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.

Pain and Suffering

I'm sure you have heard it asked or even said it yourself:

Why do bad things happen to good people?

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 Anointed One, 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.

There is a lot we do not know about those good people who are suffering from one thing or another but we do know what our Creator has told us, more than once, and it is about obedience.

​Exodus 15:26 - If you will diligently listen to the voice of ​YHWH your Elohim, and do that which is right in ​H​is eyes, and give ear to ​H​is commandments and keep all ​H​is statutes, He will put none of the diseases on you that He put on the Egyptians (for I am ​Yahweh​ your healer)

If we do not pay attention to our Creator and continue to make excuses for why we cannot keep His Commandments, living life the way we see fit with no regard for His Instructions, we will experience afflictions of one sort or another.  Others may see us as good people but have no idea why bad things should happen to us. We won't even know why unless we read Scriptures and search out the Word of Yahweh which answers all of our questions; then it is up to us to change.  By loving Yahweh first and foremost we come to realize how we are to show our love for Him = obey His Instructions. In obedience we tune into His plan as peace and harmony begin to take over our lives, and this happens when His Set Apart Spirit finally gets a foothold within and we learn to listen and take heed.

Thank You Yahweh for Your Son Yahshua who made this possible for me as he gave us Your Spirit just as You had given it to him. I am beginning to understand that we are to worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

John 4:23 ~ But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, indeed. Yahweh seeks worshippers as these.  For Yah is Spirit, and those who worship must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

John 14:16 ~  And I will ask of my Father and He will give you another Redeemer who will be with your forever. The Spirit of Truth, he who the world is not able to receive because it has not seen Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for He dwells with you and He is in you.

John 15:26 ~ But when the Redeemer comes, he whom I will send to you from the presence of my Father, the Spirit of Truth, He who proceeds from the presence of my Father will witness concerning me.

In John 16:12 Yahshua said he has much to say to his Apostles but knew they couldn't quite grasp it yet. Verse 13 ~ But when the Spirit of Truth comes He will guide you in all truth. for He will not speak from Himself but He will speak everything that He hears. (Everything from the Ruach haKodesh comes directly from YHWH)

I have lightly paraphrased First John Chapter 4 from the Aramaic English New Testament (Andrew G. Roth et al) so please read it from your copy of Scriptures when you have time.

Do not believe all spirits but learn to recognize the difference among them, whether they are from Yahweh or not, for many false teachers have gone out into the world. This is how you know if one is of the Spirit of Yahweh: every spirit that confesses that Yahshua the Anointed One has come in the flesh is of Yahweh. Those that don't are not of Yahweh but are of the false messiah of whom you have heard will come and now is already in the world.  Those who are of the world speak worldly things and the world hears them. But we truly Set Apart believers are of Yahweh. Those who hear us are also Set Apart; those who refuse to listen are not of Yahweh and by this we know and see the difference between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
Let us love one another because love is from Master Yahweh and that is how we come to know Him. He showed us His love when He sent His only begotten Son into the world that we, by him, might live. This is love and it's not because we loved Yah but that He loved us and sent His Son as atonement for our sins. If our Creator has so loved us, we should also love one another. No one has ever seen Him but if we love one another, He abides in us and His love is perfected in us.  By this we know that we abide in Him and the He abides in us, because He has given of His Spirit to us.
We have seen and do testify that the Father has sent His Son, a Redeemer for the world. Whoever confesses Y'shua to be the Son of Yahweh, Yahweh abides in him and he abides in Him. And we have believed and know the love which He has towards us for Yah is love and whoever abides in love abides in Him. And that is how His love is perfected with us, that we may not hide our faces in the day of judgment because just as Y'shua was in the world, so also are we in the world. In love there is no fear but perfect love casts out fear because fear exists in peril and he that fears is not perfected in love. Let us therefore love our Creator because He loved us first. We cannot say we love Yah if we hate our brother which makes us liars. If we cannot love our brother whom we see how can we love Yahweh whom we cannot see?  Whoever loves Yahweh must also love his brother.

There are many reasons why bad things happen to good people. Most of us recognize the obvious reasons, but there many subtle ones woven into daily life. It's up to us to change as we learn His ways, and align with the Creator's Instructions so that we may endure. 

Deuteronomy 11:26- See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.

Deuteronomy 30:15- See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity. For I command you this day to love Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His laws, and His rules, that you may thrive and increase, and that He may bless you... But if your heart turns away and you give no heed, and are lured into the worship and service of other gods, I declare to you this day that you shall certainly perish... I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Chose life by loving Yahweh Elohim, heeding His commands and holding fast to Him. For thereby you shall have life and shall long endure...

