Form or Function?

Physical or Spiritual?

Why do the modern day Jews and supporters of the state of Israel think they need to build another temple in Jerusalem? They certainly have overlooked First Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are the temple of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?" 

The Temple Institute's ultimate goal is to "see Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem". They have already chosen the priests and have bred red heifers, and have made many of the utensils required for temple service.  If they succeed, don't they realize Satan will stand in it and call himself 'god'? These people believe they are commanded to build this temple according to the vision given to Ezekiel. How can you choose to act on one vision then ignore prophecy?

That may be the key... they are fulfilling prophecy. 

In the second chapter of Revelation we read about Jews who call themselves Jews but are not, they lie, they are of the synagogue of Satan, thus doing the work of Satan, preparing the stage for the final seven years of life as we know it.

The act of building this 'third temple' isn't so much according to the vision Ezekiel had (which the Institute claims is their command to build), but is very much in line with the end times events, especially the final seven years.

Y'shua is aware of this future temple. He tells us in Matthew 24 that the "sign of uncleanness" (abomination) and desolation will eventually stand in the Set Apart place (commonly known as the holy of holies). He also refers us to 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 will be an appalling abomination until the decreed destruction will be poured down upon the appalling thing. Also in Daniel 11:31- Forces will be levied by him, they will desecrate the temple, the fortress, they will abolish the regular offering and set up the appalling abomination. And noted in Daniel 12:11: From the time the regular offering is abolished and an appalling abomination is set up will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

The sacrifices mentioned are the regular offering and the meal offering.  The regular offering is made along with the meal offering which includes drink. Exodus 29:38 and Numbers 28:3 tell us what these offerings consist of: 2 yearling lambs as burnt offerings, one to be offered in the morning and one at twilight; choice flour mixed with pure olive oil as the meal offering and the drink offering of wine. This should put to rest the argument that Y'shua was the sacrifice to end all sacrifices; his blood was shed as Atonement for Sins, not as a regular every day sacrifice.

Hebrews 10 (lightly paraphrased- Dusty) 

We choose to accept Y'shua as our High Priest who offered a one time sacrifice for sins, who sits forever at the right hand of Elohim where he waits until his foes are placed as a footstool under his feet. For, by one offering (himself), he has perfected forever them who are sanctified (set apart) by him. And the Ruach haKodesh also testifies to us by saying: This is the covenant which I will give them after those days, says Master YHWH: I will put my Torah into their minds and inscribe it on their hearts and their iniquity and their sins I will not remember against them. Now, where there is a forgiveness of sins there is no offering for sin demanded. We have therefore my Brothers assurance of entering into the sanctuary by the blood of Y'shua and by a path of life.

Getting back to that abomination, Y'shua tells us, as it is written in Mark 13:14 - So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

and Matthew 24:15 - So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand)

Daniel describes this 'abomination' as one who will make a firm covenant with many, who will eventually put a stop to the sacrifice and meal offering. At the corner of the altar will be an appalling abomination until the decreed destruction will be poured down upon the appalling thing.

This can read as the final world leader who brings peace to the world, gets many to sign an agreement and allows Jews to reinstate their tradition as a gesture of good will. He shall (after 3-1/2 years) bring an end to these rituals, having an image of himself placed in the temple and entering the 'holy of holies' claiming that he is 'god'.  All this being said, it becomes obvious that a temple will exist in the end times scenario, but is not the temple of Ezekiel's vision.

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Ezekiel was shown extraordinary visions.  He was called  by Yahweh to be a watchman for His people, the House of Israel. Could it be he was shown a representation of another reality - the 'what could be' if those who claim to be Yah's People would actually repent and return to Him - accept the covenant and terms of that covenant by actually obeying those Instructions. They had that very opportunity when the exile ended and they were free to return to Jerusalem.

The first House of Elohim was the Tabernacle. Yahweh moved from the mountain to the tent, to be in the midst of His people. Later, Yah approved His House to be built by Solomon. Yahweh moved from the tent into a permanent location, the last place where He attached His Name. Solomon's Temple was destroyed by the siege of Nebuchadnezzar and the armies of Babylon in 586 BC. Some seventy years later the exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, again by the will of Yahweh who used King Cyrus to make it so. Although modest in comparison to the First Temple, the Second Temple was later enlarged and expanded by Herod the Great. This latter temple was the one which existed during the time of Y'shua.

I came across this while reviewing my other studies which gave me one of those 'ah-ha!' moments. The writings of Paul recorded in Ephesians seem to shed some light and possibly confirm this vision Ezekiel was shown as being something so glorious and wonderful - something mere man cannot grasp or imagine in size or magnitude. Let us remember Ezekiel's other visions were also very detailed and powerful although difficult to imagine. It is possible that Ezekiel was being 'shown' the results of Man's Hope in The Good News of the Kingdom to Come and the awesome power and Love of the Father when He restores all things.

