Finding Truth in Scriptures

YHWH, our Creator, our Elohim, our Heavenly Father, has told us the end from the beginning. He used the prophets, his servants, to speak and write His Words which we know as Scriptures.

He told us the past, present and future so that when these things happened we would have no doubt that He is the one true living Elohim. All praise and glory belong to Him.

Yah warned us of Satan and his subtle tempting to draw us away from Truth and lead us into the pit of lies.

Satan causes divisions among us, he causes doubt, appearing as a knowledgeable one, gaining our trust, then leading us away from eternal life. He accomplishes this in many ways using various devices in the most subtle of ways. This is evident from the account of Eve's encounter with him.

Satan tempts Eve to eat of that one tree Elohim states not to eat of. He causes her to doubt the Word of God. She believed a lie, caused her husband to follow suit and by this they were cast from Paradise.

Life goes on with an added dimension: the spiritual war for our very souls.

Satan, who once submitted to YHWH, has become self centered and arrogant, desiring to become a god, or at least be worshiped as a god. He causes a rift between God's People by mixing and mingling with His Creation. Satan convinces some other divine beings to leave their heavenly stations and join him on his path of destruction.

YHWH (Yahweh) has given us free will, the ability to make decisions either based on His Instructions in truth and love and righteousness OR based on the lies spawned from the Adversary. There are only two choices: Life or Death (aka: Blessing/Curse; Right/Wrong; Good/Bad...). There is no middle of the road, no fence sitting when decision time comes your way. Throughout Scriptures we are given examples of choices made and the consequences that followed. It should be clear to us today which path we should travel.

Through love for our Heavenly Father we Trust in Him and have Faith in His Instructions and believe His love for His People is steadfast and eternal.

Choose the Blessing. Receive the Blessing by following His Instructions and spread the Good News of the Kingdom to come wherein His Son, Y'shua the Messiah will be our King and High Priest.

In the beginning was The Word and the Word was made flesh - Y'shua Mashiyach, the anointed one, will return at the end.

Hebrew Inspired Greek

The inspiration for the Greek writing of the 'new testament' came from the Hebrew culture that existed in the land long before the Romans laid claim to it.  The 'new testament' (renewed covenant) is an extension of the 'old testament', not a replacement. 

The Hebrew culture has been in existence from the time YHWH called Abraham to leave his native land. In Genesis 12, God tells Abram that "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing..."

The offspring, the descendants of Abraham eventually became known as the House of Jacob. Jacob's name was changed to Israel from where we get the 12 Tribes of Israel.  Fast forward to the days of the Apostles of Messiah.

The apostle Paul, for example, describes himself in Philippeans 3:5 "Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin (one of the 12 tribes); a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; as to Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly of Messianic believers; and as to the righteousness of the oral Torah, I was without fault."  (Oral Law is rabbinic tradition, man's commentary and ideas about God's Commandments.)

Paul's attitude about himself and all he had mastered changed after he saw the superior knowledge of Y'shua and learned that his own righteousness came from Faith in the Messiah, that is, the righteousness which is from Elohim, and not of himself. 

Paul was not a 'Jew' pretending to be a Greek, but was well aware of his heritage as a descendant of Abraham.  His Hebrew name, Saul, was taken from the first king of Israel, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, and Paul's teacher, Gamaliel, was also from the tribe of Benjamin. His writings may have been in Greek but they came from a Hebrew mind-set.  Point being, the origins of the 'new testament' writings are not rooted in the Greek language. 

God called Abraham out of his father's house and made a promise, a covenant with him thus setting the scene for a Hebrew and his descendants to be God's Set Apart people.  Scriptures, beginning with the 'old testament' were written in the language of God's people.  When quotes from Scriptures are noted in the 'new testament', they are quoting from the only Scriptures at that time, which we now call the Old Testament -- inspired by God -- and written in the Hebrew language.

If, then, we agree on the Hebrew beginnings of Faith, how do we make the leap to Greek origins only, completely disregarding the pattern set forth by the Creator?  I understand and do not dismiss various cultural influences that occurred throughout history.  As an example, a lot of bad habits were brought back to Judea after the exile in Babylon came to an end.  It's not just the Greek that has become a stumbling block to His people on this path.

