SHAVUOT – THE BETROTHAL TO THE BRIDE

“There is abundant peace for the lovers of Your Torah, and there is no stumbling block for them.” Psalms 119:165

As I put this Op together, it is 2 June 2022 and updated it as of 16 May 2023, just a few days before the great Feast of Shavuot arrives…Baruch HaShem! Now more than ever, with all that is going on around us in the world, it seems like we need to truly understand His Feasts and what they represent because the major prophetic events we read about in His Word all occur on or around His annual Feasts! The term we hear used in His Word i.e. ‘The Early and Late Rains’ is a Hebrew idiom referring to HaShem’s annual Feasts…the Spring Feasts i.e. Pesach, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Shavuot and then the Late Rains i.e. Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Keep this in mind as we progress in this Op.

On a side note, I know I bash Replacement Theology constantly in my Op’s, again it is NOT directed at the people, it is solely directed at the doctrine that has been regurgitated through the centuries, unfortunately leading so many to their ruin. Baruch HaShem, He is ending this reign of deception and leading people out of the captivity to Replacement Theology just as He promised He would do in the very End of Days! So while I will frequently highlight the differences between Replacement Theology and the Word of HaShem in this Op, it is not a slap at the people. It is meant solely to hopefully get some to stop, think, analyze, reason and search out His Word for themselves and with the help of HaShem, break off that veil over their hearts and eyes so they too can see how awesome and how wonderful He and His Torah truly are.

Now, always remember when you proceed further into this Op, despite the claims of many in Replacement Theology, the Temple Services i.e. the procedures which the Kohanim, Levites and Israelites in the Temple adhere too i.e. the Tavnit (Blueprints), are NOT man made! They were given to Moshe and David by the Ruach (Spirit) of HaShem per Shemot (Exodus) 25 and I Chronicles 28!

So, with this all said, the Feast of Shavuot (erroneously referred to as Pentecost), is a VERY, VERY important Feast, one of the three pilgrimage Feasts in which all the men of Israel are required to appear before HaShem in His Temple and bring korbonot (Offerings). This Feast is so important I will go ahead and give you a little hint as to what this Feast and what this Op will entail…..this Feast is what sets apart the Bride!! No Shavuot….no Bride!!! Again, keep this in mind!

Now we can jump into this, but before we do, always remember the following because they never, ever change:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13

Remember Yeshua is the AGENT of HaShem…please read the article from the Jerusalem Encyclopedia defining the ‘Law of Agency’. Here is an excerpt: “The Law of Agency deals with the status of a person (known as the agent) acting by direction of another (the principal), and thereby  legally binding the principal in his connection with a third person. The person who binds a principal in this manner is his agent, known in Jewish law as sheluaḥ or sheliaḥ (one that is sent): the relation of the former to the latter is known as agency (sheliḥut). The general principle is enunciated thus: A man’s agent is like himself (Ḳid. 41b).” – http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/894-agency-law-of

This means, Yeshua, can ONLY act, teach, do and say ONLY what HaShem i.e. The Principal Who charged His Agent i.e. Yeshua to act on His behalf. John 5:19 says “Therefore, Yeshua, responded and said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does.” Or John 8:28 says “So, Yeshua said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Adam, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak.'” Finally, John 12:49-50 says “Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father Who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life, what I should say and what I should speak.”

Is it then possible for the Messiah to come and teach a doctrine that is the complete opposite to what HaShem established in the beginning? Can the Messiah come teaching a doctrine of ‘Change’ and still legitimately claim to be from HaShem?

Before we examine the depths of Shavuot, we need to first lay the foundation for the Feast. Shavuot is on the sixth day of the Biblical month of Sivan i.e. the Third month of the year beginning with Nissan. This Feast is considered to be a continuation of Pesach (Passover). It is the 50th day after Pesach in which we have been Counting the Omer between Pesach and Shavuot.

On a side note, those who object to using the names for the Biblical months, there is biblical precedent for the names of the months as we see in the book of Esther 8:9 specifically refers to the month of ‘Sivan’ in Scripture, however, I am NOT looking to engage in arguments over the calendar issue…that is between HaShem and yourselves.