Ephesians 1:6 - That the glory of His grace might be glorified which He poured upon us through His Beloved One; by whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins by his blood, according to the riches of his grace which abounds in us, in all wisdom and all spiritual understanding. 12- That we should be the first who hoped in the Mashiyach, to the honor of his glory - in whom you have also heard the Word of Truth which is the Good News of your life 18- And that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Set Apart believers; and which is the excellence of the majesty of his power in us who believe; according to the efficiency of the strength of his power which He put forth in His Son and raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in heaven.  Ephesians 2:7- That He might show to the coming ages the magnitude of the riches of His grace and His goodness towards us in Y'shua the Mashiyach. 18- Because by him there is access for us both, by one Spirit, to the Father. Wherefore you are not strangers nor sojourners but are fellow-citizens with the Set Apart believers and of the household of Elohim. And you are built upon the foundations of the Apostles and the prophets; and Y'shua the Mashiyach has become the head of the corner in the edifice. and in him all the edifice is framed together and grows into a Set Apart temple in Master Yahweh; while you also are built in him for a habitation of Elohim through the Spirit.  Ephesians 3- To me, Paul, who am the least of all the Set Apart believers, has this grace been given that I should announce among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of the Mashiyach, and should show to all men what is the architecture of the mystery which for ages was hid in Elohim the Creator of all things, so that by means of the assembly (of Set Apart believers) the manifold wisdom of Elohim might become known - which He arranged ages before and worked it through Y'shua our Master. Therefore I pray - and I bow my knees to the Father of our Master Y'shua from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit; that in your inner man the Mashiyach may dwell by faith, an in your hearts by love while your root and foundation increases  greatly in strength; and that you may be able to explore, with all the Set Apart believers, what is the height and depth and length and breadth, and may know the greatness of the Mashiyach's love and that you may be filled with all the fullness of Elohim.

That we may be able to explore with our fellow believers, learning together as one from our study of Scriptures, the greatness of His Love, that we shall know the expanse: the height and depth and length and breadth of that Kingdom to Come and the mystery of the New Heavens, New Earth and the New Jerusalem. We can only be part of it if we become set apart from this world's system and false religions.

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***

In Revelation 21 we read about the restoration of all things: new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem = the bride of Y'shua.  There was no temple to be seen in it for Master YHWH Amighty is its temple, and the Lamb.

I saw new heavens and a new earth for the former heaven and earth had passed away; the sea was no more. And I saw the Set Apart city, the New Jerusalem, descending from Elohim out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven, which said: Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with me; and He dwells with them; they will be His people; and Elohim will be with them - their Elohim. And every tear will be wiped for their eyes; and there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor wailing or pain because the former things are passed away.

He who sat on the throne said: Behold, I make all things new. I am Alef and Tav, the Beginning and the Completion: to him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of living water, freely. He that overcomes will inherit these things; and I will be his Elohim. But to the timid and unbelieving, and to the sinful and polluted, and to manslayers and whoremonger, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and to all false persons, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

There are several similarities when one compares Ezekiel's temple vision with the restoration descriptions recorded in Revelation. This time frame is after the Kingdom of Y'shua, after Satan's last attempt to war against Yahweh; after Satan has been tossed into Fire Lake forever and ever- When our Creator restores all things.

Ezekiel’s Temple compared with John’s Revelation

Both Ezekiel and John views are from a high mountain:

Ezekiel 40:1 - He brought me, in visions of Yahweh, to the Land of Israel and He set me down on a very high mountain

Revelation 21:10 - And he bore me away in the spirit to a mountain great and high and showed me the Set Apart city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Elohim

They both record the measurements that were taken:

Ezekiel 40:3 - A 'man' who shown like copper had a linen cord and measuring rod.  Revelation 21:15 - A Messenger/angel had a golden reed with which to measure the city, gates and walls 

Ezekiel 40:5 - Along the 'outside' of the temple area ran a wall on every side (one rod deep and one rod high) Square in shape. (Many other measurements are recorded) Ezekiel 48:30 - The city is square, each side measures 4,500 cubits.  

Revelation 21:16 -The city is measured and stood up four square

Ezekiel 43:13 - diminsions of the altar, trench and rim are given and is used for burnt offerings.

Revelation 22:26 - The nations shall bring their glory and honor into it (as offerings?)

Ezekiel 44:4-14 - Instructions for all the laws of the temple are given and Yahweh points out to the House of Israel all the abominations they have committed and allowed in His Sanctuary.

Revelation 21:27 - Nothing shall enter the city that is polluted, impure and false, but only they who are registered in the Lamb's Book of Life

Ezekiel 48 - Twelve exits from the city; gates named after the sons of Israel

Revelation 21:12-13 - And it had a wall great and lofty, which had twelve gates and names inscribed on them - the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

Ezekiel 47:1 - water was issuing from below the platform of the temple - eastward - but flowing out at the south side of the altar, gushing out from under the south wall. 9 It will be wholesome and everything will live wherever this stream goes.

Revelation 22 - A river of living water, clear as a crystal, ran from the throne of Elohim and the Lamb and in the middle of main street (broad avenue) on both sides was the tree of life.

Ezekiel 47:12 - All kinds of trees for food will grow on both banks of the stream - they will yield new fruit every month - their fruit will serve as food and their leaves for healing.