Quote from Wikipedia:

 

Jewish common Greek did not exist as a separate dialect, but some Jewish texts in common Greek do show the influence of Aramaic in syntax and the influence of Biblical background in vocabulary.  The languages spoken in Galilee and Judea during the first century include the Semitic Aramaic and Hebrew languages as well as Greek, with Aramaic being the predominant language. Most scholars agree that during the early part of first century Aramaic was the mother tongue of virtually all natives of Galilee and Judea. Most scholars agree that Jesus spoke Aramaic and that he may have also spoken Hebrew and Greek.  End Quote

I know that Wikipedia is not 'the end all' for knowledge but is a good place for gleaning historical insights and continued research.  As always, if it doesn't line up with or harmonize with Scriptures, pass it by.

For more reading material you may be interested in this: Hebrew Origins of the New Testament

Rest in Peace

We don't Die and go to Heaven

Once again Scriptures, the Word of God, answers our question about what happens when we physically die.

Quote from Life Hope and Truth:
While it may be comforting to those struggling to cope with the death of loved ones to think of them as 'looking down from heaven, this belief is false. Instead, God’s Word comforts us with the fact that there is no suffering in the grave. And since there is no thought for those in the grave, there can be no awareness on their part of the passage of time. When they are resurrected, it will be as though they have awakened from sleep.
End Quote

Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust... in mortal man who cannot save. His breath departs (physical death) he returns to the dust (in the grave) on that day his plans come to nothing
Ecclesiastes 9:5 ... the living know they will die but the dead know nothing, they have no more recompense, for even the memory of them has died. Their loves, hates, jealousies have long since perished and they have no more share till the end of time (when Y'shua returns) in all that goes on under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever is in your power to do,do with all your might. For there is no action, no reasoning, no learning, no wisdom in Sheol (the grave) where you are going.

John 6:39-40: (Y'shua is speaking) “This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

It is appointed for all of us to die, but when Y'shua returns to the earth at the last day, his followers who have died will be raised from their graves and given eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ... you should not mourn over them who have fallen asleep (died), like other people who have no hope... :14 For if we believe that Y'shua died and rose again, even those who sleep, will Elohim, by Y'shua bring with him. :15 and this we say to you by the word of Messiah, that we who may survive and be alive at the coming of Messiah, will not precede them who have slept. :16 Because our Master Y'shua will himself descend from heaven with a mandate and with the voice of the chief Messenger (angel) and with the trumpet of God; and the dead who are in Messiah will rise first and then we who survive and are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet our Messiah... And so comfort yourselves one another with these words...

We cannot 'rise' to meet Messiah when he returns If we are already in heaven... The dead rise first and the living witness this before they are gathered up as well.

Job 3 (he's about had enough and curses the day he was born and asks why he did not die at birth) ... :13 for now I would be lying in repose, asleep and at rest (dead and buried with those who have died before me)

Y'shua, Son of God, says in John 3:12 - I have explained earthly things and you do not believe. How then will I explain heavenly things? And no man has ascended into Heaven except he who descended from Heaven.

Quote from Bible Info: The Bible compares death to sleep more than fifty times. After death we are asleep, we are unconscious; we are not aware of the passing of time or of what is going on around us. That is what death is like as well. The Bible says, “for the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing… their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, NKJV, see also Psalm 146:4; 115:17). It makes sense that after Lazarus was raised from the dead, he doesn’t share what he saw or experienced. He didn’t have anything to tell, except that once he was dead, and now he is alive! He didn’t experience hell or heaven. He was simply “sleeping” in his tomb. Peter on the Day of Pentecost said the same of King David. “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day…For David did not ascend into the heavens…(Acts 2:29, 34).

John 5:28 Do not marvel at this for the hour is coming when all those who are in the grave will hear his voice!

Once you realize we don't die and go to heaven but we Rest in Peace here in the earth for a time, some questions on other topics may arise. Let me know and we can do another study.

     

Yah Approved House of Prayer

Abraham was a Hebrew:

Genesis 14:13 Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew (about Lot being taken captive).

His descendants are Hebrews.  Even when YHWH changed Jacob's name to Israel, they were still descendants of Abraham, still Hebrews, becoming the House of Israel. Paul says as much in 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

Yah is the God of our fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with whom He has kept His everlasting covenant:

Genesis 17:7 "I will establish My covenant between Me and you (Abraham) and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and to your descendants after you.