What is very interesting concerning the month of Sivan, i.e. the Third Month, is that it is in the Third Month HaShem brings Israel to Sinai and presents His marriage proposal i.e. His Torah. An excerpt from the book ‘The Book of Our Heritage’ by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, it says “Just as marriage can survive only if there is peace and love, so too the Torah, the instrument of betrothal between HaShem and Israel, could only be received when these conditions prevailed. The Torah is referred to as ‘Morashah’ (A Heritage) per Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:4 which says ‘The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Ya’akov.’ This word ‘Morashah’ is better understood as ‘Me’orasah’ meaning ‘Betrothed.'” We will discuss this much deeper coming up shortly in the Op.

To better understand Shavuot, we must understand the concept of Kedusha (Holiness)! Kedusha is very well defined by my teacher in the following statement: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!” Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries – Jerusalem Temple Study.

Tractate Kelim 1.6-9 from the Mishnah gives us a very good example by listing locations in ascending order of severity: “There are ten sanctities – Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) is more sanctified than any of the other lands. And what is its sanctity? That we may bring from it the omer and the first fruits and the Two Loaves of bread, which we may NOT bring from any of the other lands.”

“Cities surrounded by a wall are more sanctified than this, for we send the metzora’im (Those with biblical Leprosy) out of them, and they may carry a dead body around within them until they decide (To take them outside the walls for burial, once they go outside the wall, they may not re-enter until going through the ritual purity process for having contact with a corpse). Once out, they may not bring it (The corpse) back (Inside the walls).”

“Within the walls is more sanctified than these, for we may eat there Kodashim Kalim (Offerings of minor degree of holiness) and Ma’aser Sheni (Second Tithes). Har Habayit (Temple Mount) is more sanctified than this, for zavim and zavot, niddot and yoldot (Ritually impure due to bodily discharges) may not enter there. The Cheil is more sanctified than this, for Gentiles, and one rendered impure by a corpse, may not enter there. Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women) is more sanctified than this, for a tevul yom (One who has gone through the ritual purity process and has immersed in a mikvah, but must wait until sun down for their purity to be restored) may not enter there, but they are not liable to a sin offering for it. Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Israel) is more sanctified than this for one lacking atonement may not enter there, and they are liable to a sin offering for it. Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests) is more sanctified than this, for Israelites may enter there only at a time when they are needed; for laying hands, for slaughtering, for heaving.”

“Between the Ulam (Outer portico of the Sanctuary building) and the Altar is more sanctified than this, for those with a blemish and those with wild hair (Uncut for thirty days) may not enter there. The Hekhal (The Sanctuary building) is more sanctified than this, for one may not enter there without washing hands and feet. The Holy of Holies is more sanctified than these, for only the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) may enter there, on Yom Kippur at the time of the service.”

Can you see the progression of severity as it pertains to the concept of Kedusha? Again, I ask the question, so now HaShem, Who says He never changes and His Word is firmly established for eternity, suddenly now changes His mind and says a group of people, i.e. Replacement Theology, which teaches everything about HaShem is now tossed aside and replaced and now this group of people who eat unclean, observe pagan feasts, rejects the Torah, and decides for themselves what is right and wrong, are now exactly what He has wanted from the beginning? Keep this in mind!

Shavuot has several names in His Word:

• Feast of Reaping per Shemot (Exodus) 28:16
• Feast of Shavuot per Shemot 34:22
• Feast of Bikkurim (Firstfruits) per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26

The Feast of Shavuot is a Korbon Feast meaning HaShem requires animal and grain offerings be brought into His Temple. These korbonot are listed in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 which tells us two minchah (Bread) offerings along with what is called an ‘External Chatat (Sin)’ korbonot of a young male goat. It is called an ‘External’ korbonot because it designates where the blood will be sprinkled, in this case on the external Mizbe’ach (Altar). Further this korbonot is also referred to as a ‘Communal’ obligatory korbonot in that this goat is offered up as a Chatat for ALL of Israel.

