Did Jesus Spend Time in Hell?

If you have ever heard anything like this, it originated from The Apostles' Creed, which was not written by the Apostles.... it was written about 140 years after the death of Y'shua. It seems that the early church fathers wanted to put their 'faith' in words.

And here is that creed for your further research and study:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

Please note that the use of the word 'catholic' in this creed means 'universal' as in the church being fellowship in the body of 'christ'; and not specifically the Roman Catholic Church at that time.  Today it is easy to see the RCC as the universal church, or at least they think they are.

Chapter and Verse used to support this claim:

Ephesians 4:8 - Therefore it is said: He ascended on high and carried captivity away, and gave gifts to men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also previously descended deep into the heart of the earth?  He who descended is also the same that ascended up high above all the heavens, that he might fulfill all things. (He who died was resurrected)

Now we know that when we die we don't go to heaven or hell; we sleep until the return of Messiah. It makes no sense that Y'shua would make a visit to hell - there is no one there to preach to.  The fallen angels have been locked away in chains until judgment day.

First Peter 3:18 - For the Anointed One also once died for our sins .... that he might bring you to Yahweh. And he died in body but lived in spirit. And he preached to those souls which were detained in Sheol (the grave? Hades?) which were formerly disobedient in the days of Noah when the long suffering of Elohim commanded an ark to be made, in hope of their repentance; and eight souls only entered into it and were kept alive in the waters.
Second Peter 2:5 - And if Elohim did not spare the former world but preserved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness...

Take this into consideration: 

The Spirit of Yahweh is the same spirit of His Son which was the same Spirit in Noah who preached to those souls who were disobedient up until the Flood came.

What, then, does 1 Peter 3:18 teach?

The passage affirms that The Spirit during the days of Noah, proclaimed Yah’s truth to the evil, pre-flood generation. How did He do that? He was operating through Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).

In this same letter Peter stated that the “Spirit” was in the Old Testament prophets as they declared Heaven’s message (1:11). This is a key verse in explaining First Peter 3:18. When Y'shua, through Noah, preached to those evil people, they were alive and on the earth. But at the time Peter wrote his letter, they had long been dead.

Acts 2:31 ~ And he (David) foresaw and spoke concerning the resurrection of Y'shua and that he was not left in 'the grave/tomb' nor did his body see corruption.

The Origins of the Islamic Religion

Quoted from The History of Mecca:

Islamic rituals are found to be little more than thinly repackaged pagan Arabian moon, sun, star and jinn-demon worship, embellished by books inspired by Hebrew and Arabian fables that Mohammed learned during his travels, or was taught by friends like Jabr, his wives and concubines, as well as influence by Zoroastrianism and the 2nd century occult cult of the Sabians. So deeply involved was Mohammed and three of his cousins in the cult of the Sabians, that folks in his own tribe referred to Mohammed simply as “the Sabian”. Indeed Mohammed mentions the Sabians right alongside Christians in the Quran. It should be no surprise then to learn that the Sabians/Harranians prayed five times a day, practiced ablution, prostrated in prayer, wore long white robes and fasted for 30 days during the same month as Ramadan, which are rituals that Mohammed incorporated into his religion, with a claim that the practices were dictated to him while taking an overnight ride on a flying donkey-mule from Mecca, to Jerusalem, to Heaven and then back to Mecca by morning.

Mecca was settled around the 4th century A.D. by the Yemeni tribe of Khuzaa'h, joined later by Mohammed’s tribe the Quraish. The Kaaba was built around the early 5th century likely by Asa'd Abu Karb, for Arabian Star Family worship after the black stone made it's way to Mecca, most likely from Yemen. Early reporters recounted that prior to the construction of the Kaabah, a tent occupied the site. The Kaaba eventually housed 360 idols dedicated to Arabian moon, sun, star and jinn (demon) worship. It is no secret that the black stone that Muslims still prostrate themselves toward 5 times a day, venerate, and circumambulate, is the same black stone idol that pagan Arabians venerated and circumambulated. In other words, the Quraish established the rituals that Mohammed eventually adopted and then adapted to his religion.

Quoted from Brother Pete's site:

The Hadith records that pagans controlled the Kaaba before Mohammed started his religion, and that the Kaaba contained 360 idols. After Mohammed returned to Mecca from Medina and broke the "Truce of Hudaybiyyah" he had made with his own tribe the Quraish, he then removed all the idols except one. The black stone that remains to this day is the same that pre-Islamic pagans went on pilgrimage to and circumambulated, in Arabian moon god and Star Family worship. There is no question that Muhammad - as "prophet" - engaged in the very same pagan rituals.