Exodus 3:13 Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' (He is going to the sons of Jacob/Israel [descendants of Abraham], who were the heads of each of their clans = the 12 tribes of Israel. Each tribe was named after each of the 12 sons.)

YHWH is God/Elohim of the Hebrews:

Exodus 5:3 Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us.

Exodus 7:16 "You shall say to him, 'The God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.

Exodus 10:3 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "Thus says YHWH, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 

God is YHWH the Elohim of the Hebrews and their descendants, and all who may turn from those pagan ways and serve Him.   Not by any of  man's traditions, but by obedience to His commands.

From the Mountain to the Tent

The first 'temple' was the Tabernacle constructed from the pattern YHWH showed Moses and it is patterned after the one in heaven. This is where God attached His Name after He moved from the mountain. It was the House of Elohim.  This pattern also served as a foreshadow of the temple Solomon would build.

Exodus 25:8 "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9 "According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture..."

Hebrews 8:5 They serve at a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. That is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle, "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

YHWH establishes the priesthood and selects those of the tribe of Levi to tend to the sacred duties of  the Tabernacle:

Numbers 8:19 "I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on behalf of the sons of Israel, so that there will be no plague among the sons of Israel by their coming near to the sanctuary."
Numbers 18:23 "Only the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting... it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 24 " For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to Me, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, 'They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.'" 

Collectively, the descendants of Abraham the Hebrew are now being called the sons of Israel. Only those from the tribe of Levi were chosen to serve in the tent/temple and perform all related duties.

From the Tent to the House

1 Kings 6:1 ... Solomon began to build the House of YHWH... you can read further all the lavish details of this project, but notice it is called the House of Elohim, YHWH.  1 Kings 8 tells us when the House was done Solomon called the elders of Israel, who are all the heads of the tribes and the ancestral chieftains of the Israelites, and they arrange to have the Ark of the Covenant, the Tent of Meeting, and all the set apart vessels brought to the House of God.  The presence of Elohim filled the House - He approved it. He fulfilled the promise He made to David:

1 Kings 8:16 "Ever since I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city among all the tribes of Israel for building a House where My name might abide; but I have chosen David to rule My people Israel... :19 however, you shall not build the House yourself; instead, your son... shall build the House for My Name.

There is only one House of Elohim albeit rebuilt a couple of times, but only one place where He attached His Name.  It not a Jewish institution. It was a House of Prayer, a place where He could be in the midst of His people = the Israelites and those who attached themselves to the House of Israel (Spirit of Adoption).  Y'shua refers to them as 'the sheep' and the 'other sheep' he came to gather together as one flock.  That one flock is God's chosen people. 

Here is a link to some History of the Temple although it was never a Jewish Temple.  This is a good historical time line from Solomon to Titus and the Roman legions who looted and leveled this temple in 70 AD. They state after the temple was destroyed in 70AD, synagogues replaced that temple and prayer replace animal sacrifice. Please note when you are following up with your own research, remember to remove the Jewish mind-set from some of the sites you visit.

YHWH warns once again what happens if we turn away from Him, as He tells Solomon:

1 Kings 9:6 " If you and your descendants turn away from Me and do not keep the commandments and the laws which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods... then I will sweep Israel off the land which I gave them; I will reject the House which I have consecrated to My name; and Israel shall become a byword among all peoples. 

And we know what happened... As smart and wise and just and fair as Solomon was, women turned out to be his downfall... he loved many foreign women who turned his heart away from Elohim and towards other gods - those false idols worshiped by his many women.  He turned away from YHWH and eventually the Israelites were 'swept off the land'.  After Solomon's death, the ten northern tribes refused to accept his son Rehoboam as their king. The country was divided into two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Israel in the north and the Kingdom of Judah (containing Jerusalem) in the south. 

After some time, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, marched on Judah. He pillaged Jerusalem and deported tens of thousands to his capital in Babylon.  The poor and sick people were allowed to stay in Judah.  Several months later Nebuchadnezzar's army began the destruction of Jerusalem and the House of Elohim:

Ezra 5:12 But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.