Additionally, per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26-27, two bulls, one ram and seven lambs are offered up as Olah (Burnt) korbonot, which means no one eats the meat as the meat is completely burned on the Mizbe’ach as a sweet aroma to HaShem.

One of the main korbonot brought to the Beis HaMikdash (Temple) is the Two Loaves (Shtei HaLechem) which is a Minchah korbonot i.e. a Bread Offering. Now when studying HaShem’s Word and utilizing the tools He gave us to study and learn, i.e. His Oral Torah (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Etc), it is always very important to pay very close attention to the details! The Shtei HaLechem is no difference!

Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 says “From your dwelling places you shall bring bread that shall be waved, two loaves made of two tenth ephah, they shall be fine flour, they shall be baked leavened; first offerings to HaShem.”

The following excerpt from the Book of the Mitzvot #307 says “The Omer offering, a special Minchah (Bread) offering made of barley, is brought, in the Beis HaMikdash on the second day of Pesach (Passover). It permits consumption of the new crop of grain, any grain, that had taken root during the period of the preceding year’s Omer offering and this one. Fifty days later, on the Festival of Shavuos, we are commanded to bring another special Minchah. This offering, which is made of wheat, is known as the offering of the Two Loaves, Shtei HaLechem.” Notice the Minchah offered on Pesach is made of barley, but the Minchah offered on Shavuos is made from wheat?

Note #2 from the Book of the Mitzvot excerpt clarifies “As a general rule, offerings (Minchah) may not consist of leavened bread (Chametz). However, there are two offerings that are required to be made of chametz. These are the Two Loaves offering of Shavuos and ten of the forty loaves of the Todah (Thanksgiving) offering of Vayikra (Leviticus) 7:13. The Two Loaves offering is a form of thanksgiving to HaShem for this new harvest, and therefore shares this aspect with the Todah offering.”

Tractate Menahot from the Mishnah describes the Two Loaves: “The Two Loaves brought on Shavuot, thus Vayikra 23:15-17 ‘Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat shall you number fifty days, and you shall offer a new meal offering to the Lord. You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth measures, they shall be of fine flour…’ The above were eaten by the Kohanim.”

Tractate Menahot 5.6 from the Mishnah says “…How does he (Kohanim) proceed with the waving of the of the Two Loaves and the two lambs? He puts the Two Loaves on the two lambs. According to the Gemara (Talmud Commentary), he puts them beside the two lambs, ‘on’ actually signifying ‘near’ and puts his two hands underneath, and swings forward and backward in all four directions, and upward and downward, as it is written in Shemot (Exodus) 29:27: ‘Which is waved and heaved up’, ‘waved’ meaning forward and backward, and ‘heaved’ upward and downward. The above account of Aaron’s and his sons’ induction into the priesthood serves as a model for other waving’s”

Then, per Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:19 there are two male sheep offered up as a Shelamim (Peace) korbonot. It should also be noted all of these korbonot are considered to be ‘Communal’ and obligatory meaning they all are on behalf the entire people of Israel! This should be causing you to ask yourself some questions as it pertains to what we all were taught in Replacement Theology, which I will address shortly.

The biblical reference for Shavuot is found beginning in Shemot (Exodus) 19:1, which says “In the third month (Sivan) from the Exodus of the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day, they arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai. They journeyed from Rephidim and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the Wilderness; and Israel encamped there, opposite the mountain.

Moshe ascended to Elohim, and HaShem called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘So shall you say to the House of Ya’akov (Jacob) and relate to the Children of Israel. You have seen what I did to Egypt, and that I have borne you on the wings of eagles and brought you to Me. And now, if you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for Mine is the entire world. You shall be to Me a kingdom of ministers and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Children of Israel.

Moshe came and summoned the elders of the people, and put before them all these words that HaShem had commanded him. The entire people responded together and said, ‘Everything that HaShem has spoken we shall do!’ Moshe brought back the words of the people to HaShem.”