The pattern seems the same as to what Constantine did in creating Christianity: bring in pagan customs and rituals to attract non-believers into the church.  Mohammed used the same tactics in starting his religion: take from all existing Muslim beliefs and hone it down into a new and improved system of belief.  All religion ends up being is paganism painted with nicer colors.  I've said it before and will say it again because it is true: Satan has a counterfeit for everything Yah said.

Muslims are taught that walking around the Kaaba seven times, kissing the black stone, traveling from hill to hill near Mecca, casting stones and cutting their hair may provide remission of sin, while at the same time they are taught to reject the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, whom God manifest to save everyone from sin - whether they can afford to travel or are poor - who have faith in His shed blood.

Circumambulating Kaabas, kissing stone idols, and going on pilgrimages to religious sites were pagan rituals that preceded Mohammed by centuries.  Mohammed spun his version of religion using many threads from previous, familiar pagan behavior and mixing in bits and pieces from Scriptures.  There are some common threads but Yahweh kept His covenant through Jacob and not Esau.

Allah is not Yahweh.

Misunderstood Even in His Day ~ Paul

What a perfect choice for one to teach the Gentiles about the Kingdom to Come. What a perfect example of sin, forgiveness, repentance and faith for us all.  Paul's life and times reflect in our lives to one degree or another. He was 'blinded' and had to rely on faith to find his way back. Paul was directly convicted by Y'shua on that road to Damascus. Afterwards, he delayed in approaching the established Apostles for three years and even then they were afraid and suspicious of him - they all remembered who he was and what he was capable of. If we don't see our own sinful past in his story then we've misunderstood Paul just as he was misunderstood in his own time. I believe this is why so many 'believers' cast a scornful eye upon the writings of Paul.... he hits too close to home.

Acts Chapter 8 

Paul was a participant in the murder of Stephen as well as part of the great persecution going on towards the congregation of the followers of Y'shua in Jerusalem.  He was part of those who persecuted the congregation of Yahweh. He entered homes and dragged out the men and women and took them to prison.  Chapter 9 - Paul was full of intimidation and the fury of murder towards the disciples of our Master Y'shua.  Paul asked for letters from the chief priests to take to the assemblies in Damascus giving him permission to arrest any followers he may find there and bring them to Jerusalem. On the road to Damascus a light from heaven suddenly shone upon him, and he was thrown to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him, "Shaul! Shaul! Why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick the stakes."  

Paul asks, Who are you my Master? I am Y'shua the Nasraya, he whom you persecute! But rise up and enter into the city, and there you will be told what you should do. 

The men who were travelling with Paul were amazed because they heard only a sound but no man was visible to them. Paul got up from the ground and was no longer able to see, even though his eyes were open.  The men guided him as they continued to Damascus. Paul was unable to see for three days and neither did he eat or drink during this time.  (a very humbling experience)
In Damascus was a disciple named Khanan-Yah whom had a vision wherein Yahweh told him to go to Straight Street and ask at the house of Judah for Paul from Tarsus. While this Paul was praying he had a vision of you coming to him, placing your hand upon him so that his eyes would be opened."  Khanan-Yah is afraid of Paul because they all know about him and how much evil he had inflicted on Yah's Set Apart believers in Jerusalem.  Yahweh tells him to get up and go because Paul is a vessel chosen by Him to carry His Name among the Gentiles and kings and among the sons of Israel. "For I will reveal to him how much he will suffer because of My Name."  Khanan-Yah went.
He went to the house and placed a hand upon him saying, Paul, my brother, our Master Y'shua has sent me. He who appeared to you on the road while you were coming here, that your eyes might be opened and that you might be filled with the Set Apart Spirit of Yahweh.  At once something like scales fell from Paul's eyes and his eyes were opened. Paul got up and went to be immersed. He ate and was strengthened and gathered with the disciples that were there in Damascus.  Immediately he began preaching about Y'shua that he was the Son of Elohim.  Everyone who heard him were amazed because they knew he was the one persecuting those in Jerusalem and knew he had come to Damascus for the same reason.  After many days the Jews there wanted to kill him. The plot was shown to Paul that they were keeping watch of the gates of the city day and night to kill him.  The disciples ended up placing him in a basket and lowered him down from the wall during the night.  Paul went to Jerusalem desiring to join the disciples there but all of them were afraid of him.  They did not believe that he had become one of them.  Bar-Naba ended up taking him to the Schlichim and explained to them what had happened. They let him in with them and they went out into Jerusalem. Paul was boldly speaking in the name of Y'shua and disputing with those Jews who spoke Greek and they desired to kill him.  When the brothers  knew this they brought Paul  to Caesarea by night and sent him to Tarsus... nevertheless, the assembly that was in all Judah and Galilee and Shamrin now had peace in them.  The assembly grew, built up and instructed in the fear of Yahweh and in the comfort of the Ruach haKodesh.