Revelation 21:2 - In the middle of the broad avenue, near the river, spanning both sides, was the tree of life which bore twelve sorts of fruits yielding one of its fruits each month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Ezekiel 48:35 - The name of the city from that day on shall be "Yahweh is There. Revelation 21:22 - And I saw no temple in it for Master Yahweh Almighty is its temple, and the Lamb.  And the city has no need of the sun or the moon for the glory of Elohim enlightens it, and the Lamb is the lamp of it

I conclude at this time that Yahweh gave this vision to Ezekiel to illustrate the awesome power and glory of the heavenly realm. Ezekiel was shown the Hope we have in the Good News of the Kingdom to come! He was told to share this 'vision' to those who had grown hopeless. This sharing of the Good News is echoed throughout the Renewed Covenant writings (ie: New Testament). Ezekiel, the Watchman for the House of Israel, shared this Good News with those people. Ezekiel is the type and shadow for Set Apart believers in this day and age, sharing the Good News of the Kingdom to come- a joyous time we can only try to imagine and hope for. How on earth could we describe it?

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Yah's timing once again was very appropriate because this was during the Babylonian exile while the rest of the Israelites had scattered northward and beyond. 

Around 605 B.C. Nineveh and Assyria had fallen. It was just Egypt and Babylon who were seeking world supremacy. The young new king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, went out and defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish. He marched on to Judah, during Jehoiakim's reign, and took thousands of Hebrews back to Babylon (including Daniel, who became one of the greatest prophets). Nebuchadnezzar made two more attacks when he heard of rebellion in Judah. Each time he took captives (including Ezekiel the prophet). Only a remnant of the weakest, poorest, and least threatening Hebrews in Judea remained. King Nebuchadnezzar set up a puppet king (Zedekiah) of David's line to sit on the throne of Judah and made him swear an oath of allegiance (2 Chr 36:10-12). Zedekiah was as faithless as the rest of the evil kings of Judah. He then rebelled and allied with other enemies. When Nebuchadnezzar heard he came back for the last time (586 B.C.) to reduce Jerusalem to rubble and send the Temple up in flames. Zedekiah was forced to witness the slaughter of his sons, then his eyes were put out, and he himself was carried off to Babylon. The Babylonian Captivity lasted exactly 70 years as predicted, from the burning of the Temple to its reconstruction, 586 BC - 
516 BC.

Here is a link to historical background of these events

***The following I gleaned from a study by Steve Gregg:
When Ezekiel was given this vision (573 BC), there was no temple standing in Jerusalem. Solomon’s temple, which had previously stood there, had been destroyed earlier by Nebuchadnezzar, when he conquered Jerusalem and deported the citizens to Babylon. This means that Ezekiel was not seeing Solomon’s temple. Nor was he seeing the rebuilt temple during Zerubbabel's time. That temple ended up being much smaller, and less elaborate, than the one Ezekiel describes. 

In chapter 40 of the book of Ezekiel, "in the 25th year of our exile, the 14th year after Jerusalem had fallen, at the beginning of the year, on the 10th day of that month - on that very day " the prophet is transported in vision by the Hand of Elohim from his home among the exiles in Babylon to the Land of Israel, and Yahweh sat him down on a very high mountain. He saw what seemed to be the outline of a city on the south side. Yah brought Ezekiel over to it and standing at the gate was a a man who shone like copper, holding a cord of linen and a measuring rod. This 'man' tells Ezekiel to pay close attention to everything he was going to be shown so as to report everything to the House of Israel. 

My note: You see, there is no "command" that this temple is to be built, but everything was to be reported to the people of the House of Israel. Was Yah telling them this is what you could have, if only you would obey Me?

The response of the Jews to their opportunity to return and to rebuild their temple was notoriously tepid. Only a small remnant opted even to return to Jerusalem, while the rest were content to remain in Babylon. As a result, the temple they built proved to be inferior to the one that Ezekiel described. 

Though the Jews did not meet the conditions to have such a temple as Ezekiel’s, the pattern preserved in these chapters stands as a description of an intended order, which, had it materialized, would have testified, as the tabernacle once did, as a type and shadow of “heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5). This, we may assume, was the long-term purpose served by the vision.

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Ezekiel 44:6 - to the rebellious House of Israel, says Yahweh, Too long have you committed all your abominations, admitting aliens, uncircumcised of spirit and flesh, to be in My Sanctuary and profane My very Temple, when you offer up My food - the fat and the blood. You have broken My covenant with all your abominations. You have not discharged the duties concerning My sacred offerings, but have appointed them (uncircumcised strangers of spirit and flesh) to discharge the duties of My Sanctuary for you. The Levites who forsook Me when Israel went astray from Me to follow their fetishes, shall suffer their punishment for making them stumble into guilt (the priesthood lineage now shifts to the descendants of Zadok. II Samuel 8:17 tells us Zadok was one of the priests who maintained the service of Yah's Sanctuary, the temple, when the people of Israel has gone astray.) 

Yahweh specifically mentions the priest descended from Zadok - Take a look at this chart (from bible maps) to follow the order of the priesthood over the years:

We learned from reading the first five books of Scriptures that the plan, the pattern of the Temple is to train His people on how to approach Him.  Ezekiel's vision drives this point home!

Yahweh has always desired to be in the midst of His people

From the Heavenly Realm to The Mountain, then to the

The Tent, where they traveled together 40 years

Then His House was built by Solomon

and that is the last place Yah attached His Name

His Son, Yahshua taught us

The Body is now the Temple

wherein dwells the Ruach haKodesh

Then comes

The Earthly Kingdom

where we shall be perfected until

The Restoration of All Things

Always Saved?

There are those who teach "eternal security", which became the Christian mantra of 'Once Saved Always Saved':

"... eternal security is that work of God in which He guarantees that the gift of salvation once received is possessed forever and cannot be lost."