Very interesting! So we see Israel arrived in the Wilderness of Sinai on the first day of Sivan and it was then HaShem made the proposal to Israel on the 2nd day of Sivan! “IF you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, THEN you shall be to me the most beloved treasure of all the peoples, for Mine is the entire world.”

Consider this from an excerpt from the ‘Book of Our Heritage’ which says “The verse from Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) 2:2 states: ‘Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is My beloved among the sons.’ Just as the apple tree gives fruit fifty days after blossoming, so too did Israel receive the Torah fifty days after their departure from Egypt!”

I have to stop here and address this point…I hear constantly from the adherents of Replacement Theology that anyone striving to keep the Torah is attempting to earn their salvation and thus are derived from the Kingdom of Satan for teaching lies and deceit. Well, these verses here once more prove them wrong…how do we know? Because the picture HaShem has shown is FIRST He ‘saved’ or ‘redeemed’ Israel from the bondage of Egypt due to no merit of their own and THEN He brings Israel to Sinai and we will see shortly it is AFTER He redeemed Israel that He gives His Torah and says and I will paraphrase “Now that I have redeemed you, here is My Torah to know how to live as My people!” Point is, FIRST comes salvation/redemption THEN comes the Torah to be set apart to HaShem as His Own by faith i.e. live it out, practice, study, learn and apply it, all of which are the biblical definition of faith in HaShem! Remember ‘Faith WITHOUT works i.e. Torah is dead’ per Ya’akov (James) chapter 2 in the Apostolic Writings! Okay, back on point.

So, we can see HaShem offered His proposal to Israel here on the 2nd day of Sivan, in which Israel responds with “Everything that HaShem has spoken we shall do!” Meaning Israel accepted His proposal!! Moshe then brings the response to HaShem on the 3rd day of Sivan. Baruch HaShem!

It should be noted that it is recorded HaShem did offer the Torah first to the Gentile nations, but they all refused Him. Israel is the only nation who accepted His proposal…which accounts as to why the world hates Israel so much since then to include today. This concept is derived from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2 which states “He said: HaShem came from Sinai, having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran, and then approached with some of the holy myriads, from His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them.” The commentary on this verse from the Talmud Bavli Tractate Avodah Zarah 2b says “With regard to the Revelation at Mount Sinai, our verse says, ‘HaShem came from Sinai, having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran.’ Seir is the homeland of the descendants of Eisav (Esau), and the descendants of Yishmael live on Mount Paran. This teaches that BEFORE HaShem gave the Torah to Israel at Mount Sinai, He offered it to the other nations of the world, and they all rejected His offer.”

Okay, moving on. So, now that Israel has accepted His proposal, He then tells Moshe in Shemot 19:9-15 “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Behold! I come to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people will hear as I speak to you, and they will also believe in you forever.’ Moshe related the words of the people to HaShem (On the 3rd day of Sivan). HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Go to the people and sanctify (Kedusha/Kadosh/Set apart) them today and tomorrow and they shall wash their clothing. Let them be prepared for the third day, for on the third day HaShem shall descend in the sight of the entire people on Mount Sinai (6th day of Sivan). You shall set boundaries for the people roundabout saying, ‘Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall surely die. A hand shall not touch it, for he shall surely be stoned or surely thrown down; whether animal or person he shall not live; upon an extended blast of the shofar, they may ascend the mountain.’ Moshe descended from the mountain to the people. He sanctified the people and they washed their clothing. He said to the people, ‘Be prepared after a three day period; do not draw near a woman.’”

These verses are just astounding!! Remember HaShem reveals the end out of the beginning!! Here HaShem keeps reiterating ‘On the THIRD DAY!’ What is so significant about the THIRD DAY? Because HaShem established the pattern from the third day of creation that something or someone is revealed! On the third day dry land appeared during the week of creation! So, here on the THIRD DAY, HaShem will come down to Sinai and reveal Himself to Israel!

