That Pagan World

Over the years I have posted here and there, and shared several links to the topic of the Pagan Origins of the many things we take for granted. This is an important study and the knowledge needs to be shared - again.  Don't let yourself become overwhelmed or angry or discouraged. What I am sharing is a result of my research and study and reading Scriptures that started over fifteen years ago when I innocently looked for the origin of christmas... the journey had to start somewhere! I don't claim to be any sort of scholar, but I know a lot more now than I did back then.  And we are not the first to search these things.  Once you start looking, there have been many before us seeking truth.

I will include as much as I can and pray for this to be a source of light to those searching for His Path, continually seeking Him so that He will cause the Ruach haKodesh (His Set Apart Spirit) to reveal to you Truth in everything.

The Ten Commandments begin with Yahweh, our Creator, telling us He is the one true Elohim and that we shall have no other gods besides Him.  He goes on to define those gods as man made images (idols) of things in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters and Not to bow down to them or serve them. He is serious about this and will pass on the guilt of doing such things to the generations that reject Him and He will show kindness to the generations who love Him AND keep His commandments. He also knows that Satan will set up counterfeits along the way.  It is important for us to recognize the Spirit of Yahweh so as to identify the devices of Adversary.

To 'bow down to them' is to exalt, to think very highly of them, seeing them as powerful, lesser, greater or in place of YHWH. Whether made of stone, wood, gold or silver and in the image/symbols of what we think angels look like (heavens above) or man, or animal fetishes or representing fish or other things in the water, we are not to serve them.

Look around. You will notice right away a variety of images in a variety of forms representing heaven, earth, waters, sea, air, the elements -- things Yahweh said right off the get-go not to make. He wants us to be Set Apart (righteous); set apart from the world and its pagan ways, those subtle temptations that cause us to doubt the Creator, as when Satan said to Eve, "You are not going to die, but Elohim knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and bad."

Then what happened?
In short, they tried to hide themselves from Yahweh because of their guilt and were eventually kicked out of the Garden.

Right from the beginning Satan has been tempting us. It is our Faith in the Creator and our obedience to His Instructions, which are for our health and well being, reinforced by (witnessed) the life and death of His son, Y'shua Messiah that we choose to be Set Apart, resisting temptation cause the devil to flee from us.

Who would have thought that types of  Dance could be pagan?

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 5:20)

Most folks already are aware of when Messiah was born.

The Origin of Christmas Tree

Just as early Christians recruited Roman pagans by associating Christmas with the Saturnalia, so too worshippers of the Asheira cult and its offshoots were recruited by the Church sanctioning “Christmas Trees”.  Pagans had long worshipped trees in the forest, or brought them into their homes and decorated them, and this observance was adopted and painted with a Christian veneer by the Church. 

 ~ Here is what God says: “... Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven [the stars]; for the heathen are dismayed at them [millions ignore this plain statement of God and read their horoscopes daily]. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree…” (Jeremiah. 10:2-5).

The Origin of Mistletoe

Norse mythology recounts how the god Balder was killed using a mistletoe arrow by his rival god Hoder while fighting for the female Nanna. Druid rituals use mistletoe to poison their human sacrificial victim. The Christian custom of “kissing under the mistletoe” is a later synthesis of the sexual license of Saturnalia with the Druidic sacrificial cult.

The Origin of Christmas Presents

In pre-Christian Rome, the emperors compelled their most despised citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the Saturnalia (in December) and Kalends (in January). Later, this ritual expanded to include gift-giving among the general populace. The Catholic Church gave this custom a Christian flavor by re-rooting it in the supposed gift-giving of Saint Nicholas.

The Origin of Santa Claus  

Nicholas was born in Parara, Turkey in 270 CE and later became Bishop of Myra. He died in 345 CE on December 6th. He was only named a saint in the 19th century.  He was among the most senior bishops who convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and created the New Testament. The text they produced portrayed Jews as “the children of the devil” who sentenced Jesus to death.

In 1087, a group of sailors who idolized Nicholas moved his bones from Turkey to a sanctuary in Bari, Italy. There Nicholas supplanted a female boon-giving deity called The Grandmother, or Pasqua Epiphania, who used to fill the children's stockings with her gifts. The Grandmother was ousted from her shrine at Bari, which became the center of the Nicholas cult. Members of this group gave each other gifts during a pageant they conducted annually on the anniversary of Nicholas’ death, December 6.

The Nicholas cult spread north until it was adopted by German and Celtic pagans. These groups worshipped a pantheon led by Woden –their chief god and the father of Thor, Balder, and Tiw. Woden had a long, white beard and rode a horse through the heavens one evening each Autumn. When Nicholas merged with Woden, he shed his Mediterranean appearance, grew a beard, mounted a flying horse, rescheduled his flight for December, and donned heavy winter clothing.

In a bid for pagan adherents in Northern Europe, the Catholic Church adopted the Nicholas cult and taught that he did (and they should) distribute gifts on December 25th instead of December 6th. 

In 1809, the novelist Washington Irving (most famous his The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle) wrote a satire of Dutch culture entitled Knickerbocker History. The satire refers several times to the white bearded, flying-horse riding Saint Nicholas using his Dutch name, Santa Claus.