Ezra picks up after the 70 year exile in Babylon when King Cyrus is chosen by YHWH to declare the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem in Judah.  So the chiefs of the clans of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, all whose spirit had been roused by Elohim went to Jerusalem.  In Ezra 2 is the list of the men of Israel who came up from among the exiled, including Levites and the temple servants. They searched genealogical records in order to select the priesthood.  When the 7th month arrived they were ready to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles.  All the Israelites assembled in Jerusalem as one.  The temple is for all Set Apart believers - not just the Jews or not just for the Levites.

The problem with Judaism is its mixture of rituals and religious observances, combined with rabbinic laws and traditions. These bad habits were most likely picked up during that 70 year exile in Babylon. This mind-set is what Y'shua was revealing in his teaching from the Father. He called the Pharisees 'hypocrites' many times.  He was reminding everyone by teaching what Torah is about and how it was intended as opposed to Jewish Traditions.  It is not a bad thing to do good, but when you overrule God and teach others to do the same, that is not good. Y'shua Messiah definitely was not participating in Judaism nor its traditions. He was sent by the Father and spoke Yah's message, the same message from the beginning.

John 5:30 Y'shua is speaking, "I am not able to do anything of my own desire, but as I hear I judge, and my judgment is just, for I don't seek my will, rather the will of Him who sent me.  :36 ... For the works that my Father has given to me to complete, those works that I do, testify that the Father sent me.  :39  Search the Scriptures, because in them you think you have that life that is eternal, and they testify of me. Yet you do not desire to come to me, that you may have that life that is eternal.  :43 I have come in the name of my  Father, and you have not received me... :46  IF only you had  believed in Moses, you would also be believers in me, for Moses wrote concerning me.  And if you do not believe the writing of that man, how will you believe my words?"

The writings of Moses are contained in the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy.  These writings, in the Hebrew language, are called Torah, which translates to Instructions.  These are not to be confused with Jewish laws or holidays or traditions, which men added at a later time.  This is an example of just how subtle Satan is.  He causes 'doubt' just as he did with Eve in the garden.  He spins his own doctrine from bits and pieces of what YHWH actually spoke.  This is how we have ended up with hundreds of denominations and belief systems throughout the world.  This is why when you attempt to 'google' Torah you get hundreds of sites that refer to it as 'religious Judaic tradition'.  If you spend time reading Scriptures, the Word of Elohim,  you will find this is not so.

There is only One God and His Name is YHWH (Yah-weh). 

He sent His Son in His Name, Yashua (Yah-shua).

His Instructions are not a set of religious beliefs;

but a perfect governing system intended for 

our well being while on this earth.

YHWH gave us a choice and many examples 

of the results of those choices. 

Do as Y'shua suggests: Read Scriptures

Let the Spirit of Truth reveal to you 

the Way of the Creator.

 

Shabbat Shalom

Yah made the seventh day sabbath for us, as a sign between Him and His people.  Since He is Set Apart and rested on the 7th day of creation He desires that we also rest on the 7th day.  He set the pattern for us to follow.  It is the 1st of all His Instructions for us. Not a burden.

When we discipline ourselves choosing to follow His Instructions, change for the good will eventually become apparent - my husband and I can attest to this!  Choosing to remember the sabbath day and keep it Set Apart is the best place to start.  Once we start keeping the sabbath day and continue reading scripture, His Word becomes more meaningful.  He tells us to Seek Him and we do this by prayer and reading Scriptures every day and He does reveal Truth, giving us understanding and we gain wisdom if we stay on His Path.

It is the Ruach haKodesh, the Spirit Wind of Elohim, that works within us.  It's the Comforter Y'shua told his disciples about, the Spirit of Truth.  We become Set Apart, different from the rest of the world.  The Truth of His Word makes us free from bondage to sin and the lies we have inherited, passed down through the generations.

Get ready for some eye-openers as you continue on His Path  of Righteousness! The lies we separate from become more and more apparent, from the pagan origins of the most common holidays we've all celebrated to the division of the Faith - the false religions propagated by the Adversary - Satan, the father of lies.

YHWH's Instructions for us are not about religion but are a set of rules and laws for us to live by, intended for our health and well being, and govern the behavior in our communities.  It's about Faith in the unseen as Y'shua once said to Thomas, who would not believe Y'shua had been raised from the dead until he saw him, touched the holes in his hands and saw the stab wound in his side from the spear.  Y'shua said 'Now that you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who do not see me and yet believe."