Can we find that in Scriptures?  What does it mean that our salvation "once received is possessed forever and cannot be lost." 

Charles Stanley's view: "The Bible clearly teaches that God's love for His people is of such magnitude that even those who walk away from the faith have not the slightest chance of slipping from His hand... Even if a believer for all practical purposes becomes an unbeliever, his salvation is not in jeopardy.... believers who lose or abandon their faith will retain their salvation ...." 

By these statements, Charles Stanley's teaches someone is still "saved" even if he "becomes an unbeliever" or "abandons their faith." In other words, one's salvation is always "possessed forever and cannot be lost" even if such a person no longer believes!

"In essence this 'interpretation' relieves them of all personal responsibility in their relationship with God. After all, if I am saved, and there is nothing that I can do to be lost, then it doesn’t really matter how I behave or act, so I need not worry that much about it. The truth is that this is a most dangerous doctrine when it comes to matters of religion, because it deceives people into thinking that their relationship with God is secure, when it really is not."

What does "once saved" mean?

It is used by those who think salvation is merely a choice and recitation of a prayer. Rather than believing God's sovereign will and work in salvation, they teach the heresy of decisional regeneration – sinners decide when God must save them, contrary to the Bible. They limit salvation to the moment they decided to be saved. This includes the inventions of "going forward" and/or "inviting Jesus into my heart." They look at this date as the "once saved" event that counts.

What does "always saved" mean?

For those who pin salvation on their decision, it means salvation cannot be taken away or lost, no matter how they live. "Always saved" guarantees salvation, regardless of what happens later, whether they live a holy and righteous life or one of sin without fruit or good works.  

According to Charles Stanley's gospel, one's spiritual condition at the very end of his life is totally irrelevant to his eternal destiny! This idea cannot be found in Scriptures.

Revelation 2:10 - Be not terrified at any of the things you are to suffer. The Accuser will throw some of you into custody that you may be tried; and there will be trouble for you ten days. Be faithful to death and I will give you the crown of life. 

Revelation 2:11 - He that hears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He that is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.  

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who endures temptations so that when he is proved he may receive a crown of life which Elohim has promised to them that love Him. 

Hebrews 3:13 - But look deeply into yourselves all the days, during the day which is called today and let none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have part with the Mashiyach, if we endure in this firm confidence, from the beginning to the end, as it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, and do not harden your hearts, to anger him.

Where did the "once saved always saved" doctrine come from? 

The Westminster Confession of 1647 is a creed that is the basis of many Protestant beliefs, including “Perseverance of the Saints,” otherwise known as “once saved always saved.” It states the following: 

They, whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XVII, Article I, 1647). 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England. Many Reformation preachers, like John Calvin, taught this “once saved always saved” doctrine. Many preachers still teach is today. But read what is written in Scripture:

Hebrews 6:4 - But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven receiving the Ruach haKodesh and the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, cannot again sin and second time be renewed to repentance, or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim.

2 Peter 2:20 - For if, when they have escaped the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of our Master and Redeemer Y'shua, they become again involved in the same and are vanquished, their latter state is worse then the former. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after having known it, to turn back from the Set Apart Commandment that was delivered to them. The true proverb has happened to them: the dog returns to his vomit and the pig that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. 

Jude 1:5 - Let me remind you that Elohim, after once rescuing the people from Egypt, again destroyed them who did not believe.

Guess that kind of flies in the face of 'once saved always saved', don't it?

Acts 2:38 tells us in order to be saved (from the curse of eternal death) that we are to repent (return to Yahweh, turn from our sinful ways) and be immersed (mikveh/baptised/ritually cleansed) so that we may receive the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). 

We are not automatically 'filled with the spirit' nor 'baptized in the spirit' but are made ready to receive it.  We prepare for the indwelling of the Ruach haKodesh by spending time >every day< in the Word of Elohim.  Even the apostles who were taught by Y'shua in person were not filled with the Spirit of Truth until 50 days after the death of Y'shua - specifically ten days after the resurrected Son of Elohim was taken up and placed at the Right hand of the Father.

If we turn away from our old sinful ways and return to the Creator, learn His Teachings and be immersed symbolizing our intentions, then we are ready to receive the gift of His Set Apart Spirit. If we make the first move then Yah will follow up, giving us His unmerited love and favor. It is a process, not an end-all. We never stop learning until the day He restores all things!  His Spirit continues to reveal and comfort us with His Truth providing we continue on His Path of Righteousness.

In the letter to the Romans, Paul refers to himself as a servant of Y'shua, who was called, sent and separated to the Good News of Elohim and acknowledges it is from Him whom we have received grace and a mission... to the end that all may obey the faith among whom are called by Y'shua.

Grace doesn't just happen - it is a result of our Faith. Faith is our belief, our trust in YHWH Elohim. In trusting Him we choose to obey His Instructions. The result is Righteousness - we become morally justified and freed from sin.

Hebrews 11 - Now faith is the persuasion of the things that are in hope as if they were an actual fact, and it is the manifesting of the things not seen. For by faith we understand that the worlds were shaped by the Word of Elohim and that things seen originated from those that are not seen.