(Moses was also placed in a basket and saved from death)

Paul describes himself in Philippeans 3:5- "Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; in regards to Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly of Messianic believers; and as to the righteousness of the oral Torah, I was without fault." (Oral Law is rabbinic tradition). Paul's attitude about himself and all he had mastered dramatically changed after he saw the superior knowledge of Y'shua and learned that his own righteousness came from Faith in the Messiah and the righteousness which is from Yahweh, and not of himself. Paul was not a 'Jew' pretending to be a Greek, but was well aware of his heritage as a descendant of Abraham. His Hebrew name, Saul, was taken from the first king of Israel, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, and Paul's teacher, Gamaliel, was also from the tribe of Benjamin. They were Jews by location, not by birth or religious affiliation, although Paul was under the influence of religion before Y'shua called him out. What a wonderful example for all of us!

Once he was called out of Judaism and Roman law Paul did not hesitate nor make the excuse that 'we're all on different parts of the path' .

This statement always tugs on my very soul whenever I read it. It was said by the Apostle Paul and I offer it as a prayer for all who are ready to come into covenant with our Creator today. I pray for all fellow Set Apart believers that we may become one people with one understanding, and of one faith under one Elohim. By this we will come to know the unsearchable riches of Y'shua the Anointed One. It is through us that the manifold wisdom of our Creator becomes known. Lets take that seriously and act accordingly.

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 Anointed One may dwell by faith, and 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 Y'shua's love and that you may be filled with all the fullness of Yahweh.

Apostle Peter pointed out that Paul's letters were not easy to understand, but were “twisted” by those who were untaught (2 Peter 3:15,16). Peter warned us to watch, lest we be led away to destruction by the delusion of the lawless. He didn’t include Paul as a lawless one, but stated that his letters were being twisted, as were “the other Writings”. For those who have interpreted that Paul wrote of an “end to the law”, Peter’s warning was written directly to those who live without the Torah.

We were once carnal unbelievers raised up in false religions enjoying the imaginations of other men. 

Lost Tribes of Israel - Another Piece of the Delusion

Many people entertain the idea that ten tribes of Israel migrated to the Americas and like to believe that the Indian tribes are descendants of these Israelites. We've heard of artifacts inscribed with Hebrew letters found in different places and maybe some are from days gone by but lets not forget Joseph Smith (a Freemason) and his man-made religion, Mormonism, believed that they were descendants of Lehi an Israelite and were to build the New Jerusalem here on earth. Today in Salt Lake City many members of the Latter Day Saints call themselves 'Jews'. Is it not possible that some of these artifacts were made by early Mormons? 

Everybody wants to be chosen 

but no one really wants to discover the truth.

Joseph Smith claims that when was 14 he experienced a vision in which God the Father instructed him that all churches were wrong. Three years later, an angel named Moroni visited Smith several times. This would lead to Smith recovering engraved golden plates in the woods near his home, written in a language he called “Reformed Egyptian”. He allegedly translated these golden plates into English which is now known as the Book of Mormon. This wasn’t printed until 1830. Smith claims that in 1829, John the Baptist gave to him the Aaronic Priesthood, establishing Joseph Smith as the leader of the new movement.

I have read that Mormons have been looking for archaeological evidence to support their Book of Mormon for years. Occasionally they will promote some type of archaeological artifact that is similar to something built or written by Hebrew people to try to validate their claim that the Book of Mormon people were indeed from the land of Israel.

