to the highest. The answer to overcoming hubris is humility. Hubris does not start out in its heightened state, but rather progresses with acts of pride compounded upon one another. Each step towards pride must be attacked with humility. For all that man can do, he is still so limited. It’s supposed to be that way. Can we change the rotation of the Earth? Can we create a universe with ease? Can we see all of time and space? Are we so perfect in all things? No, we cannot and are not. Striving to better oneself is a good thing and is something Yahweh wants, but it must always be tempered with humility. If there is one thing that Yahweh wants from us, it’s humility. Micah 6:8 says, “He has showed thee, O man, what is good; and what does Yahweh require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Elohim.“ Humility is the cure that not only makes us as pleasant as honey to Yahweh but flushes out the toxins of pride. There will always be those with great hubris, seeking to exalt themselves above Yahweh and man for their own glory, till Yahweh’s kingdom reigns on this Earth and washes away this wicked behavior. But we don’t have to be this way. Let us remember what happened to Sennacherib and become more zealous for Yahweh in humility. Let us warn those who go this same path of hubris before it’s too late. And if we have any pride within ourselves, let us remove it as fast as possible. The proud will fall but the humble will be raised up, even unto eternal life.

he word “church” is most commonly used for the Greek word ekklesia which means, “called out.” Church is not an accurate translation of ekklesia but is a derivative of the name of a pagan Greek goddess Kirke (Circe) who specialized in turning men into swine. She was skilled in the magic of metamorphosis, the power of illusion, and the dark art of necromancy. She was also the daughter of Helios, the sun deity. It is interesting to note that William Tyndale, in his Bible translation, translated ekklesia as “congregation” and only used the word “churches” for heathen temples in Acts 19:37! Kirke’s name was derived from the Greek verb kirkoô meaning “to secure with rings” or “hoop around,” a reference to her magical powers. The word “church” is known in Scotland as kirk, in the Netherlands as kerk and in German as kirche. The derivation from the Greek Kirke is evident. Oxford English Dictionary 1971 regarding the word church lists the following: “Forms. A) cirice, chiriche, churche, etc. B) circe, chirche, churche, church etc. C) kirrke, kirke, kirk, etc. Kirika, cirice, was originally applied to the building, it is clear that with the conversion of the Teutonic nations, it was assumed as the naturalized equivalent of ecclesia.” From antiquity to Teutonic peoples and to the present we see a clear perversion in associating Yahweh’s people with a pagan deity. “Assembly” or “congregation” is much more accurate.

Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

Holy Land Series

Is Yahweh Prejudiced?

by Randy Folliard

n our recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we had the opportunity to visit the old city of Jaffa or Joppa. This city has a long history of breaking barriers when it comes to ethnic division. It was built along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and was the first natural seaport for the nation of Israel. Today it connects to the modern city of Tel Aviv, Israel’s financial hub. Anciently, King Solomon imported wood from the city of Tyre for the building of the first temple. In later years it was where Jonah the prophet sailed for Tarshish when Yahweh commanded him to go to Nineveh and would show favor to Assyria. Finally, the Apostle Peter raised Tabitha from the dead during his visit to Jaffa and received his famous vision of the sheet, which tore down the wall that long separated Jew from gentile. Reason for Israel’s Favor

In this discourse we will focus on the story of Jonah and Peter’s vision. Both show our Heavenly Father’s dislike for racial bias and discrimination. To establish a foundation, let’s begin with Deuteronomy 10:17: “For Yahweh your Elohim is Elohim of elohim, and Sovereign of sovereigns, a great El, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” Deuteronomy recognizes the supremacy of Yahweh. The word Elohim means a “mighty one” and the term “sovereign” comes from the Hebrew Adonai meaning, Times Magazine 12 Restoration November-December 2014

“master.” The message here is: there is nothing beyond Almighty Yahweh. He is the master, chief, foremost and sovereign of this vast universe. Everything that is and exists was made possible by and through Him. We see also that He is not a respecter of persons. He shows no bias or partiality regarding race or ethnicity. Put another way, His blessings and curses are not predicated on genealogy or race. Some might ask, but did He not show favor to the Israelites of the Old Testament? Yes, but this was not tied to genetics but to the faith and obedience of Abraham, as seen in the seventh chapter of Deuteronomy. “For thou art an holy people unto Yahweh thy Elohim: Yahweh thy Elohim hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Yahweh did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because Yahweh loved you, and because he would keep the

Jonah’s Commission

Jonah was a prophet of Yahweh who prophesied sometime before or during the reign of Jeroboam II. He was eventually commissioned by Yahweh to go and prophesy against the people of Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was one of the most coldhearted empires of the ancient world. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary states, “Archaeologists have discovered that the Assyrians were merciless and savage people. The Assyrian army was ruthless and effective. Its cruelty included burning cities, burning children, impaling victims on stakes, beheading, and chopping off hands.” No other empire rivaled the barbaric behavior of the Assyrians at that time. Knowing this, one can image that Jonah wasn’t thrilled about going to Nineveh. It was for this reason he attempted to flee from Joppa to Tarshish. Yahweh had other plans for Jonah, however. Along the way to Tarshish, the boat that Jonah commissioned ran into a devastating storm. After the crew determined that the storm was the result of Jonah’s presence, they threw him overboard. Once overboard, Jonah found himself in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Yahshua makes Jonah’s time in the fish’s belly the only sign of His messiahship. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, our Savior said that He

His blessings and curses are not predicated on genealogy or race. oath which he had sworn unto your fathers,” verses 6-8a. Notice that it doesn’t say that He chose them because of their ethnicity. It’s important to realize that Abraham was blessed because he had faith and obeyed Yahweh, and as a result received a blessing not only for him, but also for future generations (Gen. 14:20; 15:6; 22:18; 26:5).