We good people may think we are living our lives according to His Instructions yet still suffer from one thing or another, whether its medical, mental, financial or spiritual; or whether it's something major or several minor annoyances, so lets take a closer look.

Even though we Love YHWH with our entire being, and love our neighbor as our self, we are not keeping all His Commandments or properly applying His rules to our lives in today's world. His promise depends on our obedience.  Take this into consideration:

We call the months and days by names of which some are the names of pagan gods. Not only are we "not to make for yourself a sculptured image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them," we aren't even suppose to utter the names of no-gods: Exodus 23:13 "Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth."

We may have chosen the Blessing but we forgot the conditions of that choice. Then Satan, who is so subtle, slips in the names of those gods and they end up on the modern day Gregorian calendar, on tennis shoes and automobiles, constellations named after Roman gods, songs, movies etc....  When we become aware of this truth its time to change and we find it's not an easy thing to do when the rest of the world is scheduled by these names. (sigh) It is no wonder there are good people struggling with rough times and many folks suffering much worse. We can change. It's not always easy to come out of Mystery Babylon but if we truly love YHWH our Elohim, and we do not wish to partake of her plagues, we will make every effort to obey our Father in heaven, now and in this lifetime.

Me and mine are still deprogramming.

Denial

There were those who pretended they didn't know Y'shua after he had been captured and sentenced to death. They didn't want to end up being thrown in jail themselves, or killed. When asked, they denied knowing him.

In the end times scenario folks will be reporting perceived 'believers' to the authorities to save their own skin, whether they are Christian or Jewish or Mormon etc.... because by then the Image of the Beast will be the god folks are commanded to worship, bow down to or die. There will be 'believers' who will worship the beast in order to save their own lives. This includes 'taking the mark' in order to buy or sell.

If we truly are Set Apart Believers we must resist temptation in order for the devil to flee from us. It has been foretold that some of us will go to jail and be tormented ten days before being executed. Some of us will go to war against this final world system and die on the battle field. Some of us will perish because of the plagues that scourge the earth. Then there will be those who flee, head for the hills and are protected in the wilderness for those final three and a half years.  Whichever group we end up in it will be by our faith in Yahweh, the One True Elohim that we will be able to endure until the return of Yahshua, whether dead or alive.

The truth of His Instructions found in Scriptures is what gives the understanding we need in order to endure until the end. Yes folks, there is a dooms day yet to play out and the doom and gloom will be for anyone who rejects Yahweh as the Creator and denies the existence or purpose of His Son Yahshua.

There have been famines, wars and rumors of wars going on for a long time. Nations and kingdoms have risen up and fought each other as the years go by. There have been plagues and diseases then as well as now. The only thing different is that all these 'signs' have been getting worse, like labor pains which begin with a twinge now and again, becoming closer together and building in intensity as time goes by. Things are bad now, and will get worse. 

Through all that is yet to come, we must continue to stand strong in our faith in the Creator and not be afraid to share the Good News of the Kingdom to Come and not be deniers of Y'shua as the Son of our heavenly Father.

We've Been Invited to the Wedding Feast as Guests

We have read that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son:

Matthew 22:3 ~ He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fatlings have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, and another to his business.… 

Sounds a bit like what was happening in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark. Interest wore off and folks went on about their daily affairs. Those folks did not enter the ark and in our future there are folks who will not enter the banquet hall = the Kingdom of Heaven.

Revelation 19:7 ~ Let us rejoice and exult and give glory to him for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. And it was granted her to be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean, for fine linen is the righteousness of the Set Apart believers. ... Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

It could be that Scriptures is our invitation to this banquet. Read it all again - it is a very detailed invitation. Everything has been prepared and written for our benefit. All we need do is accept this invitation, follow the Instructions, dress appropriately, keep our lamps filled with oil and enter.  Those who have heard the Good Shepherd's voice calling them will accept the invitation to attend this banquet, and are those who enter the hall before the doors are shut and locked.

It's not the church or the saints 

showing up as the Bride.

One of the Messengers said: Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.... and he showed me the Set Apart city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Elohim; in which was the glory of Elohim, as a brilliant light, and resembling a very precious gem; like a jasper stone, resembling crystal. 