Consider that to HaShem a thousand years is but a day per Psalms 90:4 and 2 Kepha (Peter) 3:8, which again adds a prophetic element to this account and here is why: Hosea 6:1-2 says “Come, let us return to HaShem for He has mangled and He shall heal us; He has smitten and He shall bandage us. He will heal us AFTER TWO DAYS (Two thousand years of exile after the second Temple destruction); on the THIRD DAY He will raise us up and we will live before Him.” Remember HaShem has given mankind 7,000 years and then the World to Come. The first six days i.e. six thousand years mankind makes a mess out of things. Then on the Shabbat i.e. the Seventh Day or the last thousand years, Yeshua will rule and reign and we will rest in Him. So, how long has it been since Israel was scattered into the world after the destruction of the Temple by Rome? Approximately two days i.e. two thousand years! On the third day after the exile began, He will raise us up i.e. the resurrection of the righteous and the Gathering to HaShem on that Rosh Hashanah which begins on His calendar the seventh day i.e. the Day of HaShem! The point I am striving to drive home is that HaShem is completely consistent and unchanging…Yeshua changed NOTHING despite what Replacement Theology teaches!

We also see how HaShem gives Israel three days to purify themselves i.e. sanctify themselves….remember sanctification has nothing to do with salvation/redemption, it is all about being set apart to Him for service unto Him. Is it a coincidence then that when a person is being purified from corpse impurity during the SEVEN day purification process that the ashes the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) are sprinkled on the person on the THIRD and SEVENTH days and then are clean before HaShem? Point is, pattern…consistency…He never changes! Moving on.

Then we see from these verses in Shemot HaShem establishes boundaries because of the kedusha issue. When one draws closer to HaShem, the level of kedusha increases…such as we see in the Temple. For example, Gentiles can only go so far in the Temple, they cannot cross the Soreg (Lattice worked wall). If they do, there is a death penalty. Israelite women can go only as far as the Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women), if they violate this, there is a death penalty. Israelite men can only go to the Court of the Israelite’s. The Kohanim (Priests) can only go so far and then finally the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) can only enter the Most Holy Place one time a year on Yom Kippur. If he violates this, then he will die by the Hand of Heaven in that year. Further, no one is allowed to turn their back towards the Most Holy Place anywhere in the Temple…to do so is a death penalty. No one is allowed to enter the Temple with their heads uncovered…again it is a death penalty…why? Kedusha!! Point is, HaShem is kadosh, and He commands we as His people are to be kadosh like Him.

With this all said, to be His people means we MUST have boundaries in our lives and MUST be kadosh…which is best defined by my teacher, Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries, who defined kedusha as: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!” Can we be His people when we toss His Torah out and declare it null and void as Replacement Theology teaches? Nope! It is utterly impossible! This is why Replacement Theology doctrine is so tremendously dangerous as it is leading people to their utter ruin and they, in most cases, have no idea they are running headlong into a speeding freight train, figuratively speaking. I digress…moving on.

So, then on the THIRD DAY what happens? Per Shemot 19:16-24 says “On the THIRD DAY when it was morning, there was thunder and lightning and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of the shofar was very powerful, and the entire people that was in the camp shuddered. Moshe (Remember Moshe is a picture of Messiah Yeshua!) brought the people forth from the camp toward Elohim, and they stood at the bottom of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was smoking because HaShem had descended upon it in the fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of the furnace, and the entire mountain shuddered exceedingly. The sound of the shofar grew continually much stronger; Moshe would speak and Elohim would respond to him with a voice.

HaShem descended upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain; HaShem summoned Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe ascended. HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Descend, warn the people, lest they break through to HaShem to see, and a multitude of them will fall. Even the Kohanim who approach HaShem should be prepared, lest HaShem burst forth against them.’ Moshe said to HaShem, ‘The people cannot ascend Mount Sinai, for You have warned us, saying, ‘Bound the mountain and sanctify it.’ HaShem said to him, ‘Go, descend. Then you shall ascend, and Aharon with you, but the Kohanim, and the people, they shall not break through to ascend to HaShem, lest He burst forth against them.’ Moshe descended to the people and said it to them.”