Dr. Clement Moore, a professor at Union Seminary, read Knickerbocker History, and in 1822 he published a poem based on the character Santa Claus: “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in the hope that Saint Nicholas soon would be there…” Moore innovated by portraying a Santa with eight reindeer who descended through chimneys.

The Bavarian illustrator Thomas Nast almost completed the modern picture of Santa Claus. From 1862 through 1886, based on Moore’s poem, Nast drew more than 2,200 cartoon images of Santa for Harper’s Weekly. Before Nast, Saint Nicholas had been pictured as everything from a stern looking bishop to a gnome-like figure in a frock. Nast also gave Santa a home at the North Pole, his workshop filled with elves, and his list of the good and bad children of the world. All Santa was missing was his red outfit.

  

1931, the Coca Cola Corporation contracted the Swedish commercial artist Haddon Sundblom to create a coke-drinking Santa. Sundblom modeled his Santa on his friend Lou Prentice, chosen for his cheerful, chubby face. The corporation insisted that Santa’s fur-trimmed suit be bright, Coca Cola red. And Santa was born – a blend of Christian crusader, pagan god, and commercial idol. (I never heard this one about Coca-Cola - ckc) 

The origins of Easter

John 4:22-24 You worship something that you do not know. But we worship what we know, for life is from the Yehudeans (Messiah is referred to as the Lion of Judah). But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, indeed. For the Father, He seeks worshippers as these. For Elohim is Spirit and those who worship they must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Mark 7:6-7 Messiah says, Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) the prophet did well prophesy about you hypocrites! As it is written that 'This people honor me with their lips (words) but their hearts are very distance from me. And vainly they fear me while they are teaching the doctrines of the (man made) commandments of the sons of men.

My husband and I don't 'celebrate' Purim or Hanukkah because they are not 'commanded' by Elohim. I realize they are of historical value, like the 4th of July or Memorial Day (which we do not celebrate, either).

Chanukah is a man made tradition. 

Quote: (John 10:22-24). Notice that this is the only reference to the festival of Chanukah (חַג חֲנֻכָּה) that occurs in all of Scriptures. Some additional "extra biblical" sources include the testimony of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who likewise referred to the commemoration of the Maccabees as an eight day "festival of lights", and various midrashim that quote Hillel and Shammai (i.e., two famous sages that predated the time of Yeshua) discussing the method of kindling the lights of the Chanukah menorah. One midrash states that Chanukah was to be regarded as an acronym for Chet Nerot veHalakhah K'bet Hillel ("eight candles and the law according to the House of Hillel"), referring to Hillel's view (his opinion) that we should light one candle on the first night and increase the amount by one every day (Shammai, on the other hand, thought we should light eight candles on the first night and reduce one every subsequent night). According to early Jewish tradition (preserved in Megillat Antiochus, 2nd Century AD), since the Maccabees were unable to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at its proper time in the fall, they decided that it should be observed after the Temple was restored, which they did on the 25th of the month of Kislev in the year 164 B.C. Since Sukkot lasts eight days, this became the time frame adopted for Chanukah."  End Quote.

John 10:22 gives us a time frame, noting the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) occurred in Jerusalem and it was winter and Y'shua was walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon. (note: this is the only time Hanukkah is mentioned in Scriptures - there's no 2 or 3 other times to bear witness or support its importance as a feast day.)  Folks think because Messiah was 'there' that he was 'celebrating' but I think the reason he was there was because he was 'teaching', as he was accustomed to doing, not so much partaking of the feast. 

John 10 starts out with his Sheep Parable, then the feast day is mentioned, then: The Jews surround him again asking how long will he keep them waiting: "if you are the Mashiyach, tell us!" He lets them know that he HAS told them but they do not believe because 'they are not of his sheep'. Perhaps noting the feast day and the fact these Jews were celebrating it (which is why they were at the temple) and then Y'shua saying they were not his sheep, lets us know it is not of Elohim and we should not partake of it, either.

Y'shua was not celebrating Chanukah - he was present, on the porch of the Temple. It appears he was taking the opportunity to teach to those who had gathered there.  The lead in verses to John 10:22 sets the tone for what's going on.  In 10:7 he says that he is the Gate of the flock. He goes on to say if a man should enter by him (the Gate) he will live, enter and go out and find pasture. (No man comes to the Father except by Y'shua). He says he is the Good Shepherd that lays his life down for the flock. He knows those who are his and they know him. Then he says in 10:16 that he also has other sheep, those not of this sheepfold. 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. (I love this! He just told us the sheepfold is the House of Israel and the other sheep are those who have chosen to obey YHWH and have the testimony of His son - we will be One People with One Faith and One Elohim!) Well, once again Y'shua causes a stir among the Yehudeans, they don't believe, they don't recognize their Shepherd's voice and think Y'shua is possessed.

Here's info on Purim   

As a reminder, No matter what one uses for research and reference material, ALWAYS take what you have gleaned and measure it against Scriptures, the Word of God our Creator. His Ruach haKodesh - His Set Apart Spirit - will reveal the Truth as long as we maintain our Faith in the one true God. It's not about religion, but His perfect government system.  Judaism is a religion. Christianity is a religion. Islam is a religion, etc... 

Other Sources for further Research

Imam in a Spaceship

Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi was answering questions about the arrival of the Mahdi, otherwise known as the Hidden Imam, who according to Islamic eschatology will conquer the world before the Day of Judgment, ridding it of evil. Shirazi’s explanations, translated and published Friday by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), were based on Islamic teachings and hadiths, as well as quotes from preceding Imams.