By faith, Abel offered to Elohim a better sacrifice and on account of it he is testified of being righteous. By faith, Enoch was translated and did not taste death and there was testimony of him that he pleased Elohim. By faith, Noah when he was told of the things not seen, obeyed Yahweh and made an ark and became righteous which is by faith. By faith, Abraham, when called, obeyed and departed to the place of his inheritance while he had no idea where he was going. By faith he became a resident in the land that was promised. All these died in faith and did not receive their promise but they saw it from a distance and rejoiced in it, and they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

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

The Apostle Paul's confidence for eternal life was in fighting a good fight, finishing his course, and keeping the faith: 

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought a good fight, I have completed my race, I have preserved my faith; and from now on there is preserved for me a crown of righteousness with which my Master Y'shua, the Righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not me only, but them also who love his manifestation.

2 Timothy 1:12 - Therefore I suffer these things; and I am not ashamed for I know in whom I have believed...

We receive the Blessing - Life Eternal - if we obey our Creator and believe in His Son who taught the Hope which is the Good News of the Kingdom to come. Not of our own doing, nor any doctrine of man, but by the Grace of Elohim. 

There is a starting point and it is different for each of us.  Mine was years ago while watching a preacher on TV because he looked like my grandpa. This was the first time I'd ever come across this fella. His tone of voice caught my attention more than whatever it was he was teaching, and after several moments those words hit home. I started crying as 'knowledge' of my sins became apparent - and were many.  Something struck a deep resonating chord within me.  It just happened.  I did not know a smidgen of the things I have learned over the years and had no idea I'd be immersed in His Word as I am today.

All praise belongs to Yahweh

All praise belongs to our Father in heaven

Ezekiel

Priest - Prophet - Servant of the Almighty

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of Elohim. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, the word of Yahweh came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Elohim was upon him.

And then he was shown a vision of a whirlwind coming from the north --

A great cloud with fire flashing, surrounded by a radiance; and in the center of it, in the midst of fire, a gleam like amber.  There were also four creatures in the midst. They had the figures of human beings.  However, each had four faces, and each one had four wings. The legs of each were fused into one single rigid leg with their feet forming something like a single calf's hoof (cloven). 

They sparkled like the luster of polished bronze. Below their wings were human hands. The four of them had faces and wings on their four sides –their wings touched one another. They did not turn when they went, but went in the direction of any of its faces. They went wherever the spirit impelled them to go, without turning when they moved.

Each had a human face at the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle at the back. Their wings were separate: above they each had two which touched those of the others, while the other pair covered its body.

With them was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving among them. The fire had a radiance, and lightening issued from the fire. Dashing about the creatures was something that looked like flares.

And I looked at the living creatures, and saw a wheel on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their works was like the appearance of beryl, and all four had the same form. The appearance and structure of each was as of two wheels cutting through each other.

When they moved, they went in any one of four directions, they did not veer when they moved. Their rims were tall and frightening, covered all over with eyes.

And when the living creatures moved, the wheels moved at their sides. And when the creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Above the heads of the creatures was an expanse with an awe-inspiring gleam as of crystal. Under the expanse their wings were extended, one toward another and each one had a pair which covered its body. When they moved, I heard the noise of their wings, like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of El Shaddai, a tumult like the noise of an army.  From the expanse over their heads came a sound. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop. 

Above the expanse over their heads was the semblance of a throne which looked as if made of sapphire.  On top of this was the semblance of a human form.  What appeared as from his waist up was a gleam like amber - like fire encased in a frame. From his waist down looked like fire. There was a radiance all around him, like a rainbow.

That was the appearance of the semblance of the Presence of Yahweh. When I realized Who this was, I flung myself down on my face. I heard the voice of someone speaking.

He said to me:
O mortal, stand up that I may speak to you.  I am sending you to the people of Israel, that nation of rebels, who have rebelled against Me. They as well as their fathers have defied Me to this very day.  You shall say to them: 'Here is what Yahweh Elohim said' (whether they listen or not, for they are a rebellious breed) but they should know there was a prophet among them. Do not fear them or their words, though thistles and thorns press against you and you sit upon scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say, but speak My Words to them, whether they listen or not. 

You, mortal, heed what I say to you, do not be rebellious like them. Eat what I am giving you. (A scroll written on both sides with lamentations, dirges and woes which tasted sweet as honey).  Speak My very words to them.  You are speaking to the House of Israel, who are of intelligent speech and simple language, easy to understand. Yet they will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to Me.

Ezekiel returned to the exile community that lived in Tel Abib (southeast of Babylon) by the Chebar Canal and remained there. Seven days he sat there stunned by what he had seen and heard.  After those seven days, Yahweh told Ezekiel:

I appoint you watchman for the House of Israel; when you hear from Me you must warn them for Me. For example, if I say to a wicked man, 'You shall die' and you do not warn him -- you do not speak to warn the wicked man of his wicked course in order to save his life -- the wicked man shall die for his iniquity, but I will require a reckoning for his blood from you.  But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not return back from his wickedness and his wicked course, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your own life.  Same goes for a righteous man who abandons his righteousness and does wrong, when I put a stumbling block before him, he shall die for his sins; the righteous deeds that he did shall not be remembered, but because you did not warn him, I will require a reckoning for his blood from you. If, however, you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall live because he took the warning and you will have saved your own life.