Again, HaShem is reinforcing the concept of kedusha! This is why it makes my blood boil every time I hear Replacement Theology go on and on about how ‘The veil is torn in two, now all of us have access to the Most Holy Place and go in whenever we want, however we want and answer to no one…’ No, no, no!!! Very, very, very wrong concept….think of how many people Replacement Theology would send to their deaths if the Temple were standing in Jerusalem today and people just waltzed in and tried to enter the Heichal (Sanctuary)? There would be piles of corpses laying around the place! Again can you see just how deadly Replacement Theology truly is?

So, now HaShem has descended onto the mountain and He then says in Shemot 20:1-14 says “Elohim spoke all these statements, saying: ‘I am HaShem, your Elohim, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. There shall not be to you the gods of others in My presence. You shall not make yourself a carved image nor any likeness of that which is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth. You shall not prostrate yourself to them and you shall not worship them, for I am HaShem, your Elohim, a jealous Elohim, Who visits the sin of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations, for My enemies; but Who shows kindness for thousands of generations to those who love Me and observe My commandments (What did Yeshua, the Agent of HaShem, reiterate? ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments!’ Means again NOTHING changed!) You shall not take the Name of HaShem, your Elohim, in vain, for HaShem will not absolve anyone who takes His Name in vain.

Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. Six days shall you work and do all your labor; but the seventh day is Shabbat to HaShem, your Elohim; you shall not do any work, you, your son, your daughter; your slave, your maidservant, your animal, and your convert within your gates, for in six days HaShem made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, HaShem blessed the Shabbat day and sanctified it.” So, what gives Replacement Theology the authority to declare HaShem’s Shabbat day now is null and void and any ole day can be Shabbat? The answer is, they CANNOT change what HaShem has decreed to be sanctified! Another reason why He will destroy Replacement Theology in the End!.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be lengthened upon the land that HaShem, your Elohim gives you. You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness against your fellow. You shall not covet your fellow’s house. You shall not covet your fellow’s wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow.”

So, again we see HaShem is giving the terms of the proposal to Israel i.e. He is giving Israel the Torah! In other words, HaShem, Who is the prospective Groom proposes to Israel i.e. the prospective Bride. She accepts His proposal and then He presents to her on the 6th day of Sivan what is called the ‘Ketubah’ i.e. the marriage contract, which stipulates everything the Groom will do and is responsible for taking care of His Bride and the responsibilities the Bride has to the Groom! Folks, understand, the Torah of HaShem IS the Ketubah which means Israel IS the Bride and it is on Shavuot, the 6th day of Sivan, He gave His Ketubah!

Does this change your perception of the Torah now? Can the so called ‘Church’ of Replacement Theology be the bride? Not a chance in Hades! Why? Because the Church has tossed out the Torah declaring it ‘Bondage, dung, human feces, deception, shackles of death, destruction, etc!’ I am not exaggerating either…many, many people in Replacement Theology really do believe this and claim Paul said these things in his letters, which is utter garbage and blasphemy! So, can there be a bride when the prospective bride claims the marriage contract has been tossed out? Or to put it another way, how can there be a wedding when the bride refuses to show up and has by default married someone else i.e. Replacement Theology/Torah Abolishing ‘Jesus’ whose entire doctrine is ‘Change’ culminating with the Torah is tossed out? I digress.

Consider a prophetic verse of the End of Days which is found in the book of Shoftim (Judges) 21:25 which says “In those days (Biblical idiom to reference the End of Days) there was no king in Israel; A MAN WOULD DO WHATEVER SEEMED PROPER IN HIS EYES.” In other other words, Torahlessness i.e. Lawlessness was the way people lived in the End. People spit on HaShem and embraced what was pleasing in their own eyes and thus would decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong, hence there was no king. This verse, in my opinion, sums up Replacement Theology and the devastating effects this Satanic doctrine has had on the world. Something to consider.

