“A righteous person brings success to the house of the evildoer, which corrupts the wicked toward evil.” Proverbs 21:12
The recent Israeli – Hamas war in Gaza has accomplished more than just another round of fighting, but it has released an explosion of anti-Semitism around the world and here in the United States unlike we have seen in recent decades. The level of anti-Semitism, especially here in America is truly astounding and very concerning. We have the majority of the entire Democrat party and even some Republicans in Washington DC now unabashedly proclaiming they are against Israel and are pro Hamas/Palestinians…that should send shivers down people’s spines! When we see the pro-Palestinian rally’s along with the violent attacks against Jews and synagogues taking place across the country, we should be very, very worried.
Unfortunately the truth of the matter is this is a spiritual matter that is rising like the era of the 1930’s in Germany and what is one of the main reasons people are so quick to embrace this debauchery? Replacement Theology is the answer! A few twisted up verses referenced from the Apostolic Writings is what has and continues to fuel this depravity. This is precisely why I am speak out so loudly in my Op’s against Replacement Theology in all of its vicious, vile and wicked forms in which it raises up its putrid, ugly head. How many people over the centuries have been slaughtered, butchered, locked up, brutally tortured and destroyed all in the name of Replacement Theology? Remember, HaShem tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9 there is nothing new under the sun and that which has been is what will be again! Point is, history repeats itself over and over and here we go today once again, with the world turning against Israel and the Jews in favor of the enemies of Israel.
With this said, thus far, in this Op I plan on addressing the basis for this anti-Semitic Replacement Theology doctrine and show once again the vast chasm of differences between the Jesus of Replacement Theology Christendom and the Yeshua as revealed in the Scripture of HaShem…I am fully aware I will by no means win over any friends with this Op, but oh well…it’s gotta be said.
But, before we dive into this Op, always remember the following UNCHANGING AND ETERNAL characteristics of HaShem:
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
Where do we find the term ‘Synagogue of Satan’? There are two instances in the Apostolic Writings in which both are found in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 2:8-9 which says “And to the messenger of the assembly in Smurna write, ‘This says the First and the Last, Who became dead, and came to life: I know your works, and pressure, and poverty and yet you are rich and the blasphemy of those who say they are Yehudim and are not, but are a congregation of Satan.'”
Revelation 3:7-9 which says “And to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write, ‘He Who is set apart, He Who is true, He Who has the key of David, He Who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, I know your works, see, I have set before you an open door, and no one is able to shut it, that you have little power, yet have guarded My Word, and have not denied My Name. See, I am giving up those of the congregation of Satan, who say they are Yehudim and are not, but lie. See, I am making them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.'”
Unfortunately, Replacement Theology has over the centuries taken these references from the Apostolic Writings and applied them to ALL Israel and ALL the Jews as if HaShem was condemning EVERY single one and thus it has grown and spread into this abominable doctrine justifying violence against Jews and Israel today.
How many times have I read in just the last few weeks from Christian forums where people are telling Israel, ‘G-d hates you because you killed Christ!’ Or there have been others from various US Christian organizations telling Israel today , ‘You are getting what you deserve with the wars because you all are Christ deniers and Christ killers!’‘ How about all the conspiracy theories running amok for centuries that the Jews control the world and manipulate the nations to perform their bidding, setting up nations against nations to fight their wars while raking in the piles of cash. It all stems from this Replacement Theology crap doctrine!
There is a lesser known insidious version that is raising up its ugly head recently in which it is being taught that the Jews forgot where the Temple once stood in Jerusalem and the Christians are going to come and inform the Jews where the Temple really stood which was down in the City of David, because the Christians are smarter and better informed on issues concerning biblical and historical facts than the Jews are…no joke! Thankfully this stupidity can be easily refuted just by the archeological evidence alone, but that is a whole other Op in itself.
So, the question must be asked, is there any truth to what Yeshua said in accusing the Jews of being the Synagogue of Satan? In order to answer this question, we have to delve into the history at the time of Yeshua and common expressions and idioms used.
First and foremost, Yeshua was Torah observant and He adhered to the Halakha i.e. the Oral Torah as I will prove shortly. He taught nothing new but the Torah and He pointed to HaShem as the focus of worship, not to Himself. Further, we need to understand the relationship between HaShem and Yeshua in that Yeshua is NOT HaShem in the flesh, but is the AGENT of HaShem. This again is where we need to understand the ‘Law of Agency’, which I have posted many times in my Op’s which is summed up in that a ‘Man’s agent is as himself…’ In other words, when a principle appoints someone to act as their agent, that agent is seen as being the principle. Therefore when we read where Yeshua says ‘When you see Me, you have seen the Father…’ per John 14:9, He is saying, ‘I am the Agent of HaShem and I only do what HaShem has directed Me to say, teach, act, do, etc.’ This right here is one of the main points that differentiates Jesus from Yeshua, which we will discuss later.