Bad Dancing 

“Circumbulation (circumbulating) is moving around something in a circle. It is a very old magical and religious rite, and circular dances as a part of ritual are known all from all over the world.”

Authority Research

A whole lot of info to glean here

It exposes the process of seduction, deception, and manipulation that is being used on you (and your children, spouse, friends, neighbors, leaders, minister, etc.,) in order to make you (and them) a part of a so called "new" world order—the praxis of replacing the preaching and teaching of facts and truth...

And then we have this:

The United Nations as the possible seat of the New World Order governing system. Perfect place for 10 world leaders to meet and fulfill prophecy (whether they know it or not) under the pretext of Sustainable Development for the World.

• Agenda 2030
• Agenda 21

Bar Codes and other marks

quote: If you look at a VISA credit card you see three previous world empires represented. "VI" is the number 6 in the Roman numerals, "S" is the Stigma in the Greek culture whose value is 6, and lastly the "A" in the Babylonian culture is 6 ... i.e, VISA = 666! We are sure they didn't plan it that way. This whole thing is MUCH MUCH bigger than they are. It is only a sign of the nature and origin of their success.

Cults and Religions A thru Z

Commentary on Bible Prefaces

check back now and again as I will continue to add to this list 

The Dusty Sandals FB Collection

I have decided to copy and paste the 'Best Of My FB Page' right here in my old blog spot, like pasting photographs in a scrapbook, for future reading and reference. This will be a lengthy post with various topics, links and what-nots so get your scrolling skills sharpened. 

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Have you heard of Dean Gotcher of Authority Research? His experience and explanation of 'group think' shines a bright light on understanding how people have become who they are in this country. 
http://authorityresearch.com/

Quotes from Dean Gotcher's website Authority Research :

"Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Y'shua Messiah." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Articles on Diaprax === (The dialectical process put into praxis)

There is no Father's authority in dialogue, only equals.
Therefore, in dialogue, no one has a sense of "guilt" for disobeying the Father
since, in dialogue, there is not Father's authority to feel "guilty" about disobeying.
It was through dialogue (the use of the dialectic process) that Satan was able to deceive the woman in the garden in Eden, and every man since.

Y'shua Messiah would not dialogue with the devil, instead he preached and taught the words of His Father, "It is written ...." and He calls all who are His to do the same.

Isn't it strange that no matter how clear you make the truth, people still refuse to see  it, having to accept it by faith, even though it is in plain sight for all to see. Our love for the things of the world, i.e. seeking to become at-one-with the world, in pleasure, in the 'moment,' blinds us to the love of Our Heavenly Father, who chastens us, that we might partake in His holiness (and eternal life).

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The Story of the Four Thieves

The thieves were actually spice traders and merchants who imported spices, including cinnamon and clove from India. When the Black Plague hit, all international shipping and  trade was closed down. Unable to do business, these spice traders quickly ran out of money and had to find a way to support themselves.

Since people in the communities were afraid to touch the dead bodies, they decided to loot the homes and bodies of the plaque victims. They would take clothes, jewelry, pots and pans, and then barter or trade them for food and money. They knew they wouldn't get sick if they rubbed vinegar, oils, and certain spices all over their bodies.

When the King heard about the story of the thieves he wanted to know their secret. He wanted to know how they were able to touch dead bodies without getting sick! How did they protect themselves from the dreaded disease?

He sent his Constables out to capture them. Four of the thieves were caught and brought before the King. He gave them a choice to either share their secret formula of "immunity" or be burned at the stake. The four thieves decided to share their secret formula with the King. The King immediately posted the thieves secret formula all over the town. Hence the story of the four thieves.

Here is one recipe that I have used for 'clearing the air'
Ingredients:
40 drops Clove Bud essential oil
35 drops Lemon essential oil
20 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
15 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops Rosemary essential oil
Directions:
Mix all essential oils together in a dark glass bottle.
This blend is strong and should be diluted, 6-12 drops of essential oil can be added per 1 oz. of carrier oil such as almond or olive oil. 

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Lessons to be learned from sayings in which truth is cloaked.

Also known as

Proverbs

Learn wisdom and discipline.

Understand words of discernment (be able to separate truth from deception). Acquire discipline for righteousness, justice, fairness and success. Endow the simple with the ability to have sharp insight in practical affairs, and the young with knowledge and foresight.

If sinners entice you, do not give in, do not go with them. Keep your feet from their path - it leads to evil.

Make your ear attentive to wisdom and your mind open to discernment.

If you seek understanding and discernment, search for them as if you were searching for treasures, then you will understand the fear of YHWH and attain knowledge of Him. He is a Shield for those who live blamelessly.

You will understand what is right, just and equitable because wisdom will enter your mind and knowledge will delight you. Foresight will protect you and discernment will guide you and save you from the way of evil men.

So follow the way of the good and keep to the paths of the just for the upright will inhabit the earth, the blameless will remain in it. The wicked shall vanish from the land and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.

