Atonement

Matthew 26:26- while they were dining, Y'shua took bread and blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take, eat. This is my body." And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them and said, "Take, drink from it, all of you (his 12 Apostles). This is my blood of the renewed covenant, which for the sake of many is shed for the forgiveness of sins."

In John 10:11 Y'shua says he is the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the flock. Then, in John 15:13 he says, "There is no love that is greater than this, that a man lay down his life for the sake of his friends. You are my friends if you do all that I commanded you - everything that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

And what did Y'shua the Anointed One eventually do? He willingly fulfilled his part in the divine plan and was led to his death, without argument, without resistance. He laid down his life for his friends, those who abide by the Father's Instructions. His blood was shed for our sake, for atonement.

Revelation 12:11- And they overcame (Satan, the Accuser), because of the blood of the Lamb, (Y'shua, whom they acknowledge openly); and they loved not their own lives, even to death. Leviticus 17:11 Yah says- "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have assigned it to you for making atonement for your lives. It is the blood, as life, that effects atonement."

Leviticus 23:26 ~

Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you. You shall practice self-denial and you shall bring an offering by fire to YHWH. You shall do no work throughout that day for it is a Day of Atonement on which expiation is made on your behalf before YHWH Elohim.  Indeed, any person who does not practice self-denial throughout that day shall be cut off from his kin and whoever does any work throughout that day I will cause that person to perish from among his people. Do no work whatsoever, it is a law for all time, throughout the ages in all your settlements. It shall be a sabbath of complete rest for you as you practice self-denial, beginning on the 9th day of the month at evening until the 10th day at evening, you shall observe this sabbath. (A Hebrew day is from evening to evening)

Numbers 29:7 ~

On the tenth day of the same seventh month you shall observe a sacred occasion when you shall practice self-denial and do no work. (Offerings by fire and libations are no longer done).

Today we observe the tenth day of the Hebrew 7th month by abstaining from all our usual daily behaviors. For the most part, the practice of sacrifice stopped in the year 70 AD, when the Roman army destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, the place where sacrifices were offered. The practice was briefly resumed during the Jewish War of 132-135 AD, but was ended permanently after that war was lost.

Hebrews 10:11

For every high priest who stood and ministered daily, offered again and again the same sacrifices which never were sufficient to purge away sins. But this Priest (Y'shua the Anointed One) offered one sacrifice for sins, and forever sat down at the right hand of Elohim (where he waits for his kingdom to come). For by one offering he has perfected forever, them who are sanctified by him.

Now, where there is a forgiveness of sins there is no offering for sin demanded.

Religious Confusion

Christians have been Hoodwinked...

.... and so have all the other folks who claim to be 'religious' no matter which religion they follow or which 'god' they believe in. It started a very long time ago, back in the Garden when Satan used a very successful tactic that caused Eve to doubt the Word of YHWH Elohim.

This is what I have come to realize as I continue to read and study Scriptures:

"Our Creator" was never about religion or churches or denominations. It was man who turned His perfect system of government into a money making sideshow; a power trip, holding sway over many who, innocently enough, are taken in. 

Once we get in that comfort zone it's hard to come back out. 

I'm not accusing anyone of doing wrong, but I am speaking out against those who knowingly lead others astray. Many of us 'follow the leader' because we grew up trusting people. Many of those leaders have no idea they've missed the mark. Keep in mind that a couple of thousand years have passed since the time of Y'shua our Messiah. Much has been tampered with since then. It is my heart felt obligation to help shine His Light brightly on these falsehoods and encourage everyone to read Scriptures for themselves. It is the Set Apart Spirit of YHWH, His Spirit Wind called the Ruach haKodesh in the Hebrew language, which comforts us with the truth in all matters.

According to Scriptures, faith is not about religion or the doctrines of man. Faith is much more than saying "In God We Trust", going to church and reciting prayers. Faith is our commitment to the Living Elohim who provided an Owner's Manual to go with His Creation which includes all humanity. As we read, study, research, discuss and learn about His ways, the Ruach haKodesh reveals the truth of all things, and it becomes a harmonious relationship in which we gain understanding. It is His Path of Righteousness we continue to move along towards the land of our inheritance. Satan, with his various devices which cause division, tries to stop us from moving along this path, and succeeds in turning many people away from YHWH Elohim our heavenly Father.