Several archaeological digs made in the area surrounding the Hill Cumorah in upstate New York (Joseph Smith's home area) have yet to yielded even one artifact to back up the Book of Mormon claims concerning the numerous people and wars that allegedly transpired in that area. One can try to refute every “so called” evidence that Mormons present to try to substantiate the Book of Mormon, but both internal and external evidence shows that the book is an 18th century invention. Some of the Archaeological Evidence that goes against the Book of Mormon claims include: 

DNA EVIDENCE: The Book of Mormon claims that Jewish ancestry formed the majority of pre-Columbian inhabitants of America. Yet, 99.4% of the DNA research done on thousands of Native American Indians from over 150 tribes shows a direct link to Asia and 0.6% points to Europe or Africa, not Israel. Thus, there is NO evidence whatsoever to suggest a Jewish or Middle-Eastern migration to America. To excuse away the DNA evidence against this Book of Mormon claim, Mormon apologists have resorted to the idea that the Jewish Book of Mormon immigrants to America (the Nephites and the Lamanites) comprised only a relative small group of ancient inhabitants of America. Rather than finding supportive evidence for these Book of Mormon historical claims and artifacts, Mormon scholars have been forced to retreat from traditional interpretations of the words and phrases in the Book of Mormon and have developed unconventional explanations to reconcile these conflicted Book of Mormon texts with ancient Native American artifacts. 

Passages from the Book of Mormon assert that no other people existed in America prior to Mormon migrations. These passages claim that these Book of Mormon Jewish pilgrims grew “exceedingly numerous” to “cover the face” of the “whole” land.

I didn't mean to go off on a Mormon tangent, although I did need to present my grounds for supposing some "ancient" artifacts found in the US that have Hebrew writings on them most likely were crafted by Mormons and not 'first peoples'.  Also we know that Spain expelled Jews from their country in 1492, some of which signed on with Colombus.

Quote: “After the Spanish monarchs had expell­ed all the Jews from all their kingdoms and lands,” Columbus recorded,” they commissioned me to undertake the voyage to India with a equipped fleet.” The scheduled date of sailing, August 2, was also the deadline for Jewish departure. Scores of vessels, with thousands of Jews packed into their holds, congested Palos de la Frontera, the maritime inlet of the Gulf of Cadiz. Here, too, Columbus gathered his fleet of three little caravels. (1492)

Quote: When Hernan Cortés first conquered Mexico for Spain in 1521, he did so with a number of secret Jews amongst his men. Judaism was banned at the time in Spain, and soon many secret Spanish Jews departed for “Nueve Espana” in the New World to try and live a more Jewish life. In fact, Spain’s first Viceroy in Mexico, Antonio de Mendoza, possessed a Jewish surname, and historians suggest he was possibly one of the secret Jews who moved to the new territory.
Quote: Ashkenazi Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe came in the 1880s, establishing Mexico’s first synagogue in Mexico City, in 1885. Sephardi Jews soon followed, fleeing persecution in the crumbling Ottoman Empire.

It appears to be only those who claim to be Jewish or practice the religion of Judaism who have been settling in South and Central America - no mention of the 11 other tribes. If these Jews secretly practiced their religion until they could openly be themselves again, wouldn't it make sense that the 'lost tribes' would have held onto their faith as well, keeping their identity?

At what point in time did these ten tribes of Israel (aka the Northern Kingdom) become lost? We read in Scriptures they shall be scattered and they were scattered, and not really lost but perhaps assimilated into the surroundings to which they were scattered. Who came up with the idea, that they were lost? It is a heavy theme among many who 'stand with Israel' these days. Supposed discoveries of artifacts and Hebrew writing seen in caves and found on boulders in America only feed the story. 

In 2 Kings 17 we read about Hoshea becoming king over Israel in Samaria. He held that position for nine years. He became a vassal to the king of Assyria who eventually marched against the whole land, captured Samaria and deported the Israelites from Samaria to Assyria, settling them in Halah, at the River Habor, at the River Gozan and in the towns of Media. This happened because the Israelites sinned against Yahweh. Nor did Judah keep the commandments of Yahweh and they followed the customs that Israel practiced. Yahweh let them fall into the hands of plunderers and finally cast them from His presence. (When you have time, continuing reading on from verse 21) 

King Shalmaneser invaded what was left of Israel. He sacked and destroyed the city of Shechem and the old Israelite capital of Tirzah. He also hit Hazor, tearing down the walls of the city before he besieged the capital of Israel, Samaria, for three years. Shalmaneser is recorded to have taken Samaria “On the 27th of Tebet Shalmaneser ascended the throne in Assyria and Babylonia. He shattered Samaria .” 

Quote: The mystery of the lost ten tribes of Israel endures in legend today, but evidence does show that those who had a military occupation and served the Assyrian army as auxiliary units seemed to have retained their identity. It appears that the so-called “Lost Ten Tribes of Israel” were never lost. Instead, they served, and over a generation or two, integrated within the local Assyrian populations, eventually losing their identity. 