Next, we need to understand the religious and political climate of Yeshua’s time in that historically there were two main sects of Pharisees in power which opposed one another i.e. the Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel. Their differences stemmed over how to deal with all the non-Jews who were beginning to flock to HaShem and join themselves with Israel and adopt the Torah into their lives. Beit Shammai was vehemently anti-non-Jew and sought to keep them out. Beit Hillel was very favorable and wanted to bring as many as possible in seeing that was the mandate HaShem had given to Israel i.e. be a light to the nations (Non-Jews)/bring the Torah to them so they too can walk and serve HaShem.
Consider what HaShem says about Israel in Isaiah 49:6: “It was insufficient that you be a servant for Me only to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the ruins of Israel; I will make you A LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS, SO THAT MY SALVATION MAY EXTEND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.“ THIS is the mandate of Israel…to bring the Torah of HaShem to the world so ALL will know Him and enter into His covenant and accept His offer of salvation! Notice He says nothing about Israel blowing it and now being replaced by a new entity called ‘The Church?’ He does say He will restore Israel and it will be Israel who is to be the light to the nations! I digress.
Back on topic with regards to Shammai and Hillel. Shammai had risen in stature and power to assume the position of the Nasi i.e. the Head of the Sanhedrin i.e. the Court which issues rulings on how to walk in the Commandments of the Torah. These rulings are contained the Mishnah which is the foundation for the Oral Torah and expounded upon in both versions of the Talmud i.e. Babylonian (Bavli) Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud as well as the Tosefta. Yes, I am very well aware of all the angst and disgust there is out there for the Talmud. Honestly I don’t get it, I have been studying the Talmud for years now and find it to be absolutely vital in learning the Torah of HaShem. Mostly what I see in it are the written conversations between various rabbis discussing rulings of the Sanhedrin and how to apply it to ones life. Do I completely understand it, absolutely not, but I know enough to know it is vital and has been so very, very helpful, especially when understanding the Apostolic Writings and I am so grateful to HaShem for leading me to it.
When Shammai gained his power, Hillel became the deputy Nasi, meaning he had to submit to Shammai. Shammai then passed what are known in the Talmud as ‘The 18 Edicts of Shammai’. These edicts were designed to separate Jews from Non-Jews as Shammai was vehemently anti-Non-Jew. It is these 18 edicts which forms the basis for what we read about in the Apostolic Writings concerning Peter and his vision of the sheet or the middle wall of separation Paul talks about. It was HaShem telling Peter and Paul these 18 edicts of Shammai are NOT of Him and He is telling them both to disregard them. Even the Talmud Bavli in tractate Shabbat 17a says when these 18 edicts were issued “And that day was as difficult for Israel as the day the Golden Calf was made.” These 18 edicts were a disaster for Israel and is the main cause for the disputes between Yeshua and the Pharisees. Point is, Yeshua was railing against the SHAMMAI PHARISEES and not all the Pharisees as Christendom teaches, for He Himself was a Pharisee of Beit Hillel just as Paul was a Pharisee of Beit Hillel. This doesn’t mean Hillel was perfect…by no means, and it doesn’t mean Yeshua didn’t take issue with some of his rulings either, but for the most part Yeshua sided with Hillel. It is said that ‘The School of Shammai binds and the School of Hillel loosens’.
What is interesting is the Jerusalem Talmud tractate Berekhot 1:4 says a ‘Voice from Heaven’ called down to the Sanhedrin and annulled the rulings of Beit Shammai, thus today for the most part Rabbinic Judaism follows Beit Hillel. Why is this interesting? Because again Yeshua aligned Himself with Beit Hillel. Paul was trained by Gamaliel, the grandson of Hillel as well as being not only a Pharisee in Beit Hillel but also at one point a member of the Sanhedrin. Point is, if we want to better understand the Apostolic Writings, then I would recommend reading the Oral Torah and the rulings of Hillel…trust me it will cause the Apostolic Writings to erupt into life like someone turned the light switch on. I digress.
Artwork by Alex Levin.
So, do we see anywhere where Yeshua’s teachings line up with what is recorded in the Mishnah and the Talmud proving He walked according to the Halakah i.e. the Oral Torah? Yes we do! We will quickly explore the following few examples as there are many more that could be added:
Yeshua partook of the four cups of wine at Pesach (Passover) as we read in Luke 22:17/20 and Mark 14:25. These four cups are not expressly mentioned in the Torah but are recorded in detail in Tractate Pesachim 10:7 from the Mishnah which says when discussing the Pesach Seder meal “They mixed for him the third cup, he recites the blessing over his food. The fourth (Cup), he completes over it the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) and he says over it the blessing of the song. Between these cups, if one wishes to drink (Wine), he may drink, between the third and fourth cups he may not drink.”