would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights, Matthew 12:40. As Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible states, “He was put to the grave Wednesday just before sunset and was resurrected at the end of Saturday at sunset. Good Friday should be changed to Good Wednesday. No statement says that he was buried Friday at sunset. This would make him in the grave only one day and one night, proving his own words untrue.” Nineveh’s Repentance

After Jonah prayed to Yahweh the fish vomited him out onto dry ground. After this, the Bible states, “And the word of Yahweh came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown,” 3:1-4. Jonah was given a second chance to prophesy against Nineveh. The Bible describes it as an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, “The city grew dramatically in size, grandeur and fame…under the reign of King Sennacherib (704 - 681) who made Nineveh capital of his Assyrian Empire…He built great walls around the city with fifteen gates, created public parks and gardens, aqueducts, irrigation ditches, canals, and greatly expanded upon and improved the structures of the city. His palace had eighty rooms and he proclaimed it ‘the palace without rival.’” Nineveh was one of the wealthiest and most impressive cities in the ancient world and it was here where Jonah was to prophecy. So what did Jonah do? He cried out against the sins of Nineveh, saying, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” How did the people of this great city respond to Jonah’s dire warning? “So the people of Nineveh believed Elohim, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him,

and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto Elohim: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if Elohim will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And Elohim saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and Elohim repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not,” 3:5-10. The people of Nineveh repented through sackcloth, ashes, and fasting. Even the king and his nobles repented in this manner. The king also issued a decree commanding that all the people and animals abstain from food and water. As a side note, this is an example of a true fast; a fast is abstaining from both food and drink for a minimum of 24 hours, from sunset to sunset. Yahweh responded to Nineveh’s remorse by sparing the city from destruction.

Even with this, however, Yahweh showed mercy and compassion upon them. Nineveh is one of the great examples of our Father’s kindness and impartiality. After Yahweh showed mercy to Nineveh, Jonah was displeased and wanted to die. He had assumed that he would prophesy against the wicked Assyrians, they would ignore his call to repentance, and then Yahweh would destroy the city. In other words, he was simply going through the motions, assuming that their repentance would never happen. Contrary to what Jonah assumed, this story provides a very different outcome. In chapter 4, verse 11, Yahweh told Jonah, “And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand?” This underscores our Father’s compassion and the fact that He cares for all mankind, including those Assyrians who repented of their unrighteousness. Peter’s Vision

Another example of Yahweh’s impartiality is found in the tenth chapter of Acts. This is the story of Peter and Cornelius. It reads, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared Elohim with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to Elohim alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of Elohim coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it Master? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a Whale statue commemorating Jonah’s leaving port at Jaffa, Israel memorial before Elohim. And now We see two great lessons here: First, Yahweh send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, is a compassionate El who will show mercy whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one to those who sincerely repent. As we read in Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea John’s first epistle, “If we confess our sins, side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to he is faithful and just and will forgive us our do. And when the angel which spake unto sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” Cornelius was departed, he called two of his (1:9). It’s important that we as believers not household servants, and a devout soldier of ignore the latter part of this verse regarding them that waited on him continually; And purifying all unrighteousness. Second, when he had declared all these things unto our Heavenly Father is not a respecter of them, he sent them to Joppa,” verses 1-8. persons. This was a major turning point for Peter Remember who these people were and and the apostles of the New Testament. the atrocious deeds that they had committed. According to scholarship, Cornelius was the Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

first gentile convert in the New Testament. Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s “And the morrow after they entered He was praised for his fear of Yahweh, his house, and stood before the gate,” verses into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for alms to the poor, and prayer life. 9-17. them, and had called together his kinsmen These characteristics are important to According to most scholars, this and near friends. And as Peter was coming note. Solomon in the book of Proverbs states account took place ten years after Yahshua’s in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his that the fear of Yahweh is both the beginning ascension to heaven. It proves that Peter feet, and worshiped him. But Peter took of wisdom (9:10) and knowledge (1:7). From never forsook the dietary food laws found him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am the epistle of James, helping those in need is in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. a man. And as he talked with him, he went defined as pure religion (1:27). And from the You would think that if Yahshua’s death in, and found many that were come together. many examples of Scripture, And he said unto them, Ye know including from our Savior, how that it is an unlawful thing prayer is a cornerstone of true for a man that is a Jew to keep worship. Yahweh showed company, or come unto one of favor to Cornelius because another nation; but Elohim hath of his faith and devotion. In shewed me that I should not call response, an angel of Yahweh any man common or unclean,” told him to go to Joppa where verses 24-28. he would find a man named This passage reveals the Peter. purpose of Peter’s vision. It The story continues with was to show him that he was verse 9: “On the morrow, as not to call any man common or they went on their journey, unclean. This vision had nothing and drew nigh unto the city, do to with food, but everything Peter went up upon the to do with racial discrimination. housetop to pray about the To understand this, a person Archaeologist Eli Shukron guiding the author and YRM group through the city of Jaffa, sixth hour: And he became must understand that the Jews Israel, where Jonah left for Nineveh and Peter had his vision referenced in Acts 10. very hungry, and would have viewed gentiles as unclean eaten: but while they made ready, he fell obliterated the Old Testament law, that Peter animals and beneath them. into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and would’ve understood this. It’s as if he never Matthew 15 provides an example a certain vessel descending unto him, as received the memo…. It confirms that Peter of this discrimination through a Canaanite it had been a great sheet knit at the four was still obeying the commandments ten woman speaking to the Messiah: “And, corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein years after Yahshua’s resurrection, verifying behold, a woman of Canaan came out of were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the that Yahweh’s Law was never abolished by the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, His death and resurrection. Have mercy on me, O Master, thou Son of and fowls of the air. And there came a voice David; my daughter is grievously vexed with to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter Peter’s Vision Explained a demon. But he answered her not a word. said, Not so, Master; for I have never eaten Contrary to popular belief, the message And his disciples came and besought him, any thing that is common or unclean. And here has nothing to do with clean or unclean saying, Send her away; for she crieth after the voice spake unto him again the second foods. The fact is, the vast majority of Bible us. But he answered and said, I am not sent time, What Elohim hath cleansed, that call believers have been led astray from the but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. not thou common. This was done thrice : real meaning of this passage. Peter himself Then came she and worshipped him, saying, and the vessel was received up again into initially doubted the meaning of this vision. Master, help me. But he answered and said, heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself It wasn’t until going to Caesarea that he It is not meet to take the children’s bread, what this vision which he had seen should finally understood its full meaning, as shown and to cast it to dogs,” verses 22-26. mean, behold, the men which were sent from in verse 24. Even though this woman knew she was