John 20:29 - Y'shua said to him, "Now that you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who do not see me and believe."

Followers of Y'shua were called 'Fearers of Elohim' and 'Followers of The Way'. It was the Romans inparticular who used the term "Kristanay" when referring to the Apostles and disciples as a sect, but they never referred to themselves as such. 

Netzarim (Nazareans) refers to the Netzer = little shoot of Isaiah 11:1 that describes the sprouting of the Kingdom of Elohim in Y'shua. Netzarim Assemblies existed as a recognized people group up until 400 AD, however heavy opposition from both Christian and Rabbinical sources forced them underground. Discovering one's Hebrew heritage is a stepping stone in returning to the Netzari Faith, but can also become a snare for those coming out of traditional backgrounds yet still holding onto familiar old ways.

The Hebrew word 'yirah' means 'fear' as in 'awesome and/or terrifying' contrary to the Christian teachings that the "Fear of God" is not really fear but love and respect. Isaiah 29:13 reveals how the Fear of YHWH is taught by the commandment of men, in other words, man's religious theology and tradition has made void the Fear of YHWH. Many Christians prefer the word 'reverence' instead of fear, they also use the title of Reverend for their clergymen and ministers; first negating the term 'Fear of YHWH' then giving it a theological twist to apply it to their own leadership.

Our God = YHWH Elohim

is Awesome and Terrifying

The point I am making is that 'Christianity' is not part of His plan, nor is any other 'religion' as  none of them correctly line up with His original set of instructions found in the first 'five books' of Scriptures. All the world's churches and denominations are spin-offs created by man's own imagination and colorful interpretation of Scriptures, aka: mixing and mingling, an old trick used by Constantine when bringing pagans into the 'church'. 

It is important for us to know a little about the original texts and the words which lost their meaning in translations so as not to be taken in by false teachers. Claiming to be a Christian and belonging to one of its many divisions (denominations) is actually meaningless. I know that's going to hurt some feelings, but please stop and think about it. Are you reading and studying Scriptures for yourself, or are you being taught by someone you trust, without question?

"Trust me..."

↜↝  ↜↝

Again, let me emphasize, this is not an assault on all 'believers' because, many times, we do what we do because that's the way it's always been. Just because Ma and Pa lived this way doesn't make it right in the eyes of our Creator. And our parents did things because they learned it from their folks, which are traditions passed on through the generations and not all of them adhere to His Instructions or please our Creator YHWH Elohim. 

I share this information for your benefit; something to refer to when making future decisions concerning your walk as you follow after the Messiah. If we are to return to YHWH and the Faith once delivered, then we need to come out of the world system we've been so comfortable with. When we rediscover the Truth of His Word how could we want to continue in those old pagan ways any longer? 

Second Thessalonians 2:9 ~ 

For the coming of that Evil One is the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all the deceptiveness of iniquity in them that perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth by which they might have life. Therefore Elohim will send upon them the strength of a deception that they may believe a lie.

Quote: The price for not receiving the 'love of the truth' is to become overly self-confident in false religion. The 'love of the truth' is the Spirit of Truth which must be sanctified by thought and action. One cannot love the truth and at the same time break the Commandments and teach others to do the same. -- Andrew G. Roth

Click Here to go to my study: The Church Exalts Itself

If you call yourself a 'believer', then it's time to quit feeding the anti-Christ beast. Those who want to sincerely follow Y'shua must wean themselves from worldly governments, churches and religion. Why would a Christian want to support the very institutions which are destroying his relationship with YHWH? Those who support man-made religious systems are living in a world of deception. Abiding by Yah's Instructions in Righteous Living frees us from the bondage of religion. Freedom awaits all those who break away from the religious slavery of church and become a humble servant of Y'shua the Anointed One. 

Let us strive to do the same thing the apostles did and form ourselves into actual communities under the guidance of Yah's anointed and appointed leaders, called out and separated from the world, with none other than Y'shua haMashiyach as our High Priest and King, in the order of Melchizedek. (yeah, I know... it's the trying to find those Yah approved leaders that keeps us scattered)

As a whole, "Christians" have departed from the pattern given by YHWH throughout Scriptures and have built, according to their own wisdom, an artificial religious mess called "church" with all its various denominations. Our Creator wants us to be One, not many.  Satan uses division along with doubt to throw us off His Path of Righteousness. 