From the Encyclopedia Britannica:

In 930 BC the 10 tribes formed the independent Kingdom of Israel in the north and the two other tribes, Judah and Benjamin, set up the Kingdom of Judah in the south. Following the conquest of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians in 721 BC, the 10 tribes were gradually assimilated by other peoples and thus disappeared from history. 

James 1 ~ James, a servant of Elohim, 

and of our Master Y'shua the Anointed One; 

to the twelve tribes dispersed among the peoples; greetings.

I conclude that there is no such thing as the lost tribes of Israel.  They did not board ships and sail to the future new world and become various Indian tribes.  I realize there is 'scientific research' galore speculating on the first people to migrate via a land bridge to Alaska and beyond; and there are even scientist who think the first people came by way of the Pacific coast.  None of that matters; what our Creator says is what we should be paying attention to. 

What we read in Scriptures :

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

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

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

Galatians 3:28 ~ For there is neither Jew nor Aramean, nor slave or free, nor male nor female, but you are all one in Y'shua the Anointed One = and if we are one with Messiah then we are those spiritual seeds of Abraham and inheritors of the promise.

Colossians 3:8 suggests there will be no difference among us, who and where we come from, when that day comes if we are 'one' in Messiah. We are told to put away from us wrath, anger, malice, reviling, filthy talking and telling lies; to put off these old ways and be renewed in knowledge, after the likeness of our Creator in whom there is neither Jew nor Aramean, Greek nor barbarian, slave nor free, but the Messiah is all and in all.

James Strong's Discordance

In the process of another study I came across something very interesting...

Quote::

James Strong (1822-1894) was born in New York City and became a Methodist theologian and scholar. As with many scholars of his day his views concerning the inspiration and preservation of the Scriptures were quite liberal. As G.A. Riplinger states in one of her articles, Strong's liberal views got him a seat on the corrupt Revised Standard/American Standard Version committee. Westcott and Hort sought American Bible critics to join with them and work on their Revised Version. In 1870 the British Committee voted "to invite the cooperation of some American divines". Strong became "a member of the Old Testament company of revisers" (New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (New York: Funk and Wagnalls Company, Vol. XI, p. 115).

Strong was hand-selected by Phillip Schaff, new age Parliament of World Religions participant. Schaff was probably the most "esteemed" scholar of the 19th century. He was a prolific writer and a key element in the production of the ASV. Needless to say, Schaff was also an avowed liberal.

Philip Schaff denied the inspiration of the Bible and only chose committeemen who agreed that the Bible had never been inspired; he called 'inspiration,' "the moonshine theory of the inerrant apostolic autographs". Not only did they deny that God gave the Bible to man, but they denied that what they termed 'men's words' were preserved. Their ASV Preface jabbed that, "The Hebrew text is probably corrupt..."

Strong’s Concordance is not a translation of the Bible nor is it intended as a translation tool. The use of Strong’s numbers is not a substitute for professional translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English by those with formal training in ancient languages and the literature of the cultures in which the Bible was written.
Since Strong’s Concordance identifies the original words in Hebrew and Greek, Strong’s Numbers are sometimes misinterpreted by those without adequate training to change the Bible from its accurate meaning simply by taking the words out of cultural context.
The use of Strong’s numbers does not consider figures of speech, metaphors, idioms, common phrases, cultural references, references to historical events, or alternate meanings used by those of the time period to express their thoughts in their own language at the time. As such, professionals and amateurs alike must consult a number of contextual tools to reconstruct these cultural backgrounds.

Whew! Many a Hebrew Roots group hold Strong's Concordance along with a Hebrew Greek Interlinear up high right next to their copy of the Tanakh and will do a hour long study on one word accordingly. What a distraction from the true word of Yahweh.

Legalizing Marijuana

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart

and do not rely on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths smooth.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

fear Yahweh and shun evil.

- ⍃-⍄ -

Quote with included links to the source:

Through dialogue ("being positive and not negative"), social media (socialist media) negates the father's/Father's authority, creating a "new" world order of disobedient children, following after psychologists, group psychotherapists, facilitators, of 'change,' Transformational Marxists, ruling the world.