Additionally, during Shavuot, it is a part of the Feast for us to read the Book of Ruth. Why the Book of Ruth? Per the Book of Ruth Artscroll Commentary the Book of Ruth is indicative of being a picture of HaShem taking things which are impure and withdrawing purity from it! Job 14:3 says “Who can withdraw purity from impurity?” Further, the Bamidbar Midrash 19:1 says “Abraham came from Terach, Hezekiah from Achaz, Yoshiah from Omon, Mordechai from Shim’i, Israel from the nations, the World to Come from this world. Who could do this? Who could command this? Who could decree this? No one but HaShem, the only One on earth!” Keep all this in mind!

THE JEWISH WEDDING PROCESS

I am going to quickly discuss the Jewish wedding process because it relates to us today.

The Groom is required to “Pay the Bride Price” for the prospective bride. This MUST be something of value such as property, money or other forms of wealth. In this case, HaShem gave His Torah, something of immeasurable value for the Bride!

It is interesting to note that on Shavuot in the synagogues, a Ketubah is read and the date ‘6th of Sivan in the biblical year 2448’ (The number of years from Creation) is the date of the Betrothal between HaShem and Israel! Further, it is acknowledged that the Torah is the Bride Price that was paid for her!

There are TWO phases to a Jewish wedding:

• Erusin = The Betrothal Phase – The husband and wife are technically married, but they do not live under the same roof together, they do not partake of marriage sexual relations, but if either party wants to end the relationship, or if either party violates the terms of the Ketubah, they will need to obtain a divorce document called a ‘Get’. Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 3:8 says “And I saw that despite the fact that I (HaShem) divorced wayward Israel because of her adultery (Idolatry) and gave her a bill of divorce to her, unfaithful Judah, her sister, was not afraid; she too went and committed adultery.” So, HaShem DID divorce Israel………..BUT, there is hope! Since it is forbidden in His Torah for a man to remarry his divorced wife who married another man per Devarim 24:4, HaShem legally cannot remarry Israel….or can He? Again, this is where understanding the role of Yeshua comes into play as the ‘Agent of HaShem’. Yeshua comes on the scene, and what does He do? He offers Himself up and dies on Pesach, thus releasing HaShem from the prohibition of Devarim 24:4. HaShem then resurrects Yeshua on the THIRD DAY, the Ketubah is restored and renewed, and now HaShem can resume being in the Erusin stage of the marriage betrothal process! Does this change your perception of Yeshua’s role? If the Ketubah had been done away with as Replacement Theology teaches, then there is NO Marriage whatsoever! So, who is this Replacement Theology’s ‘Jesus’ married too? No one! There are no terms of marriage i.e. no Ketubah!
• Nissuin = Full Marriage – This will happen on the Rosh HaShanah HaShem has designated when Yeshua will be crowned King and then the Wedding Ceremony takes place. Remember Yeshua is the ‘Agent of HaShem’, and as HaShem’s Agent, will be the One to literally marry Israel. Just before the Nissuin ceremony the Groom must agree to the terms of the Ketubah in the presence of two witnesses, whereupon these two witnesses sign the Ketubah. Is it possible then that Moshe and Elijah i.e. Torah and the Prophets, present at Yeshua’s transfiguration in Matthew 17 are the two witnesses?

The Nissuin ceremony takes seven days in which the couple spends those seven days secluded. Again we see the picture emerging of the seven years where the new couple is secluded in the Heavenly Temple during the seven years of the Birth Pangs here on earth, erroneously called ‘The Tribulation’ period. It is here Yeshua begins His reign as King and then at the end of the seven days, He and the Bride emerge, and on that Yom Kippur, He and His Bride return to the earth where He marches into Jerusalem, defeats and destroys the False Messiah and His Replacement Theology doctrine. Then on that Sukkot, five days later, the greatest celebration ever experienced by humanity takes place for those seven days as all of HaShem’s enemies are wiped out and obliterated.