If the New Jerusalem is the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb, Y'shua Messiah, who are we? Are we not 'the body' with Y'shua as the 'head', and if we are joined as one with Messiah now, how can we be the Bride later? How are we to understand the meaning of this New Jerusalem as the Bride, dressed in righteousness? and how do we expect to be the bride IF when we rise from the dead there is no marriage when we have become incorruptible like the Messengers in heaven? (Mark 12:25) Where is the connection people ?? The New City of Jerusalem is slightly beyond our understanding for the time being, but it has always been the center of attention for our Creator. After the thousand year kingdom Yah will restore all things. This restoration, the joining back together of Yahweh and Yahshua as One is akin to the purpose of marriage, the two become one. We, in this lifetime, have become one with the Messiah.

1 Corinthians 12:27 ~ Now you are the body of Y'shua, and members each in your place 

Romans 12:4 ~ For as we have many members in one body and those members do not have the same functions; so also we, who are many persons, are one body in Y'shua, and are naturally members of each other. But we have different gifts according to the grace given to us.

1 Corinthians 10:16 ~ The cup of thanksgiving which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the blood of Y'shua (the renewed covenant)? And the bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the body of Y'shua? Therefore, that bread is one, so we are all one body, for we all take to ourselves from that one bread (Y'shua, the bread from heaven).

1 Corinthians 12:20 ~ There are many members, but one body.

I am beginning to see the marriage supper of the Lamb, this wedding feast, as a metaphor for our thousand years in the earthly kingdom. We made ourselves ready to enter the banquet hall by reading Scriptures (the invitation) abiding by the Instructions best we can in this day and age, and having the testimony of Y'shua, Son of Yahweh.  When the end comes we will be gathered together given incorruptible bodies (linen robes of righteousness) and set back down on the promised land, the land of Canaan which will be ruled and overseen by Y'shua.  There is no bride scenario at this time. The Bride is the New Jerusalem which comes after the thousand year reign of Y'shua.  It is then that our Father restores all things, makes all things new and we shall have no memory of anything that happened before.  The Two become One as they were in the beginning.

The Reason Why

Let us take a look at what Yahweh's Instructions tell us about His Set Apart times. In previous studies I've gone over the descriptions given for each 'feast day' and many have seen how they are 'types and shadows' reflected in the life and times of Y'shua and the end times scenario yet to come. Now lets focus on why we are to observe them. 

Each 'feast day' covered in this posting is linked to a previous in-depth study for your further research, so you will see that I am not 'adding to or taking from' His word. This particular study will single out its reason and how we should observe each set time in today's world. I believe we are at that point where we worship YHWH in spirit and in truth.

Note that I have combined Passover with Unleavened Bread because the passover offering was made the evening before the first day of Unleavened Bread. I know it was common for the entire 8 days to be called The Passover but as you see, only the last few hours of daylight of the 14th day are set apart for the passover. Yahweh's days are counted from sunset to sunset, so the passover offering kicks off the days of unleavened bread. First Fruits, Feast of Weeks or Feast of the Harvest cover the time line up to Shavuot.

Passover/Unleavened Bread

The passover offering was made to YHWH as protection from death, it was the blood of the lamb painted on the doorposts and lintel that was a sign to Yahweh to pass over that dwelling and not kill any first born that may be inside. This was the final plague He brought against Pharaoh convincing him to let His people go. They leave on the 15th day of the first month which is the first day of Unleavened Bread, to be observed for all time. And when ask why and what does it mean, the answer is:

It is the passover sacrifice to YHWH Elohim because He passed over the houses of the (descendants of Jacob and the mixed multitude) in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians. 

His people are instructed to do this so they remember the day of their departure from the land of Egypt for as long as they live. The blood of the lamb was a sign to YHWH and saved them from death - they were set free from being slaves to Pharaoh. In modern times our acceptance of the shed blood of His Son is also a sign to YHWH, and sets us free from our old sin-nature, saving us from death eternal. We will be passed over on the day of His Wrath.  The Blood of the Lamb was shed for our sake. Yahshua is the Spiritual Bread from heaven, without blemish, without sin, without leaven.

Feast of Weeks/Shavuot

"Feast of Weeks" is the time of counting the days (49 days = 7 weeks) from the barley harvest. Day 50 is Shavuot. The barley harvest is not date specific because it can ripen and be ready for harvest on different days, year after year, depending on the weather. Day 50 was when the new grain offering was made. The new grain at this time was of the wheat harvest. All in all, this time period was for folks to offer the best of the best from their harvest to the priest to offer up before Yahweh. We should remember to always be thankful for His abundance in our lives and not hesitate to give the best of what we have to those in need. We should not try to put a date on something which He did not.