It's time to get back to the truth and wisdom of YHWH. 

The Patience of Job

Here's how it all started: 

Yah said to Satan, 
"Have you noticed My servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears Me and shuns evil!"

Satan voices his opinion on the subject, and then challenges Yahweh: 

"But lay Your hand upon all that he has and he will surely blaspheme You to Your face." 

Yah takes Satan up on this challenge and allows him do what he will to test Job, but forbids that he lay a hand on him and not to kill him.

Every bad thing that follows is from Satan. Never does Job suspect that Satan is behind his calamities nor does he blame YHWH for his sufferings. In fact, his entire ordeal, brought about by Satan, caused Job to draw closer to his Creator. Job even blesses YHWH for 'giving and taking away' after he learns of the death of his sons and daughters.  As poorly and sickly as Job was, he still humbled himself before YHWH Elohim, never blaming Him for his misfortunes. And here is how it ends up:

Job said to YHWH: 
I know that You can do everything, that nothing you propose is impossible for You. Who (am I) who obscures counsel without knowledge? Indeed, I spoke without understanding of things beyond me, which I did not know. Hear me now and I will speak; I will ask and You will inform me. I had heard You with my ears, but now I see You with my eyes; therefore, I recant and relent, being but dust and ashes."

 (oh how this pulls on my heart strings!)

Do you see the lesson, the example for us? How many times have you heard someone blame God for the bad things going on in their lives? Wouldn't laying the blame on Him be akin to one lacking in faith? Job was not lacking in faith but in understanding some things he thought he knew. Many of us have 'been there and done that' and it all comes back to being as little children and letting our Father tells us about those things we don't really understand... seems to be part of the reason for the indwelling of His Set Apart Spirit, which comforts us with the truth.

The whole book of Job is worth reading (again) and I suggest you put it on your list of things to do (again). His story is such an example for us; letting us know what to expect in the days to come. Job had everything through the blessings of YHWH, and was fenced in by His 'hedge of protection'. How horrible that Job's own wife tells him to "Blaspheme God and die!" Job replied: "You talk as any shameless woman might talk! Should we accept only good from Yahweh and not accept evil?" For all that, Job said nothing sinful. And then his friends show up and advise him by their own philosophies and not according to the ways of Yah. He was incensed at Job's friends for the bad advice and not telling the truth about Him.

Yahweh reveals much about Himself and reminds Job of just who He is and what He has done.

A time is coming when Yahweh will remove His hand that restrains evil and the strong delusion sets in. We must have the patience of Job, whom Yahweh allowed Satan to test. We must remain steadfast in our faith.

As an example, I can take all of this an apply it to my life (and others) in today's world. Sadly, I didn't start out upright, blameless or morally correct but, thankfully, have been on His Path of righteousness for several years now. In the beginning it was easy to get full of myself when discovering things in Scriptures I'd never seen before. It was easy to be tempted down those rabbit trails by other's speaking philosophically, taking advantage of this tenderfoot.  I no longer pretend to understand things beyond my understanding and have learned when to stop, correct my attitude and reset my spiritual compass. I can relate to Job's health issues because I suffer from a couple of different ailments that can cause pain so great all I can do is lay in bed for two or three days and wait for it to pass. It is during times like those that I can say "I wish I'd never been born..." but in no way am I blaming Yah for my physical condition. And I am thankful to be alive and for the blessings He has given me. My hope is in the Kingdom to come, and because of my faith my reward is the life of my soul - Halleluyah!!  I see His Glory and the good, the bad and the ugly in all of us, as pointed out by His Son. I have removed many a beam from my eyes so as to be of help to others on this same Path.

The patience of Job is a 'type and shadow' of how we Set Apart believers endure the hard times ahead... always committed to learning the truth of His Word, never wavering while resisting temptations.

Fullness of the Gentiles

The Prophecy

Romans 11:25 ~ 

For I want to let you know about this secret, brothers, so that you will not claim to be wiser than you are: Stubbornness has come to part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles comes to faith.

What is meant by 'fullness'? The definition found in the Webster Dictionary is:

: the quality or state of being full.

: at some point : eventually

Apply this to Scripture and understand that at some point, eventually, more Gentiles (non-believers) will repent of their pagan ways, return to Yahweh, abide by His Instructions and have the testimony of His Son, by faith. There are many non-believers in the world and not all of them will come into this 'fullness'. 