Here is what Yah says in regards to keeping the 7th day rest:

He sets the example for us in Genesis 2:2- By the seventh day YHWH completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which He had created

Exodus 16:23 ...then he said to them, "This is what Yahweh meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, set apart to Him. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning." (get all your meals prepared the day before so you don't have to 'kindle a fire' on the sabbath to do any cooking) 35:2 "For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Set Apart day, a sabbath of Complete Rest to Yahweh Elohim.... "You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day."

Leviticus 23:3 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of Complete Rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to your Elohim, in all your dwellings.

Deuteronomy 5:12 'Observe the sabbath day to keep it set apart as Yahweh your Elohim commanded you...

Later on Jeremiah tries to remind the people in Jeremiah 17:21 'Thus says Yahweh, "Take heed for yourselves, and do not carry any load on the sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem (no buying or selling, conducting commerce, doing work). "You shall not bring a load out of your houses on the sabbath day nor do any work, but keep the sabbath day set apart, as I commanded your forefathers.  =>"Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction.…

This isn't just a 'day of rest' for us to relax and enjoy ourselves, but it is for Him, to honor Yahweh our Elohim.

Isaiah 56:2 "How blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the sabbath...

Isaiah 58:13 "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from >>doing your own pleasure<< on My set apart day, and call the sabbath a delight, the set apart day of Yah honorable, and honor it, >>desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word<< then you shall take delight in Me, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father (inherit the promised land)

Ezekiel 20:12 "Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them."

ONE is not a Lonely Number

Quotes from the AENT and Andrew G. Roth 

and composed by yours truly.

-_-_-

In the beginning was the Miltha, the instance of the manifestation of the Word in its substance: Yahweh.

In Him was Life and the life was the Light of men: Yahshua.

The Light was of Truth that shines on all who come into the world, but not all receive him or believe in his name.

The Word is the Manifestation of the Ruach haKodesh (Spirit of Elohim) within Y'shua.

This Light of Truth is the substance of Yahweh which He caused to become flesh, born of a pure woman.  Yahweh is full of Grace and Truth and His Glory is seen in His Son. Torah (Instructions given to us from Yahweh) is the Word of Yahweh but Grace and Truth revealed in Y'shua are the impelling forces that uphold all righteousness and keep the Word of Elohim positioned in our hearts;  these are complimentary, not opposite, nor does one replace the other.   It is according to the Grace of the Father that Messiah is revealed in a person's heart.

Yahweh keeps us by His Name (YAH) which He gave to His Son (YAHshua) that we may be One as they are One.  

When we call upon YHWH in Y'shua's name we are calling on YHWH for Salvation.  Y'shua pleads for us because YHWH gave us to him, those who have kept the Word of Elohim.

As followers of Y'shua we are to walk according to his righteousness, observe the Father's Instructions and walk in the anointing of the Ruach haKodesh as Mashiyach demonstrated for us.

Father, sanctify us by your Truth, for Your Word is Truth.

John 16:27 ...the Father loves you because you have loved me and you have believed that I have proceeded from the presence of the Father... and have come into the world and will return to the Father.  :31 ... Believe. For behold the hour is coming... :33 I have spoken these things to you that (you may find peace in me).  In the world will be affliction but take courage, I have conquered the world.

John 17: Y'shua says, " My Father the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son might glorify You." 

Elohim has given all authority to Y'shua by which we gain life that is eternal.  Verse 3 tells us that Life that is Eternal is that we come to know YHWH the Elohim of Truth and know that He alone set Y'shua  who has glorified YWHW on earth.  The Work Yah gave His Son to do is finished.  Through Y'shua Messiah we come to know YHWH Elohim and if we choose to follow Y'shua, love the Father and obey His Commandments, we gain Life Eternal.

Yahweh created all things.  Part of His plan of salvation was to send Y'shua to do His Work.  The Father is telling His Son, "I am going to give you My People who are lost - they have forgotten Me and the promise I made to Abraham.  I give you these people, and I want you to show them who I am, teach them My Ways and remind them where they came from and where they are  going .  Reveal the Truth by shinning Light in to the darkness."

I am inspired to write my short summary from these related writings found in:

Numbers 1:1- 4:20; Hosea 2:1-11 and Revelation 7:1-17.