Trumpets

(this link covers more than just the Day of Trumpets)

This day is for making a joyful noise, something pleasing to our Creator letting him know that we are here and not to forget us, as we praise Him as our Elohim and rejoice in all His Ways. It is the first day of the seventh month according to Yah's Calendar.

Atonement

(once you click on this link you'll need to scroll down a bit to reach the Day of Atonement study)

The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement, a day to practice self denial, the day on which expiation is made on our behalf before Yahweh. It is a day we resist from tending to our usual daily 'things' and realize the importance of Yahshua who laid down his life for our sake. We should be silent this day as he goes before Yahweh on our behalf.

Sukkot

(after you click on this link, scroll down to the part about Sukkot)

This is the time of the in-gathering of Yah's people, which begins on the 15th day of this seventh month. It is a time when Set Apart believers will be gathered together and inherit the promised land.  

The cycle for the year is complete.

In observing our Creator's set times we are being trained up in order to enter His Kingdom on earth at the return of Y'shua. His set times remind us of being set free from slavery to our old sinful ways by way of His Son; to offer up the best of the best to our Creator giving thanks for His abundance in our lives. We give our offerings to the poor and needy, the hungry and thirsty and we care for widows and orphans in our communities.  We are being made ready to receive His Spirit as we continue on His path of righteous living. The sounding of the trumpets bring our attention to the beginning of the seventh month and on the tenth day we give our full attention to our Father in Heaven where Y'shua offers atonement for our sins. In all this we are made ready to be gathered together with other Set Apart believers to receive our inheritance, the land of Canaan with Yahshua as our king and high priest.

Remember that we are not to substitute what we think is right and proper. Since the temple or priesthood no longer exist, we adapt accordingly and do not travel to Jerusalem three times a year or stay home and pretend we honor Yahweh with our traditions. All added tradition only confuses the issue and takes away from Yah's intentions. 

1. Remember how He set His people free from bondage and has done the same for us 
2. Remove leaven/temptations from our homes and lifestyle so we don't fall back into our old sin nature
3. Give freely of what we have to our brothers in need thanking YHWH for His abundance in our own lives 
4. Become ready to receive His Set Apart Spirit, the Comforter who is the Spirit of Truth 
5. Obey Yahweh and speak the testimony of His Son, do not be silent about the Good News of the Kingdom to Come 
6. Be humble - it is in the hands of Yahshua to go before Yahweh on our behalf and offer atonement for our sin 
7. Look forward to the day of Messiah's return when we shall be gathered together and set down on our land as promised.

Search Scriptures and you will find that we are not instructed to observe or celebrate the birth, death or resurrection of our heavenly Father's Son, Yahshua the Anointed One. It is not a commanded holiday, feast day or set apart time found anywhere in Scriptures. Yet millions of people take part in various man-made rituals associated with Christmas and Easter while ignoring the Creator's Instructions, not knowing they are only mimicking pagan practices dressed up as Christianity. Ash Wed., Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday nor any Sunrise Service activity is found to be endorsed by YHWH; in fact we are warned against adopting the practices of pagans. Once you come out of Churchianity don't let yourself be led down the path of Judaism either. Jewish Traditions are just as big of a distraction from the truth as all other man-made religions. Let me point out that it is out of love and compassion that I share this truth, and encourage you to read Scriptures to learn this for yourself; study to show yourself approved. There are No Dead Ends on His Path - Once we discover a truth lets not stop there and set up camp in a perceived comfort zone. Falsehoods continue to fall away like the scales fell off Paul's eyes - it took me a few years of casual study before I began see more clearly, but imagine what it would be like to have His Light go on all at once!

Prayer in School

A FB post stayed on my mind for awhile making me think about praying and schools and who's responsible for teaching children to begin with.  I was in public school from 1960 to 1973 and we never had a set apart time specifically for praying. Did any of you (other than you Catholic folks who went to your own school)? Times were modest back then. Girls wore just below-the-knee length skirts or dresses and boys kept their hair trimmed to above collar length. There were those whose dads or barbers gave them butch (flat top) hair cuts.

Things started to change when I was in 9th grade, if I remember correctly, and gals were allowed to wear pants - most of us wore jeans - and the skirt length went to finger-tip. We'd stand straight with our arms at our sides, hands straight down and the hem line best not be above that measurement. Do that now and man! that is short! Long hair on the boys was being allowed, but maybe shoulder length was the maximum. 