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viewed as a “dog” by the Jewish culture for being Canaanite, she still petitioned for Yahshua’s mercy and healing. At this time there was an elitism by the Jews and strong racial division between them and the gentiles. This discrimination was long-standing and Peter’s vision was the first step in tearing down this wall. Matter of fact, in verses 34-35 Peter provides a summary of his vision: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that Elohim is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” The word righteousness comes from the Greek dikaiosune. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines this word as: “The doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of [Yahweh].” It goes on to list the required attributes, “…integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.” As seen from this reference, living a life of righteousness is more than thinking good thoughts or relying on grace alone. Righteousness is living a life that reflects the purity of our Father’s Word, which includes obedience to His commandments. Those who do this are acceptable to Yahweh, regardless of color, genetics, or ethnicity! This is precisely what Paul says in Galatians 3:28-29. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Messiah Yahshua. And if ye be Messiah’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Paul states here emphatically that Yahweh’s Word does not allow for racial distinction! We are all part of Messiah and as a result, of Abraham’s seed. This reference to Abraham’s seed is important. First, it shows the continuity between the Old and New testaments and second, that the promise given by Yahshua and His Apostles was rooted in the Old. While many view the Old Testament as something dead and gone, nothing could be further from the truth. It was and is the foundation of our Father’s Word. This fact will never change. Ethnicity Matters Not

Paul drives the point of nondiscrimination home in 1Corinthians 7:19. He states, “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Yahweh.”

Yahweh gave the sign of physical circumcision to Abraham and his seed in the Old Testament. Interestingly, because of Moses’ neglect of this command in Exodus 4:25-26 he nearly lost his life. While physical circumcision was required in the Old Testament, it is no longer required for salvation in the New. Based on Colossians 2:11-13, physical circumcision is now fulfilled through baptism into Yahshua’s Name: “In whom also ye are circumcised

and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when Yahweh thy Elohim shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will

Traditional site in Acts 10 of Simon the tanner, where Peter was believed to have had his vision

with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of Yahweh, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” All of this is to simply show why circumcision or uncircumcision is nothing. The one defining physical trademark in the Old Testament is now no longer relevant for salvation in the New Testament. What matters today is baptism into Yahshua’s Name and obedience to Yahweh’s Word! This is the same message found in Acts 10:34-35, where those who fear and work righteousness are acceptable to Him. Even though our Father does not discriminate as to race, He does discriminate when the issue is wrongdoing or rebellion against Him, as found in Deuteronomy 7:1-4: “When Yahweh thy Elohim shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites,

turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other mighty ones: so will the anger of Yahweh be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.” Yahweh commanded Israel to wipe out these seven nations. While some claim it was because of their race or genetics, the truth is something very different. Yahweh knew that if these nations were allowed to remain that Israel would forsake Him for the deities their neighbors worshiped. His concerns were abundantly realized in time as Israel continually rebelled against Him. Israel forsook Yahweh for the deities of the land, including Baal, the Queen of Heaven, Molech, Chemosh and others. This is a valuable lesson for believers. We who remain true to Yahweh must make a distinction when it comes to sin and immorality. However, to make a distinction based simply on race or ethnicity is to walk counter to the Word. Yahweh is not a respecter of persons. One of the great lessons from the old city of Jaffa is that Yahweh is a fair and compassionate Elohim who does not show bias or partiality for skin color or genetics. May we never be guilty of racism or discrimination. Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

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Gnostic Nemesis Head-to-Head with Historical Heresy

by Alan Mansager

ny honest Bible student knows that what he or she reads in the Scriptures and what is practiced in today’s churches are two very different things. Sometimes even polar opposites. A historic departure from the Word ensued in the first few hundred years of church teachings, which the church never reversed. On the contrary, it ran with it, never looking back. It all started at the very beginning of the New Testament era. S. Gusten Olson writes in his book, The Apostasy of the Lost Century, that the first couple of centuries are the most critical period in the history of the church. What survived would continue to flourish for the next two millennia. Two influential, opposing forces were at work early on. First was an undercurrent of antiSemitism and a desire to suppress anything “Jewish.” This alone is paradoxical, considering that the very Savior they professed was Himself of the tribe of Judah and His teachings are rooted in the Hebraic faith. He ministered only in the land of the Hebrews. Furthermore, the champion of the modern church, the Apostle Paul, was also a Hebrew and had been a member of the Jewish Pharisee party. The second impact producing monumental change was an influx of foreign heresies that was already starting to challenge apostolic teachings in the Book of Acts. There has always been a streak of rebellion in the human spirit to pursue different teachings from what Yahweh