What is meant by 'Gentiles'? The definition found in the Webster Dictionary is: 

: a Christian as distinguished from a Jew

: heathen, pagan

: a non-Mormon

While Webster's definition comes from a 'religious' mindset, he does get it right using "heathen, pagan". Back in the day when Paul was teaching there were no Christians, Mormons or Jews... but the beginnings of Judaism had been planted by the very persons Y'shua called hypocrites and taught against. Scripture defines 'Gentile' in regards to one's spiritual state as a non-believer (aka heathen, pagan). These classifications of Jew or Gentile (or Mormon or Christian etc...) will not exists in the Kingdom to come and no longer apply to anyone who repents and returns to the Creator in this day and age. When we choose to return to our Creator through His Son we become new; old things pass away and we become part of the commonwealth of Israel. Set Apart believers are those whose faith is in YHWH, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Non-believers are everyone else.

Definition of heathen:

: of or relating to people or nations that do not acknowledge the God of the Bible 

: of or relating to heathens, their religions, or their customs

: strange, uncivilized

Definition of pagan:

: a follower of a polytheistic religion

: one who has little or no religion; who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods 

: an irreligious or hedonistic person

Also noted in the prophecy is that "Stubbornness" has come to part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles comes to faith. Romans 11 tells us about this, quoting King David talking about the House of Israel (descendants of Jacob), "Let their table become a snare before them and let their reward be a stumbling block. Let their eyes be darkened that they are blinded; and let their back at all times be bowed down." Paul explains, "Have they so stumbled as to fall entirely? May it never be! Rather by their stumbling life has come to the Gentiles for awakening their jealousy." 

Paul was speaking to the Gentiles. It was his ministry to teach them 'The Way' as taught by Y'shua. He says some branches will be plucked off so that others can be grafted in and become heir of the root... oh, those parables! Oh the gladness we have when we realize we've been grafted into the House of Israel! 

Perhaps it was by the stumbling of the Israelites that it becomes evident to the non-believers that we are all part of His creation; we have the same emotions; face the same temptations; are prone to make the same mistakes in life and all have the choice to return to the one living Elohim. And when certain descendants of the House of Jacob realized they are not God's only chosen people, then their jealousy was provoked, their stubbornness revealed. This brings me back to the Sheep Parable when Y'shua says he has the lost sheep of the House of Israel and those other sheep (Gentiles) to bring together as one flock.

John 10:11 (Y'shua says) I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the flock. But a hireling who is not the shepherd nor are the sheep his, when he sees a wolf coming he leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf comes and plunders and scatters the flock.

John 10:14 I am the Good Shepherd and I know those who are mine. And those who are mine know me.

John 10:16 And I also have other sheep, those who were not from this sheepfold. And also them, it is necessary for me to bring them and they will hear my voice and all the flocks will become one. And there will be One Shepherd. 

YHWH's Chosen People are the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob along with those who have been adopted in.

YHWH does what He says and according to His perfect timing. The fullness of the Gentiles will be fulfilled just as there will be more Set Apart believers killed before He avenges those who have already been killed. 

Seal #5

Under the altar are seen the souls of them who were slain on account of the Word of Elohim and on account of the testimony to the Lamb which was with them. They cry out asking YHWH how much longer will it take before He judges and avenges their blood. He tells them to be quiet yet a little while until the consummation of their fellow servants and Brothers who were to be killed as they had been. (Revelation 19) 

And we continue to watch, patiently waiting

As we prepare for those days to come

Are you ready?

We must be firmly rooted in the Instructions of Yahweh which are affirmed by Yahshua. His Spirit teaches us discernment and shows us The Way as he reveals The Truth wherein we receive our reward - the gift of our soul - Life eternal.

Y'shua has the authority to make us free of sin. Halleluyah! But he doesn't just do this automatically, there's a big IF attached. Take a look at Scriptures and you'll find Romans 10: Verse 9- IF you acknowledge publicly with your mouth (confess, speak out loud) our Master Yahshua and believe with your heart that Yah raised him from the dead, you will live.  Verse 10- For the heart that believes in him is made righteous and the mouth that confess him is restored to life. Verse 11- for the Scripture says: Everyone that believes in him will not be ashamed.