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The Olympics

Just when y'all thought I was taking a break from pointing out 

the Pagan Origins of things... it's not just the traditional holidays on the chopping block, no sir... lets take a look at the 

Origins of the Olympic Games

"Olympia, the town where [the Olympic Games] were held, was devoted to the worship of Zeus," who was "the sky- and weather-god of the ancient Greeks, whose name and functions correspond to those of the Latin Jupiter and of the Sanskrit Dyaus (pitar)." "The temple of Zeus at Olympia was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It contained a gold and ivory statue of the god that was more than 40 feet high" (The Olympic Spirit..., p. 11. Britannica, Vol. 23, p. 962).

"The Olympic Games were founded... in 776 BCE and held every four years in honor of Zeus. In the early years the games took place on just one day, as there were only two events, wrestling and the footrace. By 471 BCE there where more competitions also religious sacrifices, and feasting. The classical period saw all the famous events taking place such as boxing, pankration and the pentathlon." ~ Olympia, Encyclopedia Mythica

By the sixth century B.C. there were 13 events, and the contests lasted several days. "The first day was devoted to worship and preparation....On the second day the contests began.... Day three of the Olympics began with religious rites. A parade of judges, priests, athletes, and trainers marched to the sacred altar of Zeus. There, 100 oxen were sacrificed to the god. Their thighs were burned and their ashes added to those that had piled up over the centuries. The rest of the animals' flesh was eaten at a banquet after the games" (The Olympic Spirit..., pp. 11-12).

Thus the Olympic Games were pagan festivals for believers in the polytheistic Greek pantheon. "By the fifth century B.C., Olympia was the holiest place of ancient Greece," because so much religious ritual was tied to the games. "When an athlete won an event he was supposed to give public thanks to the deities" (Pursuit of Excellence, The Olympic Story, p. 24, 1979, published by Grolier Enterprises, Inc.).

I had to look up 'pankration' which is an "empty-hand submission sport with scarcely any rules"

So... the Olympics honor a false idol, a no-god, Zeus...

Quote: 

"The games remained a prestigious festival, even in the Roman era, but were disbanded in 393-4 CE by the Byzantine emperor Theodosius 1st as he prohibited all pagan festivals." ~ 

Most of us know the pagan origins of the Olympic games. We know of the 'gods of Mount Olympus', the vestal virgins (keepers of the Eternal Flame) in the ancient altar to Hera, and the symbols associated with the games. Physical exercise and prowess were also held in high-esteem and were akin to pagan 'heroes' of old such as Hercules.

The Jesuit-schooled Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games and was founder of the International Olympic Committee. According to Coubertin every one of the five rings symbolized one of the five continents. The conjunction of the five rings symbolized the conjunction of the continents during the athletic events and represents the ideal of peace and brotherhood of the whole planet. The flame symbolizes the purity which embodies the eternal youth of the Olympic philosophy. The universal symbol of the flame would lead all competitors to understand that it is necessary to work towards the lasting unity of mankind.

Baron de Coubertin so loved the religion of the games that his heart was buried in the temple of Apollo in Olympia. To Coubertin, the Olympian athlete was himself a god. In an 1892 proposal of the revival of the games, Coubertin said, "The first essential characteristic of the Olympics, both ancient as well as modern, is to be a religion. It represents, above and outside the Churches, humanity's superior religion."

Tradition

Definition of tradition:

1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4: characteristic manner, method, or style

It seems safe to interpret 'tradition' for the sake of this study as:

Inherited religious practices accepted as historical though not verifiable, handed down by word of mouth, affecting the social attitudes of the community. This applies to the characteristic manner of the Pharisees of yore and the same style of Religious Leaders of today.

Mark 7:8 

You have disregarded the commandment of Elohim to keep the tradition of men.” He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the commandment of Yahweh to maintain your own tradition.

Mark 7:13

Thus you nullify the word of Elohim by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.

Colossians 2:8 

Beware, or else any man make you naked by philosophy and by vain deception, according to the doctrines of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to the Mashiyach...

What started me along this line of thought was a facebook post by a person who stated that he bought a poinsettia, removed the holiday trappings from it and called it kosher.  I know this was in a some-what joking manner, but why do it? It is a 'tradition' to buy and give them as gifts this time of year. I know these plants are native to Mexico - but it's the 'tradition' which ties them to x-mas and that is what gets overlooked. If a Set Apart believer is seen buying typical holiday decorations, what kind of message does this project? Hypocrisy? Even the act of purchasing said plant contributes monetarily to the holiday season.

Maybe that's what bugs me about this - conceived perception - or the idea that most believers like to make the excuse, "He knows what's in my heart" and think that justifies any behavior. Now, if you know me and how I feel about following Mashiyach and obeying the Father; and then walk into my house and saw a bleeding heart picture of 'Jesus' on the wall, hanging next to a star of David flag, with 'christian rock' playing in the background and communion wafers on the coffee table, would that confuse you about me and my intentions? my honesty? my walk? How could you believe another word that came out of my mouth! 

That is how I was affected when I read that post by a 'fellow believer'; one who had long ago discovered our Hebrew beginnings and had been teaching others to obey the Instructions given us by Yahweh. By purchasing an obvious christmas item and calling it 'clean' (kosher), he caused me to doubt his integrity.  He caused me to 'doubt' his sincerity. I could no longer trust him to properly represent the Word of Elohim.  That saddened me, because this man had been in Torah for several years longer than I, and many looked to him as a teacher of the the truth of Yahweh.