commands. It began with Adam and Eve and it continued with the Israelites and their acceptance of foreign religions. Yahweh repeatedly warned Israel about this. It was one of His key concerns. Destroy the Canaanites, He told Israel, lest you adopt their beliefs and pollute My worship. By backtracking historical developments we can then trace how church teachings deviated through centuries of amalgamating. The truth once delivered to the saints is still alive and growing (Jude 3). It involves worshiping in the Father’s and Son’s true Names, observing biblical statutes, and keeping clear commands. For 2,000 years error has been laid down gradually in layers and accepted in ignorance. Many have a hard time accepting that the prophesied apostasy is happening: “My church would never lead me astray,” many say. That very attitude is why the church could and did deviate — to its own detriment. Blind acceptance is a

dangerous thing. Apostasy has difficulty gaining traction in a well-grounded group of Bereans. But over time the knowledgeable ones die off and proper teaching gets lost or covered over until only those who are called out will find it and re-embrace it. Yahshua warned in Matthew 7:13: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Paul also advised Timothy, “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,” 2Timothy 4:3. We can look at the Scriptures and Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

clearly see the extensive deviation of many modern teachings from what the Scriptures teach. We know it happened because we can compare biblical teaching with the results we see there today. Most modern teachings today ignore the powerful impact that apostasy in the first centuries had on modern doctrines and how it happened — both at the time of the apostles, and thousands of years later. The result is today’s churchgoer who says, “That’s what you say, but my church says differently.” History is full of evidence showing that the church clearly departed from right biblical doctrine through the centuries. Fissures and cracks began to appear even while Yahshua and the apostles were beginning to take the Evangel to the nation. Heresies, Heresies Everywhere

A proliferation of heretics and their teachings began to blossom at the time of the Evangels and continued in the book of Acts with fellows like Simon Magus, who beleaguered the Apostles in Acts 8. Justin Martyr was one of the first postbiblical writers to record clear statements about Simon Magus (Magus means sorcerer in Greek and he is also known as Simon the Sorcerer). In Martyr’s First Apology he wrote: “There was a Samaritan, Simon, a native of the village called Gitto, who in the reign of Claudius Caesar, and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic, by virtue of the art of the devils operating in him. He was considered a god… “And there is Marcion, a man of Pontus, who is even at this day alive, and teaching his disciples to believe in some other god greater than the Creator. And he, by the aid of the devils, has caused many of every nation to speak blasphemies, and to deny that G-d is the maker of this universe, and to assert that some other being, greater than He, has done greater works.” What is Justin Martyr talking about? A being greater than Yahweh? Marcion’s teachings were Gnostic, and this was a fundamentally Gnostic belief. Gnostic teachings were giving the apostles grief and causing many who heard them to deviate from the Truth. ‘Rudiments,’ ‘Beggarly,’ ‘Science’

Have you ever wondered why Paul warned in his letters about teachings he calls

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“rudiments of the world” and “weak and beggarly elements”? He derisively refers to “philosophy,” “vain deceit,” “wisdom of this world,” and “tradition of men.” What does he mean? For an answer we need to know just who and what was opposing the early New Testament apostles and their teachings. Paul told Timothy in 1Timothy 6:20: “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.” “Science” is the Greek word gnosis. It is a system of belief that focuses on knowing and knowledge. Paul is talking about nothing less than gnosticism in these references. Gnosticism was an influential and growing movement that would vie with New Testament teachings. It was a blend of Greek philosophy, Babylonian paganism, and Christianity. It was the stem cell that gave rise to numerous false teachings of the church that are still holding strong today and which most consider “gospel.” Gnosticism nearly overran New Testament worship in many areas. That is why Paul addresses it head-on time and again in his letters to different assemblies. Gnosticism was a belief based on gnosis, or knowledge gained intuitively. It is a type of religious experience considered higher understanding. In some ways it echoes charismatic worship where Yahweh is said to talk to individuals. Corinth, Galatia, Colossee, and Thyatira especially were infected with gnostic beliefs. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) says that those “who had knowledge regarded themselves as a superior order of believers.” One of their phrases was “to know the depths,” which Paul uses in Revelation 2:24 of the Thyatira Assembly when he speaks of those who have not known this doctrine “and have not known the depths of Satan.” ISBE notes that this special knowledge was valued far more highly than love and obedience. Gnostic-speak in Paul’s Letters

Following are various ways the Apostle Paul warns against a growing gnosticism in his day through the terms he uses that were understood in his day as gnostic. His use of the terminology seems strange to us until we realize the connections to this pagan

belief system: • 1Corinthians 3:19: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with Elohim. For it is written, he taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” • Galatians 4:3: “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world;” 4:9: “But now, after that ye have known Elohim, or rather are known of Elohim, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” “Elements” = demonic powers. • Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy [a term in which philo meant love and sophia was the Greek deity of wisdom, or philo-sophia] and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.” • Colossians 2:20-23: “Wherefore if ye be dead with Messiah from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” These are all characteristic of fundamental gnostic beliefs and practices. • 1Timothy 6:20: “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so-called” (science, is related to gnosis through the meaning of to know). One way to illustrate gnostic influence on church doctrine today is to take many key gnostic teachings and put them into a working model of belief and practice. The result will look remarkably like today’s mainstream teachings. Or we can disassemble major aspects of modern Christian doctrine and retrofit them effortlessly into the Gnostic belief structure. You cannot understand why churchianity deviated from Scripture until you see where it derived its direction. For example, Gnostics fundamentally reject Yahweh’s laws. If the words “ethics” or “morality” are taken to mean a system of rules, then gnosticism is opposed to them both. If, on the other hand, morality is said to consist of an inner integrity arising from the illumination of an indwelling

spark, then the Gnostic will embrace this existential ethic as ideal. To the Gnostic, commandments and statutes are not important for salvation. They may serve numerous other purposes, including an ordered and peaceful society, but the Gnostic does not see laws as germane to salvation. For him, salvation is brought about only by gnosis, which is esoteric and intuitive knowledge. This belief is amazingly similar to denominational belief in just intellectual acceptance through faith alone. To the Gnostic, morality needs to be viewed mostly in temporal and secular terms; it is always subject to the spiritual development of the individual. Do you hear echoes of church councils called to decide on changing major doctrines? Gnostic influence likely helped to establish the notion that Paul taught against the law as well, which he had to prove otherwise in Acts 21:21. Teachings with Modern Parallels