Ezekiel has seen the Presence of Yahweh Elohim and was chosen by Yahweh to be a watchman for the House of Israel, to warn them of the error of their ways in order to save their lives; to return to the Instructions for Righteous Living given by Yahweh Elohim. Choosing Life is a theme, if not the main theme, that runs throughout Scriptures and still applies to us in this day and age.  Many of us are stiff necked, stubborn and rebellious.

A Woman Rides the Beast

Revelation 18 (lightly paraphrased) 

Fallen is Babylon the great... it has become a cavern of demons, and the home of every unclean spirit, and every unclean and hateful bird and every unclean and hateful beast of prey. All nations have drank the wine of her wrath and the kings of the earth have practiced whoredom with her... the merchants of the earth have been enriched by the abundance of her luxuries.

We are warned to 'come out of her' so as not to participate in her sins, which have reached high heaven, nor should we partake of her plagues because Yahweh has remembered her wickedness.

This Babylon was pleased with herself and her lusting, thinking of herself as a queen who will see no sorrow. But in one day Yah judges her and along with her plagues will be death and mourning and famine, as she burns. She was one of the biggest importers of goods, which makes the merchants sad because now they cannot sell their inventory: 

gold; silver; precious stones; pearls; fine linen; purple; silk; scarlet; aromatic wood; ivory; precious wood; brass; iron; marble; cinnamon; cardamon; aromatics and unguents; frankincense; wine; oil; fine flour; wheat; beast of burden; sheep; horses chariots; and the bodies and souls of men.

Those who had gotten rich off her, every pilot, navigator and sailor, will stand far away for fear of her torment. They cry and say "Alas! that great city which was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, because in one hour such riches are laid waste." She will be thrown down and never found again. In her was found the blood of prophets and Set Apart believers and of all those that have been slain on the earth.

(As of 01/27/2017 The USA is the largest importer of goods, although this may change according to plans Mr. Trump has about 'making America great again'...)

Mystery Babylon

A woman sits upon a red beast of prey which has 7 heads and 10 horns. This beast is full of blasphemous names. The woman appears to be either in control of the world's governing system or extremely influential in its decision making process, but the others end up hating her. We are told she will be totally destroyed. Could this represent the status of the Roman Catholic Church and the power it wields over the world? Or is Trump positioning the U S of A into position?

This final world system would need to be in place in order for the woman to control it. This woman is also referred to as "Babylon the great which made all nations drink of the wine of the rage of her whoredom." 

We are all familiar with 'types and shadows' contained in Scripture: people and events which occurred then and point towards what will happen later. It occurred to me to look at Babylon, which was one of the greatest cities on earth at one time, from an historical context to help define our perception of Mystery Babylon. We might have to use some outside sources to discover more about Babel as Genesis 11 is a short reference but sets the ground work:

Everyone on earth had the same language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said, "Let us make hard bricks and build a city and a tower with its top in the sky, to make a name for ourselves..." When Yahweh came down to take a look, He said, "If these people of one language can come up with an idea like this, then there is nothing that they set their mind to that will be out of reach. Lets go down and confound their speech so they won't be able to understand each other" (thus putting an end to such behavior). Yah scattered them from there over the face of the earth and they stopped building the city. It is called Babel (Babylon) because it was there Yahweh confounded their speech and scattered them.

Notice, out of their pride and arrogance they came together for the sake of their own glory... they wanted to make a name for themselves. Not only did Yahweh confound their speech but He scattered them. Years later the House of Israel was scattered, part of which was exiled to Babylon in Nebuchadnezzar's day. During those seventy years many bad habits were picked up by those dispersed Israelites, and brought back with them to Judea whence they returned.

Nimrod 

Nimrod's name is from the verb "let us revolt." He is said to be a mighty hunter (gibbor tsayidh) in the sight of Yahweh, but the language has a dark meaning. He becomes a tyrant or despot leading an organized rebellion against the rule of Yahweh. He hunts not animals, but rather the souls of men. Cain, a condemned murderer had started the first cities before the Flood. Nimrod builds the first post-Flood cities.

More from the website of L. Dolphin:

Nimrod is the founder of both Babylon and Nineveh, the two great cities of antiquity which became, ultimately, enemies of Israel. Nimrod evidently gained a great reputation as such a hunter, but he was more than a hunter of wild animals. By the founding of Babylon and Nineveh we have a hint given of the nature of this man. We are told here that he was "the first mighty man on earth," i.e., after the flood. That phrase, "mighty man," takes us back to Genesis 6 where, in that strange story of the invasion of the "sons of God" into the human race, there resulted a race of giants called Nephilim. We are told that "these were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown." This demonic invasion of the race, with sexual overtones, brought into being a race of giants that were morally degraded. These also appear later on in the Canaanite tribes. We have found this suggestive line of thought running through the Scriptural account up to this point. Nimrod apparently was one of these "mighty men," and therefore introduced a perverted, degraded form of religion into the world. It began at Babylon, spread to Nineveh, and can be traced in history as it subsequently spread throughout the whole of the earth. Thus, in this man Nimrod, we have the seed of idolatry and false religion coming in again after the flood... In the Babylonian religion, Nimrod (false god Marduk) held a unique place. His wife was Semiramis. Marduk and Semiramis were the ancient god and goddess of Babylon. They had a son whom Semiramis claimed was virgin-born, and they founded the mother and child cult. This was the central character of the religion of ancient Babylon, the worship of a mother and child, supposedly virgin-born. You can see in this a clever attempt on the part of Satan to anticipate the genuine virgin birth and thus to cast disrepute upon the story when Yahshua would later be born into history.  