There is Scripture that says 'let your yes be yes and your no be no' - which seems to instruct us to say what we mean so as not to be misunderstood.  If we are misunderstood (by joking around, for example) then one who hears, but doesn't understand, can spin a yarn of gossip. Let your actions be clear - no jokes, no sarcasm... leave no room for one to doubt your integrity. By our actions we become a light that shines in the darkness that others may find The Way.

James 5:12

But above all things, my Brothers, do not swear, neither by 'heaven' nor by the 'earth' nor by any other oath: let your language be 'yes, yes' and 'no, no' or else you become subject to judgment

We have been called to come out of the world system... This World, now... so as not to partake of her sins or her plagues at the return of Y'shua.

We become Set Apart else we cannot be a 'light' unto others. It is by our choice to obey the Father and live by His rules that we become noticeably different, set apart from the rest. We are in this world both physically and spiritually, not separate but a harmonious creation. We are noticeably different from the rest of the world - The Hebrews who lived in the area of Goshen were seen by the Egyptians as 'set apart' by their obvious lifestyle; the Egyptians knew the God of the Hebrews was with them, and it became very obvious during the final plagues before they were set free.

Romans 1:25 - They exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...
Jeremiah 9:12 - Yahweh replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their fathers had taught them.

It is written in Mark 7 about some of the traditions kept by the Pharisees and scribes. They ask Y'shua why his disciples don't follow these traditions and he says to them, 'the prophet did well prophesy about you hypocrites - "This people honor me with their lips. But their hearts are very distant from me. And vainly they fear me while they are teaching the doctrines of the commandments of the sons of men". (Isaiah 29:13) 

Mark 7:8 For you have left the Commandment of Elohim and embraced the traditions of men... You well rejected the Commandment of Elohim that you might establish your tradition.... And you despise the Word of Elohim, because of the tradition that you have handed down that resemble your own doings...

Isn't this reason enough to compel you to discover the origins of and what is meant by those traditions, those lies that have been handed down that cause us to turn our backs on Yahweh, instead of making excuses for them?

Isaiah 29:9

Act stupid and be stupefied! Act blind and be blinded! (They are drunk but not from wine, they stagger but not from liquor.) For Yahweh has spread over you a spirit of deep sleep, and has shut the eyes of the prophets, and covered the heads of the seers; so that all prophecy has been like the words of a sealed document.

29:13 Because that people has approached, honoring Me with words but has kept its heart far from Me, and its worship of Me has been a commandment of men, learned by rote-- truly, I shall further baffle that people and the wisdom of its wise shall fail, and the prudence of its prudent shall vanish. (this prophecy tells of the coming strong deception/delusion)

Definition of 'rote':

• the use of memory usually with little intelligence
• mechanical or unthinking routine or repetition 

I choose not to partake of 'traditions' that would make me appear uncertain of my Faith, which would make me look hypocritical to any Gentile keeping an eye on me.  If I cannot walk the path that Mashiyach set before me, how then can I be an example for others to follow? If I do not have my own house in order, how can I expect to be a light shining for others? Being led by the Spirit of Truth my desire is to remove all stumbling blocks from the very same path I have been traveling, for those trying to catch up before time runs out. Everything we need to know is written in Scriptures, as example for us in this day and age, so that we will indeed recognize the Good Shepherd's Voice.

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Jeremiah 16:18 - "I will first doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted My land; they have filled My inheritance (the land) with the carcasses of their detestable idols and with their abominations". O Yahweh, my strength and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress, to You the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, futility and things of no profit." Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!

We have inherited lies:

Intentionally, 

through the years of the

 twisting and replacement of truth.

Accidentally,

 by plain ignorance of the truth,

following traditions without question.

It is time to start asking questions

Habakkuk 2:18  

What has the carved image availed, that he who fashioned it has carved it for an image and a false oracle -- that he who fashioned his product has trusted in it, making dumb idols?

Let us not be destroyed for lack of knowledge

Let us not be lacking knowledge by choosing tradition

2 Samuel 7:28 

Now, O Yahweh Elohim, You are Elohim, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

John 8:32  

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

What about those who continue to twist the Word of Yahweh our Creator, and preach it to anyone who will listen, for their own glory and fame?

Matthew 7:22   

Many will say to me in that day, ‘My Master, did we not prophesy by your Name, and by your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them that from everlasting, ‘I have not known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.’ Therefore everyone who hears my words and does them is like a wise man who built his house on a stone. 

Future Government

Consider the possibility of the United Nations as the seat of the New World Order governing system.  It would be the perfect place for 10 world leaders to meet and fulfill prophecy (whether they know it or not) under the pretext of Sustainable Development for the World. Of those 10 leaders, three will disagree and eventually refuse to follow orders. They will be 'removed' so that their chosen World Leader can take his place. Here are a couple of links to the United Nations website for you to research on your own if you don't already know about the world wide reach of their powers:

Agenda 2030

Agenda 21

They even met in Rio de Janeiro in June of 2012 to form an outline of 

the future they want.

This modern day information is what inspires me to take a deeper look into the prophecies given in the book of Daniel, the dreams and visions he recorded and their interpretations as per Scriptures and other recorded historical events. These dreams and visions were telling about the time of the end when a final king would arise and attempt to conquer the world. 

We'll start with Nebuchadnezzar's dream about a large statue.