Following are gnostic teachings with parallels in modern church doctrine: • Laws are unnecessary for salvation. (That’s what the Gnostic believed who rejected the Old Testament and its laws.) They had no use for the Old Testament because they said it focuses on a bad G-d, a lesser Yahweh. After all, what kind of mighty one says he “creates evil” (Amos 3:6)? Actually, “evil” means conflict, strife, which the Truth incites as it contends with the evil of the world. Yahshua promised that in this world you will have tribulation. • Laws are changeable and relative because they only govern secular things, and have no correspondence to spiritual things (read “the church has the authority”). • Salvation comes by way of spiritual knowledge, in this case higher knowledge, not through actions. Rewards don’t come through works, as Yahweh clearly contradicts, but through gnosis exclusively. Does this ring any bells? How about the salvation by faith alone doctrine that Martin Luther espoused? Stop for a moment and consider the religion of the ancients. According to author Bart Ehrman in his book Lost Christianities, the Roman empire was populated with all kinds of religions and deities. Only the Jews worshiped one mighty one. The Roman religion had local deities as well as national ones and they

worshiped them all. They thought nothing of worshiping the big ones like Jupiter, Venus and Mars, as well as the smaller ones who looked over your crops, your wife, children and your house. Multiplicity bred tolerance. In the Roman culture and religion, from which the largest part of Christianity would develop and be influenced, worship never involved purity of doctrine. There were no creeds, no right doctrines as opposed to wrong beliefs and practices. The Greeks were the same way, from which pagan Rome derived most of its religion and its counterparts to Greek gods. So long as you appeased the gods through the sacrifices you were fine. There was no specific creed for living. That belonged to the philosophers and Gnostics. Can you see where similar doctrines emerged in churchianity? They didn’t come out of a vacuum or purely from the mind of Luther or Calvin. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 shed additional light on the Gnostic heresy that was influencing Christianity in yet another way. The Jewish sect of the Essenes produced the Scrolls. They had left Jerusalem because they considered it too worldly. And they cultivated some Gnostic ideas as well. The ascetic practices of the Essenes included abstinence from certain foods. The Essenes would not touch oil, meat, or wine. Paul castigated this practice as: “Touch not; taste not; handle not” (Col. 2:21). As Paul pointed out, this was “based on human commands and teachings” (2:22). They have only a semblance of wisdom, but, in essence, they are a pretense that does not lead to any honorable end (2:23). Paul’s answer to the ascetic aspect of the Colossian heresy is that such matters are “destined to perish with use” (Colossians 2:22). There is cause to believe that Hymenaeus and Philetus (2Timothy 2:17) as well as Alexander, Phygellus, and Hermogenes, mentioned in 1 and 2 Timothy, were all tainted with the spirit of gnosticism. Universal Salvation in Gnosticism

Gnostics hold that the potential for gnosis, and thus of salvation, is present in every man and woman. In the fullness of time, every spiritual being will receive gnosis and will be united with its higher Self — the

angelic Twin — thus becoming qualified to enter Pleroma or completeness. The Gnostic had no use for the Bible’s commandments. For him rules of conduct may serve various ends, including an ordered and peaceful society, but are not relevant to salvation; salvation comes about only by gnosis. He believed morality needs to be viewed primarily in temporal and secular terms; it is subject to changes and modifications in accordance with the spiritual development of the individual. Battle for Truth

Peter was deeply concerned about the perverted teachings of the Gnostics, and he could see the danger it posed for perverting the Bible’s truths. His concern turned out to be justified. He warned in 2Peter 2:1-2, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Master that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” Gnosticism denies the Savior as it tries to say there are two Yahwehs, one good and the other bad. The apostles had to contend with such heresies even as they themselves went about teaching Yahweh’s Truths. The most dangerous of Gnostic beliefs is that what we do in the material world has no bearing on salvation. The physical world is evil. The spiritual is the highest reality and truth is relative. It is in this that the modern belief of faith over works is rooted. Other beliefs like universal salvation and situation ethics also echo gnosticism. Yahweh said His Word is Truth. Once we accept it and follow it, everything becomes clear. The prophet Isaiah wrote in 8:20, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” The law is the Torah and the testimony is the applying of biblical laws to life, as Yahshua did and taught us to do. Unless one speaks and teaches the fundamental precepts taught in Yahweh’s Word, there is no light in what is said. Gnosticism is an attempt by the Adversary to derail the Truth. It was highly successful both with the early church and today’s churchianity. Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

2014 Feast of Tabernacles Review

- Letters from Those Who Were There

Most Amazing Moments “Each year I look forward to celebrating each of Yahweh’s feasts. However, the Feast of Tabernacles is always my favorite. Leaving the comforts of home and congregating in the wilderness seems to bring the family of Yahweh closer together. We put aside our daily life to simply focus on Yahweh. Whether it’s your first time or you are a yearly participant you have to participate to get the full experience. From the everyday cooking and cleaning to the Men’s BBQ to playing the games and sports provided, you find MANY activities to suit what you like to do. Congregating around the campfires and getting to meet people over a shared meal are a true blessing. I particularly enjoy the praise and worship and Night of Special Music. Hearing the voices of Yahweh’s people joining together in praise and honor to HIM has to be the most AMAZING moments during HIS feast! Regardless of what you find is your favorite, you will NEVER be disappointed if you come with a willing heart to serve and learn!” – KP, Ohio Yahweh’s Spirit Evident “The feasts of Yahweh are an excellent opportunity to come out-of-the-world and be separate. It was apparent at this year’s Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day that Yahweh’s spirit was among us. You could see it in the fellowship, the cooperation, the immersions, the messages, the music, the poems and readings, and most importantly in the love. In order to follow in Yahshua’s footsteps and obedience to Yahweh, we must attend His commanded feasts.” – RT, Canada It Literally Changed My Life “When someone comes to a Feast for the first time,