We, in order to function as one people, are designated, each to our abilities, duties ascribed by our Creator, that we may live as Set Apart people (to Him) and be an example to the nations/world; a light showing the Way as we follow His Son.  When we function in an orderly way we move according to His Will.  His shalom/peace is apparent through our harmonious behavior.

YHWH is at the center of our lives just as the Tabernacle, His Tent of Meeting, was at the center of the camp during the 40 years the Hebrews spent traveling the wilderness. Everyone knew their place and their responsibilities. They trusted YHWH, His instructions given through Moses, and obeyed out of reverence and love.

In this day many still want their ears tickled instead of hearing the harsh truth and many have gone a-whoring after false gods, idols and follow the doctrines of men. YHWH our Elohim will end all our rejoicing, our festivals, new moons and sabbaths, all our festive seasons because of it.

We must become as little children, void of worldly pollution, mind altering ways, and man made distractions, if we desire to see His Way, know His path, trust His Word and choose to follow His Son.

YHWH will coax us back, guide us through this wilderness and eventually restore all things. We will be, once again, His People, lovingly accepted. It's His promise but our choice.

Who is Israel?

When the truth was revealed that 'biblical' Israel refers to 'the people', the original Twelve Tribes and the descendants thereof AND includes those outsiders who chose to accept the God of the Hebrews, I knew I needed a deeper study of Scriptures in an attempt to find where the idea came from that the 'Jews are God's Chosen People' as well as why folks think prophecy was fulfilled when Israel became a state in 1948.

Let me be clear about my intentions with this study: 

I am not disrespecting the Jews nor the trials they have been through, especially during the reign of Hitler.  Those were heart breaking times (to put it lightly) and an extreme example to all of us as to just how evil the heart of man can be.  I am not prejudice against anyone who claims to be Jewish. Rather, I have become aware of a clash of ideas from various people in regards to the State of Israel and its inhabitants.  There are those who promote the 'Stand with Israel' and 'United with Israel' agendas which seem sincere and may have originated in their hearts, but are inspired by the lack of understanding Scriptures and spurred on by their own 'feel good' egos. Don't get me wrong! I would love the visit Israel and walk where our Messiah walked. But I know my time will come, as will everyone's, those who obey YHWH Elohim and have the testimony of His Son, as we continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  

Many have been led astray by false teachers, wolves in sheep clothing.  I pray this study will help clarify who Israel is according to our Creator.

***Note: I respectfully use the Name of God in the Hebrew language, which is - YHWH - (pronounce Yah-weh); Elohim is the Hebrew word for God; Y'shua (pronounced Yah-shua) is the name of His Son; Ruach haKodesh is the original Hebrew word poorly translated as 'holy ghost/spirit'...***

The Study 

Would you be surprised to learn that the Jews are not God's chosen people and that the modern day state of Israel is not prophecy fulfilled, as many claim?  Fact is, back in the days after the Hebrews fell into slavery in Egypt, a 'mixed multitude' became united as One People by their Faith and Trust in the One True Living God, aka: The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Elohim had changed Jacob's name to Israel).  This multitude became The House of Israel = YHWH's Set Apart people.  These people are the 'elect' of YHWH, those who obey His commandments, laws and teachings (which are written in the first 5 books of the old testament, known as Torah). These are the same people His Son, Y'shua, refers to as his sheep.

People wrongly assume that the modern day State of Israel is the same Israel written of in Scriptures and that today's population of Jews are Elohim's chosen people.  The current and changing borders of Israel do not represent the Promised Land as described by Elohim to Abraham, and, there are 11 other tribes that make up the whole House of Israel along with Judah.  Also, anyone of any background or nationality or false belief system who leave their pagan ways behind and come to YHWH Elohim, to keep His commandments, laws, rules and Teaching and have the testimony of His Son, Y'shua the Anointed One, they become adopted, grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel.  Y'shua refers to these folks who choose YHWH as their Elohim as the 'other sheep' that he has come to gather.

The Family Tree

In Genesis 12 YHWH tells Abram the Hebrew from Chaldea that He will make a great nation from him, from his offspring.  He tells him his name will be great, that he shall be a standard by which blessing is invoked.  YHWH later promises Abram that the land of Canaan will be given to his offspring.