Daniel 2:32 

The head of that statue was of fine gold; its chest and arms were of silver; its belly and thighs of bronze; its legs were of iron, and its feet part iron and part clay.  A stone was hewn, not by hands, and struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.  All at once, the iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold were crushed and became like chaff of the threshing floors of summer; a wind carried them off until no trace was left.  But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that YHWH Elohim in heaven reveals mysteries and has made known to the king what is to be at the end of days.  

Daniel tells him what the dream means: 

The head of gold represents Nebuchadnezzar's current reign as king of Babylon. After his kingdom one represented by the silver, inferior to gold, arises, then yet a third kingdom, of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. But the fourth kingdom, strong as iron, will smash and crush those before it.  The feet which were part iron and part clay means it will be a divided kingdom.  And the toes which are mixed iron and clay means that kingdom will be part strong and part brittle.

:43 You saw iron mixed with common clay; that means: they shall intermingle with the offspring of men, but shall not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.  In the time of those kings, YHWH will establish a kingdom that shall never be destroyed nor transferred to another people.  It will crush and wipe out all these kingdoms and itself shall last forever, just as the stone hewn from the mountain, not by hands, crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold.

Make a note here, verse 43, "they shall intermingle with the offspring of men..." sounds an awful lot like what what was going on in the days of Noah when those divine beings left their station in heaven to defile themselves with the daughters of men.  Y'shua warns us that this is similar to one of the signs prior to his return.  Nebuchadnezzar was shown this future event in a dream. Who are 'they'? Non-humans? Trans-humans? Demon-spirits posing as extraterrestrials?

The kingdoms represented by the statue are as follows:

• Kingdom #1: Head of Gold Babylon empire's greatest King was Nebuchadnezzar (reigned 605 - 562 B.C.), who conquered the Kingdom of Judah, took the inhabitants as captives to Babylon and, in 586 B.C., burned Jerusalem and destroyed its temple. Babylon's world supremacy lasted 73 years. 
• Kingdom #:2 The chest and arms of silver Persian empire is considered the most powerful kingdom of the ancient world. At its height it spanned three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. It was during the reign of Cyrus the Great that captive Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. 
• Kingdom #3: The belly and thighs of bronze was the Greek kingdom of Alexander the Great. After his death in 323 B.C. his kingdom was divided up into four kingdoms by his generals.
• Kingdom #4: the legs of iron and feet mixed with clay Roman empire. Rome is considered the third largest and most powerful of the ancient empires. At the time of Y'shua it is believed Rome controlled a total population of 60 million people. In 395 A.D. the kingdom split into two separate pieces (two legs? or divided like iron and clay): The Eastern (Byzantine) Empire, which lasted until 1453 A.D. and the Western Empire, which lasted until 476 A.D.

Let move along to the time when Belshazzar is king of Babylon (chapter 7).  Daniel is the one to have a dream and a vision this time.  He sees four mighty beasts emerge from the sea which are different from each other.  The fourth beast was fearsome, dreadful and very powerful, with great iron teeth that devoured and crushed  and stamped the remains with its feet.  It was different from the ones that went before it and had ten horns.  A new little horn sprouted up among the ten and three of the older horns were uprooted to make room for it. There were eyes in the horn like a man and it spoke arrogantly. Because of the arrogant words it spoke it was killed, consigned to the flames.

In verse 15 we read that Daniel is disturbed and alarmed by this vision. One of the attendants (an angel) tells him the beasts represent four earthly kings/kingdoms after which the Set Apart Ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever and ever. The fourth beast with its teeth of iron, claws of bronze represents a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from the ones before it and it will devour the whole earth, tread it down and crush it.  Ten kings will arise from this fourth kingdom and then another will arise, different from the former ones and will bring low 3 kings.  He will speak words against the Most High and will harass the elect of YHWH Elohim.  He will think of changing times and laws, and they will be delivered into this power for a time, times and half a time (3-1/2 years). Then the court will sit and dominion will be taken away, to be destroyed and abolished for all time.

Three years later Daniel has another disturbing vision about a ram which no beast could withstand (chapter 8).  This ram did as he pleased and grew great.  A he-goat came from the west and it had a conspicuous horn on its forehead. He charged the ram and broke its two horns and the ram was powerless to withstand him. Then the he-goat grew very great but at the peak of his power his big horn was broken. Four conspicuous horns sprouted towards the four winds of heaven.  From one of them emerged a small horn which extended itself greatly south, east and towards the beautiful land.  It grew as high as the host of heaven and it hurled some stars of the heavenly host to the ground and trampled them.  It vaunted itself against the very chief of the host on its account the regular offering was suspended and His Set Apart place was abandoned.  An army was arrayed iniquitously against the regular offering, it hurled truth to the ground and prospered in what it did.

The angel Gabriel is told to explain this vision to Daniel.  He tells him it refers to the time of the end.

Chapter 8 verse 20: 

The two horned ram signifies the kings of Media and Persia and the he-goat the king of Greece with the large horn being the first king.  The four that came mean four kingdoms arise out of a nation but without its power.  When their kingdoms are at an end, when the measure of transgression has been filled, then a king will arise, impudent and versed in intrigue.  He will have great strength but not through his own strength. He will be extraordinarily destructive; he will prosper in what he does and destroy the mighty and the people of holy ones. By his cunning he will use deceit successfully. He will make great plans, will destroy many taking them unawares, and will rise up against the chief of chiefs, but will be broken, not by human hands.