Now with this said, consider what HaShem says in Hosea 2:18-25 which says “And it shall be on that day (An idiom to mean the Day of HaShem in the End), declares HaShem, you (Israel) will call Me, ‘my Husband’ and you will no longer call Me, ‘My Master.’ And I will remove the names of the Baal idols from her mouth and they will no longer be remembered by their name. And I will seal for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky and the creeping things of the ground; and the bow, the sword, and war I will eradicate from the land, and I will lay them down in safety. And I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME FOREVER, AND  I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WITH JUSTICE, BENEVOLENCE AND MERCY. AND I WILL BETROTH TO ME WITH FAITH, AND YOU WILL KNOW HASHEM. And it will be on that day, I will answer, declares HaShem; I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth. And the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel (Specific location in Israel where crops are grown). And I shall sow her to Me in the land, and I will have mercy upon the unpitied one, and I will say to those who are not My nation, ‘You are My nation’ and he shall say, ‘You are my Elohim.’” Whelp, this just destroyed Replacement Theology once and for all!

Consider what He says in Song of Songs 3:11 which says “Go forth and gaze, O daughters distinguished by loyalty to Elohim, upon the King Shlomo adorned with the crown His nation made, on that day, His Torah was given and HE BECAME ONE WITH ISRAEL, and on the day His heart was gladdened by His Tabernacle’s consecration.”

Also consider the interesting verses in Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 23:5-6 which says speaking of Messiah Yeshua “Behold, days are coming, the Word of HaShem, when I will establish a righteous sprout from David; a king will reign and prosper and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. THIS IS THE NAME PEOPLE WILL CALL HIM – ‘HASHEM IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”“

Now read this in contrast Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 33:15-16 which says “In those days, at that time, I will cause a sprout of righteousness to sprout forth for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in security; AND THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL CALL JERUSALEM – HASHEM IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

What is so special about these verses? These verses show there was a wedding that took place and now both Messiah and His Bride i.e. Israel are called “HaShem is our righteousness!” Again I have to ask, can there be any truth to Replacement Theology and its doctrine the Ketubah/Torah have been tossed aside and replaced? Again not a chance in Hades!!

So, with all this said, Shavuot IS the date we celebrate as entering into the Erusin phase of the marriage between HaShem and Israel! The giving of the Torah is the Ketubah of this marriage and thus each Shavuot we acknowledge we re-dedicate ourselves to the Ketubah i.e. the Torah of HaShem.

Now consider, Yeshua dies on Pesach, is in the grave and HaShem resurrects Him on First Fruits. He is seen for the next 40 days and then what does He tell His Talmidim to do in preparation for Shavuot as is recorded in Acts 1:4? It is recorded “And meeting with them (His Talmidim), He commanded them NOT to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father which you have heard from Me.” So, Yeshua is telling them to stay in Jerusalem, go up to the Temple on Shavuot as required by the Torah, which remember requires animal korbonot to include Chatat (Sin) korbonot, and then wait for the Ruach i.e. the Promise of the Father. Why is this significant? Because this is Shavuot, the re-dedication to the Ketubah, which Yeshua just restored, renewed, and HaShem, like before, He gives His Ruach to His people to strengthen them to rebel and become a Lawless/Torahless bunch as Replacement Theology teaches? No, of course not, but His Ruach will help us KEEP His Torah i.e. the Ketubah and remain faithful to Him, leading us into all righteousness.

If Yeshua had ended everything to include the animal korbonot, then here would have been the perfect time to tell His Talmidim NOT to stay in Jerusalem and to go to another place…but instead, He tells them to keep the Torah! Again, nothing changed!

I hope and pray you can see the importance of Shavuot and why we WANT to keep this appointment with HaShem!! We WANT to rededicate ourselves to His Ketubah as His people and His Bride! If we truly love Him, then we will want to walk according to how He said to live…remember first comes salvation/redemption THEN the Ketubah/Torah as the means to express our faith, love, devotion and loyalty unto Him….not perfectly as that is unfortunately not possible right now, but striving for that. All I can say is, ‘May it be SO VERY, VERY soon in our days!!!’

Much to consider.

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
• Song of Songs by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Jeremiah by Artscroll
• Tehillim by Artscroll
• The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
• The Milstein Edition Shemot of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Vayikra of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Bamidbar of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Milstein Edition Devarim of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov
• Tractate Menachot, Kehati Mishnah
• The Early Prophets Joshua/Judges by Artscroll
• The Book of Ruth by Artscroll