Genesis 13:14 YHWH shows Abram the land and has him walk about the land.

Genesis 15:18 YHWH makes a covenant with Abram and once again denotes the area of land promised to his descendants, which is from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates including the territories therein.

Genesis 17:2 The promise is remembered and established forever - All the land of Canaan an everlasting holding and He shall be their Elohim.  With this YHWH changes Abram's name to Abraham because he will be a father of nations.

=> Fast forward a bit to Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham.

In Genesis 28:13 YHWH lets Jacob know that He is the Elohim of his father Abraham and the Elohim of Isaac and proceed to tell Jacob about the land deal and his own descendants and the blessing, the everlasting covenant.

Genesis 29 through 35 is the account of Jacob's life.

Genesis 32:29 is when Jacob's name is changed to Israel.

Genesis 35:23 lists the sons of Israel and they are 12 in number.

Short Story of the 12 Tribes

In Genesis 41:12 we read about Jacob's (Israel's) sons who each became heads of their clans: The Twelve Tribes of Israel.  Each tribe was named after each son, carrying on the Hebrew lineage: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher = The House of Israel.  These are the offspring YHWH told Abraham the Hebrew about so long ago that would eventually be as numerous as the stars, if stars could be counted.  These are the ones to whom the land of Canaan is promised.

 

Lets pick this up again at the life and times of Joseph, Jacob's favorite son.  His brothers sold him to a caravan of Ishmalites who sold him as a Hebrew slave in Egypt to Pharaoh's chief steward.  Joseph is later falsely accused of molesting Potiphar's wife, spent time in jail, was later recognized as an  interpreter of dreams, won favor with Pharaoh (who recognized the God of Joseph was with him) and eventually Joseph was put in charge of almost everything in Egypt - he was 2nd in command to Pharaoh. 

(Genesis 39 through 41)

Due to a famine in the land and the position of authority given to Joseph, he was able to send for his family: his father Israel, his brothers and all their households came to live in Egypt in the region of Goshen.  Thus in Genesis 46 we are told that Israel and all that was his, all his offspring, came to Egypt.  They were know as Hebrews.  After the original families eventually die and are forgotten, and a new generation arises, a new Pharaoh also takes his position.  He doesn't know or remember anything about Joseph or know his God or how the Hebrews came to be in his territory. But he does know he wants to get rid of them. He puts task masters over them which in turn becomes plain old slavery.  He tries to prevent male babies from surviving.

=> Fast forward  now to the time of the exodus, when the Hebrews along with that mixed multitude were led out of slavery, out of bondage in Egypt.  The mixed multitude consisted of folks other than Hebrews who had come to YHWH Elohim and attached themselves to the Israelites - they 'crossed over' and were adopted into the House of Israel and became heirs to the promised land.  Scripture says 600,000 men plus women and children along with the mixed multitude left Egypt that day.  YHWH's Chosen People, led by Moses, Aaron his brother, and Miriam his sister. They are of the tribe of Levi.

We establish early on that Israel is a people, not a place.  The land Elohim promised consists of what is the boundaries of Canaan - much more land than what is known as the State of Israel today.  All of YHWH's rules, laws, teachings and commandments apply to the entire commonwealth of Israel: the descendants of the House of Israel (the sheep) and those adopted in (those other sheep).  They ALL abide by Elohim's Instructions (Torah). His covenant is everlasting, for all generations.  All the way up until the reign of Solomon, they were a Hebrew nation.  Jerusalem is where YHWH attached His Name, which is in the territory of the tribe of Yehuda/Judah.

The Israelites are the offspring of Jacob/Israel, descendants of Abraham, who was a Hebrew.  These are they who YHWH Elohim chose to be Set Apart as He is Set Apart, through whom nations would be blessed.  The promised land of Canaan was divided among them but eventually, through a series of events, they were split into 2 groups of which 10 Tribes went northwards. Later on the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (along with some Levites and a few others) were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon.  Toward the end of this time period King Cyrus of Persia was responsible for the release of the Israelites from Babylon, who returned to the area called Judea (the territory that was named after one of the 12 sons of Jacob: Judah). Those of the Ten Tribes who went northwards eventually scattered among the nations.