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they may feel hesitant or out of place but you guys radiate with love, compassion, interest in others, joy, peace, humility, and gentleness. The Fruits of the Spirit ... that’s what it is! You truly display the fruits of the spirit. And you love to have a good time. Good wholesome fun. The Elders, their families, and members of YRM actually walk the message they teach. That is very rare these days. You make us feel welcome and a part of the family. “The work that you put into preparing for the Feast is evident in the outcome. There was something special for everyone, all age groups. If a person says they did not have fun then they must have separated themselves from everyone and stayed in the cabin. Even with all the rain, there was still plenty to do. And the food ... I’m sure no one went hungry. Every day there was food for all to enjoy together. Having the breakfast every morning was great. “And, finally, the messages ... it seemed as if each one was written just for me. And each one gave me a little more courage. Being at this Feast has literally changed my life. It has given me life!! I know that I can walk the path that Yahweh has laid for me, no matter what it is, because I have the support I need, the love and encouragement I will need.” – DS, Pennsylvania Encouraged by Baptisms “It was such a blessing keeping the Feast of Tabernacles with YRM. The services everyday were educational, practical, uplifting and encouraging. The message that I received from the spirit of Yahweh was have courage. It was a fitting word for my circumstances in my life. It was an awesome opportunity to serve and bring special offerings to Yahweh. I was mostly encouraged

by the eight people that were baptized unto Yahshua at this feast. It was a glorious fellowship. HalleluYahweh!” – DL, New York Spiritually Enriching “We journeyed about 700 Miles, to the place where Yahweh placed His name, to observe and keep His Feast of Tabernacles; a commanded assembly and a Holy Convocation. Simple? Well... in most ways, yes. By registering, saving second Tithe during the previous year and packing ahead of time, getting an oil change etc. yes, sure, it was simple. But the enemy never wanted us to go and so sent the darts to discourage us. Determined, we went anyway – on faith that our loving Abba would take care of us, and He did! We made it! And it was so heart-warming to meet new family in Messiah and others we’d met before. The baptisms, music, opportunity to share and discuss Scripture, have questions answered and learn about the new outreach program, the meals, campfires, classes, music and even the rain, all added to this spiritually enriching, set-apart time away from the evil world. Thank Yahweh for His Ways! And a sincere thank you to all at YRM who served to make this possible; Yah willing, we will see you after the winter for the Spring Feasts!” – MI, Wisconsin True Israelite Experience “Only my fourth FOT and without a doubt the best yet! I ( pushing 60, female) fearlessly drove nearly 600 miles one-way (10hrs) in an 2002 car with over 130K miles on it already...with my Savior Yahshua and my Garmin. The song lyrics....soon and very soon, we are going to see the King running through my determined mind. I learned to make the best yogurt. I learned to paint. I learned to REJOICE! Praise, worship. The outdoor (covered tabernacle) exposure was a very real Israelite experience! Cleansing showers of blessings! So much food and spiritually nourishing messages! Beautiful delightful little children being raised up in truth and able to continue shining this glorious light into the darkness of this so-called civilization. Eight new brothers and sisters! Obey Yahweh and have 100% faith! Pray to see you at Passover! HalleluYah!” –LW, Alabama Over the Top “This year’s Feast of Tabernacles for my wife and me makes it our second one and will without a doubt always be attending every year. The first year we were immersed in Yahshua’s name. This year’s FOT was over the top for both of us; soaking up more and more truth while bonding with many old and new friends sharing the same common faith and goal. We will never look back, but only move forward with more determination than ever that this is what Yahweh commands for all of us. Hope that whoever may read this consider joining us at the next Feast of Tabernacles or the spring Feast coming up; Passover and Unleavened Bread.” – DF, New York

in Scripture In Matthew 24:5 Jesus (or Yahshua) said that many shall come in His Name saying that He is Christ (Messiah). Where are the many that are coming in the name of Yahshua saying that He is Christ (Messiah)? They are coming in the Name of Jesus, not Yahshua. How come they are not coming in the name of Yahshua? This prophecy of Yahshua is about false identity. There will come many in Yahshua’s Name claiming that they themselves are Yahshua and will deceive many. See verse 11. We already have that going on in Acts 13:6 where a false prophet was named Bar Yahshua (“Son of Yahshua”). You understand that “Jesus” was not a name found anywhere in the New Testament, by virtue of the historically nonexistent letter J. Even in the Greek we see the imprint of the true Name Yahshua (Iesou - Greek had no “sh” sound as did Hebrew, so the Greek used the single “s” instead). “Jesus” arises in the 16th century through Latin influence. All of this is to say that impostors won’t be coming in the name Jesus because that name was a back-formation in the translation of the New Testament. I go by the black moon for the new moon because the month starts with the conjunction. What do you say? A case can be made in astronomical terms for the month’s beginning at the conjunction. But in the scriptural calendar, the conjunction does not begin the month.