When Yeshua tackled the subject of circumcision overriding the Shabbat as recorded in John 7:22-23, this topic is not discussed in the Torah but is mentioned in the Mishnah Tractate Shabbat 18:3 which says “All the needs of circumcision may be performed on Shabbat”.
This one is very interesting in that when Yeshua used His spit to cure the blind man in Mark 8:23, this act of healing is not discussed in the Torah but when we read Tractate Bava Batra 126b from the Talmud Bavli we see that spit was commonly used to cure eye trouble, which says “There was a certain man who came before Rabbi Hanina and said to him, ‘I know that this man is a firstborn. Rabbi Hanina said to him: ‘From where do you know? He said to Rabbi Hanina: Because when people would come before his father to obtain a cure for their ailing eyes, he would say to them: Go to my son, as he is a firstborn and his saliva heals this ailment.'”
When Yeshua said ‘Where two or three are gathered in My Name there am I in the midst of them’ per Matt 18:20, Tractate Avot 3:3 from the Mishnah says “If two sit together and exchange words of Torah, the Divine Presence rests in their midst” per Malachi 3:16 which says “Then those who fear HaShem spoke to one another, and HaShem listened and heard, and a Book of Remembrance was written before Him for those who fear HaShem and those who give thought to His Name.”
When Yeshua taught on visiting the sick per Matt 25:44, this is not discussed in the Torah but is found in Tractate Shabbat 127a in the Talmud Bavli which says “There are six matters a person enjoys the profits of in this world, and nevertheless the principal exists in the World to Come, and they are: Hospitality toward guests, and VISITING THE SICK, and consideration during prayer, and rising early to the study hall, and one who raises his sons to engage in Torah study, and one who judges another favorably, giving him the benefit of the doubt”.
When the incident of picking grain occurred and Yeshua said that the Shabbat was made for man and not man for the Shabbat per Mark 2:27, we read in Tractate Shabbat 128a in the Talmud Bavli “Bundles which can be taken up with one hand may be handled on the Shabbat and he may break it with his hand and eat thereof.”
Yeshua taught that life overrules Shabbat and this is found in Tractate Yoma 85b in the Talmud Bavli which says “Saving a life overrides Shabbat.” “Saving one’s whole body, which is entirely involved in mitzvot, overrides Shabbat.”
When Yeshua taught in Matt 6:33 ‘To seek first the Kingdom of Elohim, and His righteousness, then all these things will be added unto you’ He was referring to a ruling from Beit Hillel in Avot 2:4 which says “Make His will your own will, so that He may fulfill your will as thought it were His will. Set aside your will because of His will, so that He may set aside the will of others before your will.”
When Yeshua said in Luke 16:16 that ‘The Torah and the Prophets were until John; since then the Good News of the Kingdom of HaShem has been proclaimed’, He may have been paraphrasing Tractate Sanhedrin 97a from the Talmud Bavli which says “Six thousand years is the duration of the world, and it is in ruins for one thousand years. Two thousand of the six thousand years are characterized by chaos; two thousand years are characterized by Torah, from there era of the Patriarchs until the end of the mishnaic period; and two thousand years are the period of the coming of the Messiah.”
So what is the point for highlighting all of this thus far? It is pointing out that Yeshua was VERY obedient to the Torah, both Written and the Oral Torah and His teachings in the Apostolic Writings line up with both, further separating this Jesus figure of Replacement Theology and the True Messiah of HaShem Who cannot come teaching anything else but the Torah!
Therefore, the question must be asked, ‘Just who exactly is Yeshua railing against when He refers to the Synagogue of Satan?’ Tractate Yevamot 16a from the Talmud Bavli tells us which says “According to whose statement (Shammai or Hillel) is the halakha? The halakha is in accordance with Beit Hillel. They said to him: ‘But didn’t they say in your name that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai?’ He said to them: ‘Did you hear that Dosa ben Harkinas issued this ruling or did you hear that it was stated by ben Harkinas? They said to him: ‘On your life, Rabbi, we heard simply ben Harkinas. He said to them: If so, it is no wonder, as I have a younger brother WHO IS THE FIRSTBORN OF THE SATAN, i.e. he is extremely sharp and brazen as a demon. And his name is Yonatan, and HE IS AMONG THE DISCIPLES OF SHAMMAI...” Point is, it was very common in the time of Yeshua and after to refer to the Pharisees of Beit Shammai as the firstborn of Satan or the Synagogue of Satan because of their vehement hatred of the non-Jews! THIS IS WHO YESHUA IS RAILING AGAINST IN THE APOSTOLIC WRITINGS i.e. the Pharisees of Beit Shammai!!