This ancient Babylonian cult of the mother and child spread to other parts of the earth. You will find it in the Egyptian religion as Isis and Osiris. In Greece it is Venus and Adonis, and in the Hindu religion it is Ushas and Vishnu. The same cult prevails in various other localities. It appears in the Old Testament in Jeremiah where the Israelites are warned against offering sacrifices to "the Queen of Heaven." This Queen of Heaven is Semiramis, the wife of Nimrod, the original mother of the Mother and Child cult. The cult has also crept into Christianity and forms the basis for the Mariolatry that has prevailed in the Roman Catholic Church, where the Mother and Child are worshiped as joint redeemers. This idolatrous religion culminates at last in the Bible in the book of Revelation. There, a "great harlot" appears, whose name is "Mystery Babylon the Great," the originator of all the harlotries and false religions of earth. The essence of Babylonianism, as we understand from Scripture, is the attempt to gain earthly honor by means of religious authority. That is Babylonianism, and it has pervaded Christian churches, Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines, and Mohammedan mosques. Everywhere it is the element that marks falseness in religion - the attempt to gain earthly power and prestige by means of religious authority. That is what Nimrod began and what YHWH will ultimately destroy, as we read in the book of Revelation.

Babylon was founded by Nimrod.  He was considered a Babylonian god.  His wife was Semiramis, goddess of Babylon. They had a son whom Semiramis claimed was virgin-born, and they founded the mother and child cult. This was the central character of the religion of ancient Babylon, the worship of a mother and child, supposedly virgin-born. 

Many moons later, reported in the Book of Revelation, she, the Queen of Heaven, Mystery Babylon, a city full of evil, is characterized by the same old false religious system, propagated by the Roman Catholic Church who has gained earthly honor by religious authority via the Pope.

Let that sink in for a moment.

... the merchants of the earth have been enriched by the abundance of her luxuries and she was one of the biggest importers of goods... she is described as that great city which was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls (that attire represents royalty, wealth). The blood of all slain believers was found in her... Who is responsible for a multitude of deaths? the inquisition? or Islam? Does the RCC import goods? 

Mystery Babylon is most likely the final world religious system, totally devoid of YHWH  and dismissing His Son, attempting to negate the Kingdom to come.  We can see it promoted now as 'all religions lead to 'God'.  I think even the pope said something like that.

Was Y'shua Born During Sukkot?

I have been researching this 'assumption' for quite some time, and today I found the additional information needed to finally bring this to a satisfying conclusion:

Question: Was Y'shua born during the Feast of Sukkot?

Answer: No

😊

Matthew 2:1 tells us Y'shua was born in Bethlehem (City of David) during the time Herod was king. The Magi were known astronomers, originally taught by Daniel the prophet while in Babylon. They knew the signs to watch for, and had been traveling in order to witness the prophecy that was becoming a reality.

Luke 2:1 tells us a decree from Augustus Caesar went out that the names of all the people of his dominion should be written down. Everyone went to his own city to be registered. Joseph was from Bethlehem, from the house and clan of David which is why he took his bride, who was pregnant, there to be registered.

Luke 2:12 tells us a Messenger/Angel appeared to the shepherds in that region where they lodge and keep watch at night over their flocks. They were told of the birth of the savior that is Master YHWH the Mashiyach* in the City of David (Bethlehem). The shepherds went to see this miracle and spread the word.

Matthew 2:2 - Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Through the course of this study I have not found in Scriptures any report that states, infers or alludes to Y'shua being born during the time of Sukkot. It seems it could have been a good idea for Herod to time the census along with one of the feasts that had all Israelites gathered in one location; but it would be unlikely that the followers of Yah would break the command to assemble in Jerusalem for Sukkot in order to gather at their own hometowns instead. Besides, only the males attended Sukkot and it was every 7th year that the entire household traveled to Jerusalem for this gathering.

Deuteronomy 16:16 -- Three times in a year all your males shall appear before YHWH your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths (Sukkot)

The knowledge I have been lacking was in regards to astronomy: the 'signs' that are recorded as prophecy, which were taught by Daniel, the same signs the magi had been paying attention to.  Even an angel of Elohim saw fit to bring this to the attention of the shepherds.

Genesis 1:14 - Yah said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate day from night; they shall serve as signs for the set times - the days and the years; and they shall serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine  upon the earth... 

Jeremiah 23:5 - "The days are coming", declares Yahweh, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.

Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore YHWH Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

700 years later, John writes this:

Revelation 12:1 - And a great wonder was seen in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And, being with child, she cried and labored, and had the pangs of giving imminent birth.

Matthew 16:1 - And the Pharisees and the Sadducees drew near (Yahshua) tempting him and asking him for a sign from heaven to show them.  But he answered, "When it becomes evening you say 'It is clear, for the sky is red.'  And in the morning you say, 'Today it is winter for the sky is a gloomy red.' Hypocrites! You know how to observe the appearance of the sky. The signs of this time you do no know how to discern. An evil and adulterous generation request a sign and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. (Three days and three nights scenario)

What I have read (links provided below) suggests Y'shua was born a full two weeks before Sukkot, as reckoned with the 'signs' in heaven.  This would place his birth on Yom Teruah = Feast of Trumpets = first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar (Sept. on modern day calendars). 