At the conjunction no moon is visible, being a “black” moon. Yahweh commands in Deuteronomy 16:1 that we “observe the month of Abib.” The Hebrew says to “watch narrowly for the new moon of green ears [of grain]” (RSB note). How can you watch narrowly for a new moon that cannot be seen? Often two or even three days of a dark moon precede the appearance of the crescent. Which of these invisible moons do you declare is the “new moon”? You can’t calculate it out each month either, because months vary either 29 or 30 days in length. In Yahweh’s wisdom establishing the new moon is a simple exercise – it falls on the night you first see a thin lunar crescent. No calculations are necessary. As noted in the RSB footnote of Exodus 12:3, the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary details how watchmen were stationed at night to watch for the crescent in ancient Israel. Once observed, the new moon day was declared and consecrated. I’ve been studying the Sabbatical or Shemitah year and have several questions. When does the Sabbatical begin? What should we be doing as believers? Can we buy vegetables grown on the Sabbatical? And does the Sabbatical have prophetic significance? Based on what we can determine, the Sabbatical or the Shemitah is scheduled to begin on the Day of Atonement of Yom Kippur 2015. There are a few indicators that we can use, including the Ministry of Yahshua. Possibly the best indicator, though, is found in the book of Maccabees. 1Maccabees 6:48 describes Antiochus V attack on the Jews at

Mount Zion: “The royal army moved up to encounter them before Jerusalem, and the king began to blockade Judaea and Mount Zion. He granted peace terms to the people of Bethzur, which evacuated the town; it lacked store of provisions to withstand the siege, since the land was enjoying a sabbatical year.” Even though the book of Maccabees is part of the Apocrypha and not of Scripture, it is nonetheless a historical book. In verse 16 we find that this battle between Antiochus and Judas Maccabaeus took place a year after King Antiochus died, the father of Antiochus V, which occurred in the year 149 of the Seleucid Era, corresponding to 163 BCE. This was also the beginning of the Sabbatical. The Jerusalem Bible states on its note in verse 20, “There had been no sowing in the autumn, 163, the opening of the Sabbatical year.” If we count seven years from 163 BCE, excluding a year 0, we come to the fall of 2015, the beginning of the Sabbatical. This means that the next Sabbatical will begin on Yom Kipper 2015. Some ask why we exclude a year 0. According to Stephen Walton, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the California State University Northridge, there was never a year zero. He also refers to the Naval Observatory as confirmation for his statement. Also, according to Wikipedia, “Year zero does not exist in the…Gregorian calendar and in its predecessor, the Julian calendar. In this system, the year 1 BC is followed by AD 1.” In addition to the year 0 debate, others believe that the Sabbatical should begin in the month Abib, the first month of the biblical year. The problem with this is that the Sabbatical is connected with the agriculture, which begins in the previous Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

fall. In the eighth month, corresponding to our November, Israel would plant the barley for the next year, which would then be used to determine the first month of the biblical year. During the Sabbatical the Bible commands to abstain from planting and reaping. It’s also a time when slaves were allowed to go free and all debts were forgiven. Regarding buying produce grown by others on the Sabbatical, from Leviticus 25 we know that Israel entered the Promised Land an the Sabbatical. In Joshua 5:11 we find that Israel ate of the grain that was grown by its previous occupants during this time. We also know that while in Egypt Joseph stored grain for seven years. One of those years had to be a Sabbatical. For these reasons, we see nothing wrong with buying produce that others have grown, but as believers, we allow our own land to rest. Yahshua could return in either a Sabbatical or Jubilee. Some base this belief on Isaiah 61:2. It reads, “To proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh, and the day of vengeance of our Elohim; to comfort all that mourn.” The phrase “acceptable year” may likely be a reference to the Sabbatical or possibly to the Jubilee. Isaiah 63:4 also provides an indicator. It says, “For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.” The word “redeemed” may again be a reference to the Sabbatical or Jubilee. Remember that during this time, slaves were redeemed from bondage. Based on this, we believe that the Sabbatical or Shemitah has prophetic significance. I’ve been learning more about the Old Testament. and am enjoying your web site. I have a question about marriage and divorce. I’m divorced since my wife left me for another man several years ago. She remarried shortly after she filed for divorce. According to your teaching I must still consider her my wife until she dies. I also believe Scripture states that if she divorces and marries another that I cannot take her back because she is defiled, which I believe would leave me free to marry again. It appears that the Apostle Paul was not qualified for the ministry since he clearly states he was not married and free from the hindrances of a wife. I’ve read that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin

Restoration Times Magazine November-December 2014

and that to be a member of the Sanhedrin a man must be married. So was Paul’s wife dead or was he divorced from her? Perhaps this was a result of his acceptance of the Messiah. In your case we advise you to remain single. This may seem unfair, but the Bible is clear that we are bound to our spouse as long as they live (Romans 7:2-3). In the event that they choose to divorce and remarry they defile themselves and remove any possibility for reconciliation, Deuteronomy 24:1-4. At this point, the only scriptural option for you would be to remain single and unmarried. Paul in 1Corinthians 7:10-11 states, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Master, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.” Even though Paul focuses on the wife, his words apply to both spouses. Yahweh is not a respecter of persons. This may seem a tough standard. It was also hard for the apostles to accept. In response to Yahshua’s teachings on divorce and remarriage, they replied, “...If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he [Yahshua] said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it,” Matthew 19:10-12. For more information on this subject, see our booklet, Restore the Lock in Wedlock. Paul, indicates that he was part of the Sanhedrin, which means that he was likely married at some point. We assume that his wife had already passed before he was called as an apostle, making him still qualified for the ministry. I’ve noticed that in some of your publications that you hyphenate words like “G-d” and “L-rd.” Why is this? By hyphenating words like “God” we’re showing a distinction between them and the original names of the Father and Son, i.e., Yahweh