I am suspicious about the reasons for legalizing marijuana. The tactic of promoting it as a medicinal miracle I see as a tool used to touch one's heart and manipulate emotions and feelings, as well as promoting it as a big money source that can be used for community projects. It's the 'make ya feel good' approach.  It reminds me of what I once read years ago by Dean Gotcher from which I quoted above. Here is another quote from the same source:

Social media is the praxis of "Belial," which means "without a master," which symbolizes "true independence," "self sufficiency," and "personal accomplishment," which represents "the earth element," i.e., the child's carnal nature, Enlightenment in other words. "The ideas of the Enlightenment taught man that he could trust his own reason [his own feelings, i.e., sensuous needs and sense perception, i.e., sense experience, i.e., "self" 'justification'] as a guide to establishing valid ethical norms and that he could rely on himself, needing neither revelation [the Word of God, i.e., the father's/Father's commands, rules, facts, and truth] nor that authority of the church [the Son of God, Jesus Christ] in order to know good and evil." (Stephen Eric Bronner Of Critical Theory and Its Theorists) The Word of God warns us: "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." Luke 11:35 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15

While reading that I thought of what Y'shua said as recorded in Revelation regarding the hatred towards the deeds of the Nicolaitans. They believed in the freedom of the flesh and taught that the deeds of the flesh had no effect upon the health of the soul and had no relation to salvation. They believed that faith alone, not obedience to the Instructions of Yahweh the Father, was necessary for salvation. They could behave anyway they liked as long as they claimed to have 'faith in god'. 

I smoked pot in my younger years; I grew it in my backyard on occasion; I drank and partied with the best of them. It was a 'feel good' drug that made the world go away.  Just like alcohol consumption, smoking pot definitely impairs one's decision making abilities. Marijuana alters one's usual thought processes, diminishes moral attitude and opens one up to suggestions. It fades away inhibitions and blurs any vision of righteousness in the eyes of our Creator, among other things. In viewing this issue from my past years of experience, I cannot support legalizing it for any reason. It will be detrimental to society one way or another. I cannot help but think that there is a sinister reason for this to even be a topic of consideration. Americans have been dumbed-down and now TPTB want to dope up the rest.  If people are stoned, laid back without a care, lost in music or art or each other, TPTB can carry on with their plans of world dominance without any interference. Fake News will be just that much more believable to a bunch of stoners. I believe that the USofA is the 'superpower' the rest of the world wants to see come to an end, and drugs could be part of the plan.

"We know how to change the opinions of an individual in a selected direction, without his ever becoming aware of the stimuli which changed his opinion." "We know how to influence the ... behavior of individuals by setting up conditions which provide satisfaction for needs of which they are unconscious, but which we have been able to determine." "If we have the power or authority to establish the necessary conditions, the predicted behaviors [our potential ability to influence or control the behavior of groups] will follow." "We can choose to use our growing knowledge to enslave people in ways never dreamed of before, depersonalizing them, controlling them by means so carefully selected that they will perhaps never be aware of their loss of personhood." (Carl Rogers, on becoming a person: A Therapist View of Psychotherapy)

Stumbling Blocks

We are being called - we have been told to come out of 'Babylon' - we have read that our Creator wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth and not get wrapped up in traditions of man.

Since discovering the Hebrew origins of Scriptures -- beginning with Abraham the Hebrew and continuing through the descendants of Jacob in which the Hebrews became known as the House of Israel -- many have be led to align themselves with today's Jews, completely ignoring the other eleven tribes, a serious side-effect of many Hebrew Roots teachers and those they teach.

Jude 1:3 ... while I take all pains to write to you of our common life, it is needful for me to write to you, encouraging you to maintain a conflict for the faith which was once delivered to the Set Apart believers, for some have obtained entrance who, from the beginning, were registered beforehand under this condemnation: wicked men who pervert the grace of Yahweh to impurity and deny him who is the only MarYah Elohim and our Master, Y'shua the Anointed One. And I wish to remind you, though you all know it, that Yahweh, after once rescuing the people from Egypt, again destroyed them who did not believe.

I want to touch on the subject of religion because I know there are still folks coming out of Churchianity as they seek the truth of Yah's Word and have gotten too comfortable with the Hebrew roots of things. I know, I was there once upon a time. It is, however, one of the best stepping stones we have leading us in the right direction. But that is where many people take the rabbit trail leading them into another religion instead of the faith once delivered.

Yahweh's Word has been messed with for a long time:

Mark 7:5 ~ The scribes and the Pharisees ask Y'shua, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the traditions of the elders? His short answer is: "You hypocrites... You have left the Commandment of Elohim and have embraced the tradition of men. ... And you despise the Word of Elohim because of the tradition that you have handed down..."