Beginning in chapter 10, during the time Cyrus is king of Persia, we read Daniel experiences another vision concerning a time yet to come - the vision of the kings of the north and south. Details are given by an angel in chapter 11 and I have added in parenthesis actual events which fulfilled this vision:

The angel said, "Three more kings will rule over Persia, followed by a fourth, who will be richer than all the others. At the height of his power and wealth he will challenge the kingdom of Greece. :3 Then a heroic king will appear (Alexander the Great). He will rule over a huge empire and do whatever he wants. But at the height of his power his empire will break up and be divided into four parts. Kings not descended from him will rule in his place, but they will not have the power that he had (per Alexander's four generals: Seleucus/Asia; Ptolemy/Egypt; Lysimachus/Thrace; Cassander/Macedonia including Greece). :5 The king of the south will be strong. One of his generals, however, will be even stronger and rule a greater kingdom. After a number of years the king of Egypt will make an alliance with the king of Syria and give him his daughter in marriage. But the alliance will not last, and she, her husband, her child, and the servants who went with her will all be killed. :7 Soon afterward one of her relatives will become king. He will attack the army of the king of Syria, enter their fortress, and defeat them. 

He will carry back to Egypt the images of their gods and the articles of gold and silver dedicated to those gods. After several years of peace the king of Syria will invade Egypt, but he will be forced to retreat. :10 The sons of the king of Syria will prepare for war and gather a large army. One of them will sweep on like a flood and attack an enemy fortress. In his anger the king of Egypt will go to war against the king of Syria and capture his huge army. He will be proud of his victory and of the many soldiers he has killed, but he will not continue to be victorious. :13 The king of Syria will go back and gather a larger army than he had before... he will return with a large, well-equipped army. Then many people will rebel against the king of Egypt. And some violent people from your nation, Daniel, will rebel because of a vision they have seen, but they will be defeated. :15 So the king of Syria will lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The soldiers of Egypt will not continue to fight... :16 The Syrian invader will do with them as he pleases, without opposition. He will stand in the Promised Land and have it completely in his power. :17 The king of Syria will plan an expedition, using his whole army. Then, in order to destroy his enemy's kingdom, he will make an alliance with him and offer him his daughter in marriage; but his plan will not succeed. After that he will attack the nations by the sea and conquer many of them. But a foreign leader will defeat him and put an end to his arrogance; indeed he will turn the arrogance of Syria's king back on him. The king will return to the fortresses of his own land, but he will be defeated, and that will be the end of him. :20 He will be followed by another king, who will send an officer to oppress the people with taxes in order to increase the wealth of his kingdom. In a short time that king will be killed, but not publicly and not in battle. :21 The angel went on to explain: "The next king of Syria will be an evil man who has no right to be king, but he will come unexpectedly and seize power by trickery. Anyone who opposes him, even God's High Priest, will be swept away and wiped out. By making treaties, he will deceive other nations, and he will grow stronger and stronger, even though he rules only a small nation. :24 He will invade a wealthy province without warning and will do things that none of his ancestors ever did. Then he will divide among his followers the goods and property he has captured in war. He will make plans to attack fortresses, but his time will soon run out. He will boldly raise a large army to attack the king of Egypt, who will prepare to fight back with a huge and powerful army. But the king of Egypt will be deceived and will not be successful. His closest advisers will ruin him. Many of his soldiers will be killed, and his army will be wiped out. :27 Then the two kings will sit down to eat at the same table, but their motives will be evil, and they will lie to each other. They will not get what they want, because the time for it has not yet come. :28 The king of Syria will return home with all the loot he has captured, determined to destroy the faith of Yahweh's people. He will do as he pleases and then return to his own land. Later on he will invade Egypt again, but this time things will turn out differently. :30 The Romans will come in ships and oppose him, and he will be frightened. Then he will turn back in a rage and try to destroy the religion of God's people. He will follow the advice of those who have abandoned that religion. Some of his soldiers will make the Temple ritually unclean. They will stop the daily sacrifices and set up The Abominations that causes Desolation. By deceit the king will win the support of those who have already abandoned their faith, but those who follow Yahweh will fight back. Wise leaders of the people will share their wisdom with many others. But for a while some of them will be killed in battle or be burned to death, and some will be robbed and made prisoners. While the killing is going on, Yah's people will receive a little help, even though many who join them will do so for selfish reasons. :35 Some of those wise leaders will be killed, but as a result of this the people will be purified. This will continue until the end comes, the time that YHWH Elohim has set. :36 The king of Syria will do as he pleases. He will boast that he is greater than any god, superior even to the Supreme God. He will be able to do this until the time when Yah punishes him - He will do exactly what He has planned. The king will ignore the god his ancestors served, and also the god that women love. In fact, he will ignore every god, because he will think he is greater than any of them. Instead, he will honor the god who protects fortresses. He will offer gold, silver, jewels, and other rich gifts to a god his ancestors never worshiped. To defend his fortresses, he will use people who worship a foreign god. He will give great honor to those who accept him as ruler, put them into high offices, and give them land as a reward.  When the king of Syria's final hour has almost come, the king of Egypt will attack him, and the king of Syria will fight back with all his power, using chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade many countries, like the waters of a flood. He will even invade the Promised Land and kill tens of thousands, but the countries of Edom, Moab, and what is left of Ammon will escape. When he invades all those countries, even Egypt will not be spared. He will take away Egypt's hidden treasures of gold and silver and its other prized possessions. He will conquer Libya and Ethiopia. :44 Then news that comes from the east and the north will frighten him, and he will fight furiously, killing many people.  He will even set up his huge royal tents between the sea and the mountain on which the Temple stands. But he will die, with no one there to help him."