So, in summary, it is the doctrine of Replacement Theology and its vile anti-Semitic leanings that has twisted up the words of the Apostolic Writings to turn their Jesus against Israel, rejecting the Torah and replacing everything HaShem gave in the beginning while claiming Christendom has now replaced Israel as HaShem’s chosen! And then Christendom wonders why Torah observant Jews want nothing to do with Christendom or its Jew hating Jesus?
If Christendom would just allow itself to actually study biblical history, they would very quickly find the doctrine of Christendom is wholly wrong and has embraced the doctrine of the False Messiah HaShem warns us about time and again in His Word i.e. the Man of Lawlessness (Without the Torah). Sadly, most of Replacement Theology Christendom has no interest in the truth of biblical history, however, HaShem IS most assuredly calling individual people out of Replacement Theology Christendom and leading them to the His Truth more and more! Baruch HaShem!
This is what is fueling all the rising anti-Semitism we see today and unfortunately it is only going to get worse until HaShem says enough is enough and He deals with it once and for all. May it be so very soon in our days!!
Hopefully this quick Op will cause some to consider and research for themselves. I could go on and on in this Op but for the sake of time will end it here. Stay close to HaShem in these very difficult times and hold tightly to His Torah, which is a tree of life to those who take hold of it and the only truth there is in these very wicked and deceitful days where truth is almost non-existent.
Shabbat Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
Jesus the Pharisee by Harvey Falk
Tractates Yoma, Sanhedrin, Shabbat, Yevamot, Bava Batra from the Talmud Bavli Steinsaltz edition
Tractate Shabbat, Pesachim from the Mishnah Kehati edition
“This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word preserved me. Willful sinners taunted me exceedingly, but I did not swerve from Your Torah. I remembered Your judgments of old, HaShem, and I was comforted.” Psalms 119:50-52
If you could go back in time to your younger self and tell yourself of the state of the country and the world in 2021, would you believe any of it or think it was just some bad Hollywood movie script that never made it into the theaters?
There is no doubt in my mind that America and the world is under the judgment of HaShem, however, I firmly believe the real show hasn’t yet begun as it pertains to the level of judgment set to come. This has, therefore, spurred my curiosity and as such I want to know what that red line was which brought about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. What was the defining point in which HaShem said there was no more opportunity for repentance and that line was crossed in which He had to act in order to preserve His creation?
Why is this important in light of today you may ask? Because prophetically, there is no question in my mind, that America in the End of Days, is the prophesied Babylon in the Word of HaShem! As such, Babylon is compared to Sodom and Gomorrah, therefore, it is very appropriate we find out what that red line was because there is nothing new under the sun and He reveals the end out of the beginning!
One of my favorite verses is from Amos 3:7 which says “Surely My Master HaShem/Elohim will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.” This means He will do nothing unless He has already revealed it to His prophets. This is another reason why I get so disgusted with Replacement Theology because it teaches to toss everything left of Matthew i.e. all the prophecies HaShem has given regarding the End of Days. Now, the adherents to Replacement Theology have nothing to tell them what is coming and rely solely on gimmicks and a bag of tricks spewed forth from the pulpits. I digress.
Consider the following commentary on this verse from Amos which says “Form our verse we see why HaShem reveals His ways to the prophets. The reason is so that they can interpret historical events to their contemporaries, making history a teacher of the people. Abraham was not primarily a prophet to his own time, although he did proclaim the greatness of HaShem. His primary function was to teach The Way of HaShem, to the future descendants of Israel. In order that he might derive the appropriate lessons from the destruction of Sodom, HaShem revealed what He intended to do.”
This is why it is so important we study His Word…ALL of it, because He reveals the end from the beginning…its all there if we can take the time to search out His Word! This all said, this Op will focus on searching out what was that red line in Sodom and Gomorrah, because the standard for that red line is still very much applicable today, therefore what sealed Sodom’s fate then is the same red line which will seal Babylon’s (America’s) fate today.
But before we jump into this, always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem because He never changes:
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
Genesis 18:20-21 says “So HaShem said, ‘Because the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah has become great, and because their sin has been very grave, I will descend and see. If they act in accordance with its outcry, then destruction! And if not, I will know.'” So we see here in these two verses, the outcry reached HaShem and He was required to act. It has almost the same connotation of the Exodus in the cries of Israel reached HaShem and He was required to act to save Israel. In both instances the cries released HaShem to act! Perhaps this is significant in America today! Keep this in mind!
HaShem compares the End of Days Babylon (America) to Sodom and Gomorrah in Jeremiah 50:39-40 “Therefore, the martens will inhabit it together with the cats, and owls will dwell there and it will never again be settled, and it will not be inhabited for generation after generation, like HaShem’s overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbors, the Word of HaShem, where no man shall live and no human shall sojourn.”