Matthew 15:3 records the same... the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem ask Y'shua why his disciples transgress against the traditions of the elders. He asks them, "Why do you transgress the Commandments of Elohim because of your traditions?"

Written Torah was pitted against the oral traditions of the Pharisees who were nullifying the Word of YHWH by those traditions and Yahshua would not instruct his followers to do likewise. What we have ended up with is a term, "Judeo-Christian", which is a mix of Jewish Tradition and Christianity with all of its denominations.

Isaiah 48:17 ~ Yahweh our Redeemer, the Set Apart One of Israel said:
I am MarYah your Elohim, instructing you for your own benefit. Guiding you in the way you should go.  If only you would heed My commands!  Then your prosperity would be like a river, your triumph like the waves of the sea. Your offspring would be as many as the sand, their issue as many as its grains. Their name would never be cut off or obliterated from before Me. Go forth from Babylon, flee from Chaldea! Declare this with loud shouting, announce this, bring out the word to the ends of the earth! Say: "Yah has redeemed His servant Jacob!"  They have known no thirst though He led them through parched places; He made water flow for them from the rock; He cleaved the rock and water gushed forth.  There is no safety, said Yahweh, for the wicked.

In Jeremiah 4 we read that Yahweh told His people:

If you return to Me.... If you remove your abominations from My presence and do not waver, and swear "As Yah lives," in sincerity, justice and righteousness (you shall be a blessing to others).  He tells us we should not plant seeds among thorns and to open our hearts to Him.

This rings true as I realize that there is no getting through to some 'believers' who hold strong to man's opinions about our Creator and His Son. We should be able to discern falsehoods by now and stop trying to 'save' those who adamantly refuse the truth. Salvation is not our job but spreading the Good News of the kingdom to come is one of our requirements. 

These folks who claim to be 'believers' begin to embrace traditions as they adorn themselves with prayer shawls, colorful braided clip-on tzitzits, they collect shofars, menorahs and Israeli flags, wear pins and star of David jewelry, keep the 7th day rest every sat-day and keep Yah's feast days according to Jewish traditions. They follow the herd as they 'stand with Israel' not knowing today's modern day state of Israel is not Biblical Israel and they believe that today's Jews are God's chosen people who were gathered back to their land in 1948.  Some even go as far as to submit their DNA for analysis to see if they are blood relatives of the Jews. Sadly, they don't realize how much has been added to the Word via man's imagination; Christianity and all its divisions; and Judaism which includes the writings in the Talmud and the mystical Kabbalah. It's as if Satan is throwing one last big stumbling block out there for those of us seeking YHWH. We came out of the Babylonian religious systems but many are in danger of being snared by Judaism and all its customs.

Let's come back to the first five books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy - long before Judaism or Christianity were invented - folks were either Set Apart believers in Yahweh or they were pagans. Folks either chose to obey His Instructions or follow after all the pagan traditions. Recorded in these writings are YHWH's plans for His people and the precise instructions to follow in order to live in a just and righteous fashion. They are called Torah in the Hebrew language and translate as Instructions in the English language. Christianity likes to call all of them Laws and put them under the heading of Legalism which makes it easier to promote the belief that Jesus 'nailed them to the cross' and did away with them (which is not true). Also, today's religion of Judaism likes to color Yah's Instructions with a paintbrush full of man-made traditions. Neither of these these religions honor our Creator by following His Instructions = choosing the Blessing of Life eternal. Both have mixed and mingled lies and deception with bits and pieces of Scriptures, perverting the Word of Yah.

Faith and not religion is what Y'shua asked about, wondering if any will be found on this earth when he returns (Luke 18:8). He spoke this parable against men who relied upon themselves thinking they were righteous, while despising everyone else.  Time and again while discussing 'religion', when I get to the part about Yahweh never being about 'religion', that His Instructions are the perfect guide for our governance, health and well being, this is the response:

"But - Jesus was a Jew!"

What is meant by this? Was he a Jew by birth? by heritage? or a Jew by religious tradition? Is he a Jew because some rabbi on TV says he is? If you read Scriptures you learn that he certainly did not practice Judaism. In fact he taught against it! As I mentioned above, Judaism is a religion spun off the Word of YHWH, mixed with man's own imagination, just as so many other religious belief systems which 'divide' people instead of bringing us together as One. Being a Jew would mean one is of the tribe of Judah and later referred to one who lives in the territory called Judah.