The time of Solomon, son of David, and the Division of the Tribes

The division of the House of Israel was a result of Solomon's sin against Elohim.  Solomon married many women, had many concubines - he had fallen "headlong into unreasonable pleasures" - married outside of his own people and began to worship the gods of these women, against the Will of YHWH.  Because of this, YHWH, as He promised David, would not withdraw all the people from Solomon, but would give Ten Tribes to a servant of his and leave only Two Tribes to David's grandson, Rehoboam, for his sake, because David did love Elohim, and for the sake of Jerusalem wherein He should have a temple.

Jeroboam, son of Nebat, received a prophecy from Ahijah about the parting of the dominion of Solomon and is told to be righteous and keep the laws of Elohim.  Jeroboam lived in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

David's grandson, Rehoboam, became king, but was not wise.  His behavior caused a rebellion which caused him to flee to Jerusalem where the tribe of Judah and that of Benjamin ordained him king.  The rest of the multitude appointed Jeroboam to be ruler of their public affairs. (Rehoboam is king of 2 tribes, King of Judah and Jeroboam is king of 10 tribes, King of Israel).

Now when the Feast of Tabernacles drew near, Jeroboam feared if he let the people go to Jerusalem to celebrate (as per the command of YHWH) that he would lose them and perhaps lose his own life. So he had 2 temples built - one near Bethel and one near Dan - and made Two Golden Heifers, one in each temple and convinced the people that God was everywhere and hears and sees those who worship him and that it was OK if they didn't go to Jerusalem to worship Elohim according to His rules but could worship him the way they saw fit.  Jeroboam succeeded in deluding the people which caused them to go against Elohim and transgress Torah.  This was the beginning of miseries for the Hebrews.  Jeroboam had made himself High Priest as well. Over the next 3 years, the priests and Levites and the good and the righteous of Israel left and gathered together with Rehoboam because they wanted to worship Elohim in Jerusalem, as it is written.  They were not willing to worship the idols made by Jeroboam.

Rehoboam's kingdom grew in number- it's greatness and prosperity became a transgression to men.  Rehoboam strayed from The Path, the right way of Elohim and gave into unrighteousness and pagan practices. He began to despise YHWH and eventually the people began to imitate his wicked actions.

I want to point out that having Faith in the Word of Elohim (Scriptures) is not about being Jewish, acting Jewish, following orthodox Jewish traditions, the Talmud or Kabbalah. YHWH did not set apart the Jews only, but the entire House of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel. YHWH's set apart times, The Feast Days, are not Jewish holidays, but intended for all His people.  Man tends to skew the Word of God under the influence of Satan.  There's more to this story, but I will stick with pointing out who Israel is (for now).

It is so important to read Scriptures every day so that we may gain understanding and insight to the events happening today, in order to peel away the layers of deceptions and expose the lies that have been handed down through the generations.  This is the path leading out of the world system (Egypt and Babylon are examples of world systems and how we become enslaved).  When we come out of this man made system, this is what helps us to become Set Apart as He is Set Apart and makes us a Light unto others.  It's not about 'loving the Jews' or the 'Stand with Israel' mind set of today - it is about obeying YHWH Elohim and our Faith in Y'shua and allowing the Ruach haKodesh (Spirit of the Heavenly Father) to write Torah upon our hearts.  This is what it has been about from the very beginning.

Part Two - 

The Gathering of YHWH's people is an End Times scenario and did not occur in 1948.

Jeremiah 32:37 "Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. :38 "They shall be My people, and I will be their Elohim…"

Ezekiel 28:25 'Thus says YHWH your Elohim, "When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob."

Jeremiah 23:3 "Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture..."

To wrap this up, here is the Sheep allegory in relation to the House of Israel and those who are adopted in, as Y'shua relates it:

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, and those who have been adopted in.

The story of Ruth the Moabite is another good example of one choosing Yah as their Elohim. In Chapter 1 verse 16 Ruth is pleading with her mother-in-law Naomi: "Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God..." Ruth ends up marrying Boaz. She is grafted into the House of Israel by loyalty and faith. She gives birth to Obed who begat Jesse who begat David.... the royal lineage into which Yahshua is adopted.

As always, take what you hear or read or have been taught and take it to Scriptures where the Truth is waiting to Revealed by the Comforter = The Ruach haKodesh.