Isaiah 13:19-22 says “And Babylon, the beauty of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldees, shall be like HaShem’s overthrowing of Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall not be settled forever, and it shall not be occupied from generation to generation, and no Arab shall pitch his tent there, neither shall shepherds rest their flocks there. And martens shall dwell there, and their houses shall be filled with ferrets, and ostriches shall dwell there, and satyres shall dance there. And cats shall dwell in his palaces, and serpents in the temples of pleasure, and her time is soon coming, and her days shall not be extended.”
In order to know if we are close to this point or not, we need to examine what was the outcry in Genesis 18:20? Was it the outcry of rebellion against HaShem or was it the outcry of the oppressed begging for liberation? Or was it both?
Tractate Sanhedrin 109a from the Talmud Bavli describes the people of Sodom:
“The Sages taught: The people of Sodom became haughty and sinned due only to the excessive goodness that the Holy One, Blessed be He, bestowed upon them. And what is written concerning them, indicating that goodness? “As for the earth, out of it comes bread, and underneath it is turned up as it were by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. That path no bird of prey knows, neither has the falcon’s eye seen it. The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the lion passed thereby” ( Job 28:5–8). The reference is to the city of Sodom, which was later overturned, as it is stated thereafter: “He puts forth His hand upon the flinty rock; He overturns the mountains by the roots” ( Job 28:9).”
It further states: “It was taught in a baraita (Teaching outside of the Mishnah): “Wicked” is referring to sins they committed with their money; “and sinners” is referring to sins they committed with their bodies. Wicked” is referring to sins they committed with their money, as it is written: “And your eye is wicked against your poor brother and you give him nothing” (Deuteronomy 15:9). “And sinners” is referring to sins they committed with their bodies, as it is written with regard to Joseph and the wife of Potiphar: “And sin against God” (Genesis 39:9). “Before the Lord”; this is referring to blessing, a euphemism for cursing, God. “Exceedingly [meod ]” is referring to bloodshed, as it is stated: “Moreover Manasseh shed very [meod ] much blood” (II Kings 21:16).”
More information here says: “The people of Sodom said: Since we live in a land from which bread comes and has the dust of gold, we have everything that we need. Why do we need travelers, as they come only to divest us of our property? Come, let us cause the proper treatment of travelers to be forgotten from our land, as it is stated: “He breaks open a watercourse in a place far from inhabitants, forgotten by pedestrians, they are dried up, they have moved away from men” ( Job 28:4).”
So we can see the people were very well blessed with everything they could ever want and because of this blessing they became prideful, arrogant, haughty and ended up telling HaShem, figuratively, to get out. Further, they adopted every form of sexual immorality and depravity one can fathom. Keep this in mind!
Tractate Sanhedrin 109b has some in-depth information concerning the immorality and corruption of the justice system in Sodom:
“There were four judges in Sodom and they were named for their actions: Shakrai, meaning liar, and Shakrurai, habitual liar, Zayfai, forger, and Matzlei Dina, perverter of justice. These were the judgments that they rendered: In a case of one who strikes the wife of another and causes her to miscarry, they would say to the woman’s husband: Give the woman to the one who struck her, so that she will be impregnated for you again. In a case of one who severed the ear of another’s donkey, they would say to the owner of the donkey: Give the donkey to the one who caused the damage, until the ear grows back. In a case of one who wounds another, they would say to the injured party: Give the one who wounded you a fee, as he let your blood.” So, we see their justice system was woefully corrupt and did NOT mete out real justice but issued rulings of nothing but injustice!
Sanhedrin 109b further reveals: “There was a young woman who would take bread out to the poor people in a pitcher so the people of Sodom would not see it. The matter was revealed, and they smeared her with honey and positioned her on the wall of the city, and the hornets came and consumed her. And that is the meaning of that which is written: “And the Lord said: Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great [rabba]” (Genesis 18:20). And Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Rabba is an allusion to the matter of the young woman [riva] who was killed for her act of kindness. It is due to that sin that the fate of the people of Sodom was sealed.”
HaShem tells us in Ezekiel 16:49-50 which says “Behold, this was the iniquity of Sodom your sister: Pride, abundance of bread, and careless ease were hers and her daughters and she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they became haughty and did abomination before Me, and I removed them when I saw.”
Does this sound familiar at all in America today? I digress.
Rambam in the Mishnah Torah states something interesting in Hilchot Teshuvah (Repentance) chapter 3.2 which says “If a person’s sins exceeds his merits, he will immediately die because of his wickedness as Jeremiah 30:14 states ‘I have smitten you for the multitude of your transgressions.’ Similarly, a country whose sins are great will immediately be obliterated, as implied by Genesis 18:20 (See verse above). With regard to the entire world as well, were its inhabitants sins to be greater than their merits, they would immediately be destroyed as Genesis 6:5 relates ‘And Elohim saw the evil of man was great and Elohim said I will destroy man…’ This reckoning is not calculated only on the basis of the number of merits and sins, but also takes into account their magnitude. There are some merits, which outweigh many sins, as imply by I Kings 14:13 which says ‘Because in him, there was found a good quality.’ In contrast, a sin may outweigh many merits, as Ecclesiastes 9:18 says ‘One sin may obscure much good.’ The weighing of sins and merits is carried out according to the wisdom of the Knowing Elohim. He knows how to measure merits against sins.”