Daniel 12 

At that time the great angel Michael, who guards your people, will appear. Then there will be a time of troubles, the worst since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, all the people of your nation whose names are written in God's book will be saved. Many of those who have already died will live again: some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace. The wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky. And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever. :4 He said to me, And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world. Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening." Then I saw two men standing by a river, one on each bank. One of them asked the angel who was standing further upstream, "How long will it be until these amazing events come to an end?" The angel raised both hands toward the sky and made a solemn promise in the name of the Eternal God. I heard him say, "It will be three and a half years. When the persecution of God's people ends, all these things will have happened." :8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand it. So I asked, "But, sir, how will it all end?" He answered, "You must go now, Daniel, because these words are to be kept secret and hidden until the end comes. Many people will be purified. Those who are wicked will not understand but will go on being wicked; only those who are wise will understand. From the time the daily sacrifices are stopped, that is, from the time of The Awful Horror, 1,290 days will pass. Happy are those who remain faithful until 1,335 days are over! And you, Daniel, be faithful to the end. Then you will die, but you will rise to receive your reward at the end of time."

I know this is lengthy but all of these visions are prophecies of the end times and examples of events leading up to the final world government prior to the return of Y'shua Messiah and his kingdom on earth. Yah tells us the end from the beginning so that when these thing occur we will know He is who He says He is.

Lets review but only by the similarities per each vision: The number 4, the metal iron, the king who is different from the ones before, the kingdom smashed by the Rock and his earthly kingdom...

• the fourth kingdom, strong as iron, will smash and crush those before it. The feet which were part iron and part clay means it will be a divided kingdom.  And the toes which are mixed iron and clay means that kingdom will be part strong and part brittle.

• The fourth beast was fearsome, dreadful and very powerful, with great iron teeth that devoured and crushed  and stamped the remains with its feet.  It was different from the ones that went before it and had ten horns.  A new little horn sprouted up among the ten and three of the older horns were uprooted to make room for it.

• Ten kings will arise from this fourth kingdom and then another will arise, different from the former ones and will bring low 3 kings.  He will speak words against Yahweh the Most High and will harass the Set Apart Ones of the Most High.  He will think of changing times and laws, and they will be delivered into this power for a time, times and half a time (3-1/2 years).

• From one of them emerged a small horn which extended itself greatly south, east and towards the beautiful land.  It grew as high as the host of heaven and it hurled some stars of the heavenly host to the ground and trampled them.  It vaunted itself against the very chief of the host on its account the regular offering was suspended and His Set Apart place was abandoned.  An army was arrayed iniquitously against the regular offering, it hurled truth to the ground and prospered in what it did.

• Then a king will arise, impudent and versed in intrigue.  He will have great strength but not through his own strength. He will be extraordinarily destructive; he will prosper in what he does and destroy the mighty and the people of holy ones. By his cunning he will use deceit successfully. He will make great plans, will destroy many taking them unawares, and will rise up against the chief of chiefs, but will be broken, not by human hands.

Y'shua refers us back to Daniel, confirming his visions were for a future time.

Matthew 24:15

And when you see the sign of uncleanness and desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, which will stand in the Set Apart place, he that reads, let him understand.

Daniel 9:27 

During one week he will make a firm covenant with many. For half a week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and meal offering. At the corner of the altar (in the Set Apart place) will be an appalling abomination until the decreed destruction will be poured down upon this appalling thing.

Further reading, study and research:
History of Macedonia
King of the North/South

The Roman Empire circa 395

I bring up the Ottoman Empire as an alternative to the common belief that the final world government will be a revived Roman empire. More on this, later. In the meantime this is a video worth watching:
Armageddon News

Offerings and Sacrifices

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.

We read about these laws pertaining to the reasons for and the handling of sacrifices recorded in the books Genesis through Deuteronomy, Leviticus in particular.  It stands to reason that if certain requirements no longer exist then we cannot follow through on the physical doings of those rules Yah said were everlasting. The rules, laws, regulations and commandments still pertain to us today but mostly by spiritual observance, in anticipation of the Kingdom to come. The temple- House of Elohim -no longer stands, hence the priesthood no longer exists so offerings cannot be sacrificed.

Hebrews 10... in (Yah's Instructions for His Creation) there was a shadow of the good things to come; not the substance (reality) of the things themselves. Therefore, although the same sacrifices were offered every year, they could never perfect those who offered them. For, if they had perfected them, they would have, long ago, stopped making offerings because they (would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But in those sacrifices, every year they recognized their sins). For the blood of bulls and of goats cannot purge away sins. Therefore, when Yahshua came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

but a body you prepared for me;

with burnt offerings and sin offerings

you were not pleased.

I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—

I have come to do your will, O Elohim"

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 (Yahshua 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. After which the Ruach haKodesh testifies by saying, This is the covenant I will give them after those days; says Master Yahweh... I will put my Torah/Instructions into their minds and inscribe it on their hearts and their iniquity and sins I will not remember against them.

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