Here are the links to the study of Scripture and astronomical events that preceded the birth of Y'shua, (a deep study which I am still reviewing, but felt compelled to share at this time) both the web page and the PDF:

Torah Calendar

Signs and the Birth of Mashiyach

(Also, the book, Wheel of Stars, by Andrew Gabriel Roth is worth adding to one's library for further study and reference.)

I think it is interesting to note that at the head of Bethula is the Lion constellation:


Is it the Crown of 12 Stars?  I will need to search that idea out some more.

Y'shua, the Lion of Judah, will be king and selected his 12 Apostles to be seated as judges when that day comes.

Genesis 49:8
Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.…

Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders says to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome to open the scroll and its seven seals."

...:::```*```:::...

The other study I've been working on ties in with this timeline through the research of priests and their duties.  The one known as John the Baptist is our starting point.  Here's is what I have learned:

In the story leading up to Yahshua's inception, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John. It is through this account, found in Luke, chapter 1, that we are able to more closely fix the date of the birth of Messiah.

Luke indicates that Elizabeth’s husband was Zechariah and a priest of the course of Abia. While on duty, as a priest, he was visited by an angel and informed his wife was to have a son to be named John. After his obligations to the ministry ended, he departed to his house. He and Elizabeth conceived a child.

In order to fix the time of conception, one must look to the time of Zacharias’ ministry. At that time, the priests were divided into 24 classes and it is known that each class officiated at the Temple in turn for a week. If it is known at which time any one of the courses officiated it is a simple matter to trace the times of the succession of courses backward or forward.

During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy (4th week of December), the angel Gabriel visited Mary and informed her that she was going to have a son to be named Yahshua. Mary goes to visit her cousin, and stayed with her about three months.

Using these facts: Zacharias’ ministry, Elizabeth’s pregnancy term and Mary’s visit at the start of Elizabeth's sixth month; we discover the conception of Y'shua would have been in the first part of the last week of December and his birth occurring sometime in September - not December 25th.

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I decided to keep the historical/political evidence I have been collecting when I first began my search to discover the month of the census.  I have yet to pinpoint the time frame but have learned some interesting facts nonetheless, so decided to keep this info intact for reference and further research.  This is time consuming for my pea-brain, but will be updated whence I get back to it.  Please feel free to leave any comments below that will help with the study of this time line.

In 27 B.C. the Senate voted Octavian the name Augustus. It also gave him legal power to direct Rome's religious, civil, and military affairs, with the Senate as an advisory body. Augustus Caesar ruled between 27 BC and 12 AD and commanded a census during the time that Qurinius/Cyrenius was governor of Persia (Iran/Afghanistan). Augustus died Aug. 19th 14 AD.

Cyrenius is Governor of Syria During the Census

Luke 2:1 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. 

"So Archelaus's country was laid to the province of Syria; and Cyrenius, one that had been consul, was sent by Caesar to take account of people's effects in Syria. Cyrenius came himself into Judea, which was now added to the province of Syria, to take an account of their substance." - Josephus - Antiquities of the Jews - Book 18

"That had been consul" - This lends credibility to the fact of Cyrenius possibly ruling as governor of Syria on more than one occasion. See Judas of Galilee and Theudas - Acts 5

Herod the Great ruled between 37 BC and 4 BC until his death from his awful afflictions... he died 5 days after he ordered his son, Antipater who was in jail, to be slain. Herod began rule in Galilee in the 15th and 25th year of his age (research this more). When did he command the death of baby boys in and around Bethlehem which were 2 years old and younger, thinking to kill the prophesied king, Y'shua? Herod became sick when he was 70 years old. How long was he ill until his death? Yah tells Joseph and Mary to take the boy and flee to Egypt. They stay in Egypt until Herod dies. Yah tells them to return to Israel, to the land of Galilee, where they settled in Nasrath. How long did they stay in Egypt? (Matthew 2:14)

Matthias was High Priest during the end of Herod's life. Judas was Matthias' son. I have read that Herod had them burned alive for tearing down the golden eagle he had put above the entrance to the temple as a 'gift to god'. It is recorded that there was a lunar eclipse at that time. The date is said to be March 13th in the Julian year of 4710 -the 4th year before the 'christian era'. 

Judah Maccabee was the leader of the Jews in their struggle for independence in the 100's B.C. He was the son of a priest named Mattathias from the ancient city of Modin. His family is known as the Hasmoneans in the rabbinic texts. Judah's story is told in the Book of 1 Maccabees in the Apocrypha. 

At that time, the Jews were subjects of the Seleucid Empire, one of the states formed out of Alexander the Great's empire. The Seleucid king, Antiochus IV (called Epiphanes), wanted his subjects to adopt Greek culture and customs. Many Jews did this, almost to the point of abandoning their religion. But others resisted. 

Antiochus also wanted to get possession of the treasures in the Temple. In 168 or 167 B.C., angered by Jewish resistance to his policy, he entered Jerusalem, killed many of the people, and defiled the Temple by building an altar to a pagan god there. This is known as the Abomination of Desolation in the Gospels and in the Book of Daniel.

--::=::--

Y'shua's birthday wasn't even celebrated until the early 300s. This is a tradition and not one of Yah's set apart times for us to observe. No one is to celebrate birth days year after year.