With all this said, the question must be asked if we as a nation have reached that same red line as in Sodom and Gomorrah? In my opinion, and I stress this is just my opinion, I believe we as a society are right on the cusp, a hairsbreadth away from crossing that line.
We have a corrupt justice system now, one set of laws for the elites and another set for the common person. Just look at our governmental leadership! Our society has now fully embraced the sexual immorality and debauchery which consumed Sodom and Gomorrah! We as a people have been richly blessed by HaShem, a land full of just about anything one could ever want, but now as a society we have told HaShem to get out. The elites are power mad and will do literally anything to obtain more power and control. Entertainment is the national past time and now every form of entertainment, even down to just simple commercials is full of the homosexual and transgender agenda’s. We now have an open transgender doctor serving as the deputy Secretary of Health over the entire United States! Violence has consumed the country and now the child sex trafficking rings are finally being exposed. I could go on and on and on. Point is, and again it is my opinion, that America has reached the level of depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah!
Is there any good news to this? Yes there is! Because just like HaShem did with Noah and his family and with Lot and his family, He promises to remove His people out BEFORE the judgment and the destruction fall because as we read in Revelation 18:10 which says “Standing at a distance for fear of her (Babylon’s/America’s) torture, saying, ‘Woe! Woe, the great city Babylon, the mighty city, because your judgment has come IN ONE HOUR!’“ This reflects what Jeremiah 51:8 says “SUDDENLY, Babylon has fallen and has been broken; wail over her, take balm for her pain, perhaps she may be healed.”
This is just a short Op and one in which I wanted to explore what the red line as compared to what we are seeing today around us. All I can say is we need to stay close to HaShem, learn to live by His Torah as the way to walk in the midst of all this insanity and depravity and keep looking up for our redemption must be drawing very, very near! May it be so very soon in our days!
Much to consider!
Shalom
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
The Milstein Edition of the Chumash by Artscroll
The Book of Job Artscroll Tanach Series by Artscroll
The Book of Ezekiel by Judaica Press
The Book of Jeremiah by Judaica Press
The Book of Isaiah by Judaica Press
The Book of Job by Judaica Press
Mishnah Torah by Rambam
Tractate Sanhedrin from the Talmud Bavli by Steinsaltz
“Do not forsake the Torah, and it will protect you; love it, and it will safeguard you.” Proverbs 4:6
Well, now that we have come through Pesach and the Pesach Seder, we now begin the process of the daily ‘Counting of the Omer’ as we head towards the next Feast of HaShem in fifty days i.e. Shavuot, Baruch HaShem!
At this time in Biblical history, Israel has been liberated from Egypt and are now in the Wilderness. HaShem has a very specific plan in play and since He is unchanging, reveals the end from the beginning and there is nothing new under the sun, means, this plan still applies to each of us today and I will explain!
I have no doubt there are many out there who may be asking what the significance of Counting of the Omer really is and how to apply it to our own lives. These are very good questions, which I plan on sharing what HaShem has shown me in relation to these questions.
But as always, before we jump deeper into this topic, never forget the following eternal characteristics of HaShem:
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
Before we can tackle the Counting of the Omer questions, we first have to understand what is going on with the omer in the first place. HaShem commands in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:9-14 says “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: When you shall enter the Land that I give you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring an omer from your first harvest to the Kohen (High Priest). He shall wave the omer before HaShem to gain favor for you; on the morrow of the rest day the Kohen shall wave it. On the day you wave the omer; you shall perform the service of an unblemished lamb in its first year as an Olah (Burnt) korbonot (Offering) to HaShem. Its minchah (Bread) korbonot shall be two tenth-ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a fire korbonot to HaShem, a satisfying aroma; and its libation shall be wine, a quarter hin. You shall not eat bread or roasted kernels or plumb kernels until this very day, until you bring the korbonot of your Elohim; it is an eternal decree for your generations in all your dwelling places.'”
This is where we have to be learning about the functions of the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem as these offerings are brought by each person as an acknowledgment of HaShem’s goodness, sustenance and provisions for that year. Notice also HaShem commands this is an ETERNAL DECREE. The only reason we are not doing this in full today is because sadly we are not in the Land of Israel and there is no Temple standing in Jerusalem…may it be so very soon in our days!