By the time I was in 10th grade drugs were becoming evident, especially marijuana. The drug culture grew through the years in the town I grew up in. It wasn't that anyone stopped God from being there, but no one, no adult, stood up against the drugs and drinking because by then the teachers who went through college during the Vietnam era were pot smokers and peace freaks drinking Annie Green Springs and Boone's Farm. Some of them quietly promoted the rebellious spirit in their students.

I've never really put a lot of thought into this before, but sex, drugs and rock-n-roll pushed any hint of God right out the door and down the highway. The 60's ushered in a psychedelic way of thinking and viewing this country and the world. Music really influenced that generation (which I was a small part of) and most of that music was influenced by drugs. 

It seems really clear to me now, in my mature years and with eyes to see, that prayer should not be part of the school's schedule. Kids are supposed to be taught about God at home by their parents; they should be reading Scriptures and in study of His Word as we read those instructions in Deuteronomy 11:18. 

Personally, I was not raised up as a God Fearing child. I didn't stand a chance against the many temptations that came my way because I had no real knowledge of God, never read the Bible; I was not taught the truth by my parents because they did not know it, either. I don't blame them, it was just the way things were; we inherited the lies. How can we know sin if we are not taught our Creator's Instructions before our folks hand us off to the world?

Deuteronomy 11:18 ~ Therefore impress these My Words upon your very heart; bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, and Teach Them to your Children reciting them when you stay at home and when your away, when you lie down and when you get up; and inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates to the end that you and your children may endure in the land that Yah swore to your fathers, to assign them as long as there is a heaven over the earth.

Prayer is not something that should be repetitive or expected to be done at certain times of the day. Prayer is not something one needs to do in public and it is quite acceptable to our Creator to pray quietly by our selves... the key is for prayer to part of everyday life.

My conclusion would be that a child who was raised and taught the Word of Elohim would know about prayer, when to pray and how to pray without paid government workers telling them when, where or how.  They would be better equipped to recognize sin, discerning good from evil, and make the choice to resist temptation. The devil will flee from those kids.

Click Here to go to my study on praying

Click Here to go to my study about Devil Music

Five Years to Build the Ark

What!?

I always thought it took at least one hundred years, maybe even 120 years - that's what the Bible says.

Yeah, but, wait.... there's more. 

We read in Genesis 5:28 that Lamech was 182 years old when his son Noah was born and that he died 595 years later.

In the writings found in the book of Jasher, page 14, we read that Noah was 595 years old when Lamech, his father died. It was then that Yah said to Noah and Methuselah to remind all people of everything He had spoken to them in the days gone by and to turn from their evil ways, but the people did not listen. That is when Yah told Noah that the end of all flesh has come before Him on account of their evil deeds and He would destroy the earth. He instructed Noah how to and where to build a large ark; what to use and how to store provisions etc.... By this time Noah's sons are grown and willing and able to help fulfill this command of Yah.  

Genesis 6:3 ~ Yah said, My breath shall not abide in man forever, since he too is flesh, let the days allowed him be one hundred and twenty years.

This is when Yah started the 120 year countdown to the Flood.  Noah started building the ark 115 years later, after his father died, and finishing when he was 600 years old. In Genesis 7:6 we read that Noah was 600 years old when the Flood came. He had the ark built and provisioned during those remaining five years.

Noah was in his 500th year when he began children and lived another 350 years after the flood (all the days of Noah came to 950 years then he died - Genesis 9:29). He was 502 years old when Shem was born.

In Genesis 11:10 we read that Shem was 100 years old when he begat a son, and this was two years after the flood... that would make him 97 years old when he boarded the ark. Japheth was Noah's first born, a year or two older than Shem and Ham was the youngest.

Genesis 9:24 ~ When Noah woke up from his wine and learned what his youngest son had done to him.... (Ham saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers)

The call from Yah to repent went out 120 years prior to the flood gates opening. With the onset of the final 5 years those same unrepentant ones watched the building of the ark and still didn't get it ... and none of them turned from their evil ways. Oh, but when the rains started falling and the springs started flowing and the waters started rising - all things they had been told beforehand - now they start crying out to Noah to let them come into the ark, after Yah had already closed and sealed the door. It was too late for them to be saved.

Does this ring a bell with any of you? We too have been told the signs of the time of the end. We have been invited to the feast and we best be prepared to arrive before the doors are shut and locked, because then it will be too late to be saved. There will be those crying out to Messiah who will say, go away from me - I never knew you.

It dawned on me that Noah and Methuselah were the two end time witnesses of their day. They gave testimony for 120 years prior to the end of life as they knew it, preaching the Word of Yahweh and reminding people of what was and what was to be.