Quote: In the Bible the word "Jew" means a resident of the land of Judea regardless of their tribe, race or religion, just as an Australian or Englishman may in fact be a Chinese, Negro or an Eskimo, or perhaps a member of the tribe of Judah. (end quote)

I'm an American by location, a Michigander by birth, a Texan by choice and a Set Apart believer in the Creator and His Son. Religion has nothing to do with it other than being one of the biggest rabbit trails ever and I thank Yah for His patience waiting for me to see His Truth. I pray the same for anyone else still teetering on the edge.

Remember, the House of Israel began with Abraham the Hebrew. His offspring were Hebrews. His son, Jacob, carried on the Hebrew line. His name was changed to 'Israel' and his offspring were the House of Israel made up of his twelve sons and their offspring and all were descendants of Abraham the Hebrew.

In the days of Y'shua few of the citizens of Judea were 'Yehudeans'. Some belonged to other tribes of Israel, and many were descendants of Esau (Edomites) who had assimilated and become co-religionists with the Judahites and remnants of the other tribes in the hybrid religion of Pharisaism developed during the captivity in Babylon. This religion of the Talmud is called Judaism today.

In today's world, most people think of Jews as the people of Israel, but that is not correct. An Israelite was one who had descended from Jacob. In Y'shua's time individual Jews may or may not have descended from Jacob, but they did recognize Pharisaism and not the Instructions Yah had given, recorded in Genesis through Deuteronomy.

The point is that one who is called a "Jew" in the Bible is not necessarily a chosen man of God, or a member of the tribe of Judah, an Israelite, or even a Semite, but one who is a resident of Judea. A Judean. In my studies I learned that over time a "secondary meaning" for the new word "Jew" came about, which is not the understanding intended by the Scripture of truth. Those who call themselves Jews today falsely imply they are somehow descendants of the tribes of Israel and chosen of God. Yet few of them are Jews as they are not "Judeans," or residents of Judea. And let me remind you, this is not hate speech or antisemitism... it is fact and you can always research this topic for yourself, keeping Scriptures as your base of operations.

Consider this: 

Y'shua was a "Jew" by location only -a resident- born in Bethehem, Judea. He was not a Jew by birth nor by religious affiliation. He was a Levite by blood (his mother was cousin to Elizabeth who was descended from Aaron - a Levite [Luke 1:5]) and from the House of Judah by adoption. All of this qualifies Y'shua to be King and High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. What a wonderful revelation!

Genesis 14:18- And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of Yahweh Elohim. He blessed Abram.

Isaiah 9:6- In token of abundant authority and of peace without limit upon David's throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore.

Psalm 110:4- Yahweh has sworn and will not relent, "You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree after the order of Melchizedek.' 

Hebrews 6:19- which is to us as an anchor that retains our soul so that it stays fixed; and it enters into that within the veil where Y'shua has previously entered for us and has become a priest forever, after the likeness of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:14- For it is manifest that our Master Y'shua arose from Yehuda, from a tribe of which Moses said noting concerning a priesthood. And this is further manifest from his saying that another priest will stand up after the likeness of Melchizedek, who was not according to the Torah of physical requirements, but according to the power of an indestructible life

To proclaim that 'Jesus is a Jew' is very misleading to many people who haven't read Scriptures for themselves. It is, however, in our obedience to The Creator, having the testimony of His Son, Y'shua the Anointed One, and our sharing the Good News of the kingdom that ensures our being gathered together when that day comes. We are grafted in, adopted just as Y'shua was adopted, into the House of Israel.  We become one people of one faith with one Master whom we worship in spirit and in truth.

There is more I could point out on this subject, but will wrap it up with this:

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Aramean, nor slave nor free, nor male nor female, but you are all one in Y'shua the Anointed One. And if you are of Y'shua then you are seeds of Abraham and inheritors by the promise.

All praise belongs to Yahweh, our Father in heaven, whose Name is Set Apart. His Kingdom is near - let us desire to do His will, as in heaven so shall it be on earth. Father, give us understanding and forgive us our wrongdoings as we have forgiven those who have done us wrong. We know You test us to reveal what is truly in our hearts, but please protect us from the Evil One; for we know that Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever.

We still are in His learning curve. Let's get rid of those snares and stumbling blocks thrown in our way by the Adversary and keep our focus on Yahweh and the Instructions He provided for us.