With this said, let’s quickly address the Counting of the Omer. HaShem commands us in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15-16 the following: “You shall count for yourselves, from the morrow of the rest day, from the day when you bring the omer of the waving, seven weeks, they shall be complete. Until the morrow of the seventh week you shall count, fifty days.” HaShem is commanding us to begin counting the omer the day after Pesach i.e. the rest day, since Pesach itself is a Shabbat.
Counting of the Omer is done today via prayers in which we acknowledge before HaShem. The most basic explanation of Counting of the Omer I can give is we are counting down each day towards Shavuot, such as “Today is day three of Counting of the Omer towards Shavuot” and so on.
At this point, this is where we can begin to address the question concerning the significance of Counting of the Omer. Mitzvah #306 from the Book of the Mitzvot says “The underlying purpose of the mitzvah (Counting of the Omer), according to the basic understanding is its focus on the anticipation of the day of our receiving the Torah i.e. HaShem taking us to Mt Sinai on Shavuot. For the sole purpose of Israel is its adherence to the Torah, and in fact, it is for the sake of the Torah that the heavens and earth, and Israel, were all created, as it is written in Jeremiah 33:26 ‘If not for My covenant of day and night, I would not have established the statutes of heaven and earth.’ The covenant of day and night refers to the Torah, which must be studied day and night as per the verse in Joshua 1:8 ‘You shall contemplate it (Torah) day and night.’ This is the purpose and the reason for which the Jewish people were redeemed and went out of Egypt, namely so as to receive the Torah on Mount Sinai and fulfill it; as HaShem said to Moshe at the Burning Bush on Mount Sinai, when He sent him to redeem the Jewish people per Exodus 3:12 ‘And this is your sign that I have sent you. When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve Elohim on this mountain.'”
We must remember what the Torah is! It is not just a bunch of do’s and don’t’s, it is THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT between HaShem and His bride, Whom He calls ‘Israel!’ So, we are counting the omer in anticipation of the marriage contract!
Over the years I have heard Replacement Theology teach that G-d is married to Israel and ‘Jesus’ is married to the Church. This is utterly absurd and in no way accurate. There is only ONE bride i.e. Israel comprised of everyone who wishes to serve HaShem! There is only One Bridegroom i.e. HaShem, Whom He deals with Israel via His Agent i.e. Yeshua (Not Jesus). Remember the Law of Agency from the previous Op? I digress.
Artwork by Alex Levin.
The commentary from Or HaChaim when discussing Vayikra 23:15-16 is very interesting and descriptive. It says “You shall count for yourselves seven weeks, etc. That which it says for yourselves is because in our verse, HaShem is instructing the Jewish people to count seven weeks from Pesach until Shavuot for the following reason: For the sages explain that the Jewish people had to wait seven weeks from the Exodus until the giving of the Torah because they had been steeped in the impurity of Egypt for so many years, and HaShem wished to join together with this nation in marriage, so to speak, through the giving of the Torah. He therefore dealt with the people according to the law that applies to a niddah (A woman impure due to her cycle), who is required to count seven clean days before being permitted to her husband per Vayikra 15:25-30. In the same manner, HaShem commanded the Jewish people to count seven weeks after they had left Egypt and were no longer subject to the impurity of Egypt, and then, after this interval, they would be worthy of being brought like a bride to the Chuppah, and join together with HaShem at Mount Sinai by receiving the Torah. And although, there with regard to a niddah, the Torah requires only seven days, and here the people waited seven weeks, that is because of the intense level of impurity that the Jewish people endured in Egypt, which is greater than that of the niddah; and also because the impurity was not only in one individual, but in the nation of Israel as a whole.”
Very interesting! So the counting of the omer is a purification process in preparation for going to Mount Sinai and receiving the Torah i.e. the Marriage Contract! Keep this in mind going forward!
The Or HaChaim commentary continues “You shall count for yourselves, the Torah alluded to a spiritual benefit resulting from the fulfillment of this mitzvah. This is in accordance with what the sages say in Tractate Shabbos 105b (Talmud Bavli), that the souls of the people, the Children of Israel, are, in one aspect, like the Luchos (Tablets the Commandments were enscribed upon). And by means of the diseases of the soul and abominable impurity into which a person sinks when he sins, these luchos become soiled and their brightness is dimmed. Now, our sages, say that the Luchos were made of sanpirinon, a luminous stone. Sanpirinon is translated as ‘Sapphire’. Therefore, our verse says, ‘You shall count for yourselves’, which, aside from the literal meaning, means you shall cleanse your souls of impurity and thereby cause yourselves to shine once more like a luchos of sapphire.”