and Yahshua, respectively. The fact is, titles like “God” and “Lord” have etymological roots that are questionable at best. As we note in the Restoration Study Bible, “…Today, Elohim has been falsely replaced with the generic title “God,” which is neither correct, based on the Hebrew, nor honoring to Yahweh, based on its etymological roots. According to one reference, ‘It has been also suggested that the word might mean a “molten image” from the sense of to “pour” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 12, 1911),” commentary on Genesis 1:1. As believers we are to abstain from those things that offend our Father Yahweh. There is nothing more sacred to Yahweh than His Name! For more information, request our free booklet, Your Father’s Name. What does the Bible say about smoking? Today some churches teach that it is a sin. But where is the law in the Bible against it? Even though the Bible does not mention smoking specifically, Scripture has a lot to say about proper diet and maintaining good health. In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 Yahweh gave His dietary food laws. Medical science is only now coming to the knowledge that certain meats possess a health risk, a fact that Yahweh communicated some 3,500 years ago. For example, Dr. Rex Russell in his book, What the Bible Says About Healthy Eating, says this about eating pork, “One reason for [G-d’s] rule forbidding pork is that the digestive system of a pig is completely different from that of a cow. It is similar to ours, in that the stomach is very acidic. Pigs are gluttonous, never knowing when to stop eating. Their stomach acids become diluted because of the volume of food, allowing all kinds of vermin to pass through this protective barrier. Parasites, bacteria, viruses, and toxins can pass into the pig’s flesh because of overeating. These toxins and infectious agents can be passed on to humans when they eat a pig’s flesh.” Our Father desires His people to be healthy. For this reason, any substance possessing a serious health concern should be avoided. It’s also important to remember that those immersed into Yahshua’s Name represent Yahweh’s temple today, 1Corinthians 3:16. Smoking pollutes Yahweh’s temple.

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Life-changing Ministry “Your ministry has indeed changed my life and my husband’s. You have been so kind in providing information based on the Bible and the Truth of Yahweh’s word. We read the Bible from page one to the end. We now worship on the Sabbath, we no longer use that name they chose for our Savior. He is and always will be Yahshua. Holidays have been gone for some time now. We are preparing to be baptized during the Feast of Trumpets. We are so tuned in now, but we stand alone as most don’t even read the holy Word or study the Truth. Our families think we have gone off our rocker. They are concerned for our salvation, but we stand strong and together knowing the Truth has been revealed and your ministry played a big role in that. We can’t thank you enough. May Yahweh continue to bless you.” – A.P. Been Too Long in the Dark “I sincerely enjoy your broadcasts. Very, very enlightening. You’ve shown me that I’ve (we’ve) been in the dark far, far too long. Longing to share the Word!” - S.F. Can’t Put Restoration Study Bible Down “I found out about this Bible on Facebook... someone posted your website and was curious about it. I bought one immediately as I saw it has the proper names in every place and is keyed to Strong’s so completely that I couldn’t wait. I got one, and several people were waiting to see how I like mine. I haven’t put it down since I got it except to work...lol. and I am waiting to order for the lady I study with. So, is there no way to get one before then? I have the second edition. GREAT WORK. And there is such a difference even just reading the King James with the proper names...if you didn’t do anything but that alone it’s remarkable. But to have it keyed to Strong’s like you do... and not even my ‘Key Word’ study Bible is referenced to Strong’s like this one. I am just ‘overjoyed’ to have mine.” – J.M.

Restoration Study Bible Reviews • “Quite simply the best Bible version on the market. They have returned G-d’s name “Yahweh” to the text and added Strong’s numbers throughout for study.” – Marvin, minister • “I’d like to express my thanks and joy for having purchased the Restoration Study Bible. I am thrilled with the wealth of information it contains. I am learning things about the history of the correct Hebrew understanding of the names. I am being blessed daily as I study.” – JM • “Simply the best study Bible I’ve ever owned! I also like many of the notes about Hebrew culture and history.” – MB • “I must say that it (RSB) is a beautiful and wonderful work, and I absolutely love it!” – JP • “Just received this wonderful Bible in today’s mail. It is better than I thought it would be. What a great Bible and the price is so good for such a great Bible.” – MM • “Received the RSB a few days ago... ordered it from Amazon using a gift certificate. I put it right up there with the Companion Bible as a great study tool! I’m in the process of writing a manuscript on the establishment of [the] kingdom and am sure this RSB will be my major resource in writing.” – GH • “I received the RSB; you guys did an outstanding job. The Strong’s Dictionaries are really super. I am in it all day long. Thank you.” – JC • “I love the RSB! I want all my friends to have one. The ones we’ve purchased so far have been great gifts…a great resource to seek out and confirm sound doctrine. Thanks for offering it at such a low cost as well.” – ST EDITOR’S NOTE: Our supply of the Restoration Study Bible is now depleted. We plan to have an expanded 3rd edition available for ordering in early 2015.

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Doors are Opened “You helped open the doors of Yahweh’s truth here in the North-Woods of Michigan to both my wife and me… You also give us a chance to worship via the Internet with other ‘Followers of the Way’ of Yahshua Messiah, and the True Evangel. THANK YOU, and may your ministry continue to be blessed, as it blesses those who have been ‘called’ to the ‘Truth’ in this age.” – DB Needs a Local Congregation “I have learned a lot through your ministry and remembered looking on the Internet to find out information about the Sabbath back in 2012. Then ordered the Restoration Bible. Yah has blessed me with you guys. Thank you so much. Continue to pray that I can get into a congregation, because that is what is lacking.” – BL Recognizing the need for local fellowships, we are in the initial stages of developing satellite assemblies. Meanwhile, you can join us online for live Sabbath services each Sabbath at 1:30 central. We also offer a DVD program of those same messages via postal mail. –ED Wisdom at Eleven “I am 11 years old and really like your show. I like how what you say is true and I love how you actually read from the Bible while you’re on the air. I also like how you say Yahweh and Yahshua.” – CD (Projected)

2015 Holy Day Calendar Passover Memorial: April 2 (evening)* Feast of Unleavened Bread: April 4-10* Feast of Weeks: May 24 Feast of Trumpets: September 15 Day of Atonement: September 24 Feast of Tabernacles: September 29 – October 5 Last Great Day: October 6 * May be observed next day

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Tribulation

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