There is so much here we could discuss more in-depth such as the comparison to sapphire! But it should be pointed out that our being made clean is a combination of our striving to stay away from sin and impurities, something none of us are perfect at, but ultimately it is by faith in HaShem that renders us righteous in His eyes because of His Agent, Yeshua. Point is, we do have to work to cleanse ourselves of impurity, as we will see shortly from the Apostolic Writings!
Consider the following from the Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) Midrash Rabbah when discussing the significance of a sapphire: “If you say that sapphire is soft, come and see that you are mistaken, for there was once an incident that happened with a certain person who brought a sapphire to Rome to sell it. The purchaser said to him: ‘I will buy it on condition that you consent to test it and prove its genuineness. He tested it by trying to break off a small piece from it. He placed it on an anvil and started to beat on it with a hammer. The result was the anvil split and the hammer became flattened, but the sapphire was in its place, an was not lacking a single piece.” So, we can see sapphire is a very strong element…keep this in mind!
The commentary continues and says “The Choshen (Breastplate) worn by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) had four rows of three stones, each of which was engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes per Exodus 28:17-21. The middle stone in the second row was a sapphire. It was thus the fifth stone on the Choshen, and it bore the name of the fifth tribe i.e. Issachar. Issachar was renowned as the Tribe of Torah, devoted exclusively to Torah study and instruction. The Roman conquerors (Remember Rome is always a picture of Esau/Replacement Theology Christianity) sought to crush the Torah and its observance, decreeing that Israel should not study Torah, nor perform circumcision, nor observe the Shabbat. Surely those were not the only terrible decrees of the Romans against Israel and its Torah, symbolized by the sapphire of Issachar. Offered for sale, scattered through the vast empire, the sapphire of Israel was placed between the Roman hammer and the Roman anvil, which with brutal force sought to crush the precious stone in between. But the anvil was split and the hammer dulled and the sapphire remained unchanged. And in the millennia since, many hammers and many anvils have sought to crush the sapphire, but to no avail. ‘Master of the Universe, if not for Your Torah that You gave us, the nations would have long ago destroyed us.’ The pages of world history are filled with the scattered remains of blunted hammers and fragmented anvils, and the sapphire remains unchained!”
The point for all of this, it is HaShem Who has chosen to preserve His Bride i.e. Israel, in this very long and very difficult exile! Now more than ever it is very difficult to strive to walk in His Torah in a country and a world consumed with utter depravity, debauchery, vile wickedness and abominable violence and cruelty! Therefore, for His Name’s sake, He must rescue out His Own so that we can keep His Torah as His Bride, uninfluenced by the depravity and impurities consuming us. Thus, counting of the omer, is not just some obscure, unimportant commandment by HaShem, it is the purification process we are to engage in as we grow closer to receiving His Torah on His Feast of Shavuot!
Now does the following verses in Revelation 19 make more sense: Verses 7-8 says “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise, for the MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME, AND HIS WIFE PREPARED HERSELF. And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the set-apart ones.” Remember the marriage is on Shavuot!! The bride has prepared herself i.e. purified herself…a connection to Counting of the Omer? Shining bright and clean a connection to the understanding of comparing Torah and Israel to a sapphire? This is why in order to correctly understand the Apostolic Writings we MUST know the Torah, the Writings, the Prophets i.e. the Tanakh (Erroneously called the Old Testament), for without the Tanakh as the foundation for the Apostolic Writings, all we have is Replacement Theology, which will lead a person to their ruin.
So, with all this said, I encourage you to look further into this time of counting of the omer for there is much to learn and apply to our lives! HaShem is teaching us so much as of late, for those with ears to hear and eyes to see, that is. May He continue to open our ears, eyes, mind and spirits to the wonders which are contained in His Torah as we continue to count the omer towards Shavuot…Baruch HaShem!
Much to consider.
Shalom
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
“Eat honey, My child, for it is good, and drippings of the honeycomb are sweet upon your palate. So is knowledge of wisdom for your soul, if you have found it, for it has a lasting outcome, and your hope will not be cut off. (Honey/wisdom = Torah).” Proverbs 24:13-14
As I prepare this Op, it is 26 March 2021, Erav Shabbat i.e. the Sixth Day of the week/Friday and the day before Pesach (Passover) begins, Baruch HaShem! Now I know there are those who are on a different calendar and thus have a differing opinion on how when the Feasts of HaShem commence, that is their opinion and their prerogative, not my issue. I know which calendar I adhere to and why I do so and do not plan on debating that with anyone. This said, I hope and pray this Op will be an enlightening Op discussing the significance of Pesach and why certain things are done on this Feast.
The theme of Pesach is the account of HaShem taking us from bondage to freedom! The account is retold of being under Egyptian slavery to Him ultimately taking us to Mt Sinai and presenting us with His marriage contract i.e. His Torah/Freedom on Shavuot! He uses His Agent i.e. Moshe to bring about this deliverance and lead His people into the Wilderness to safety. It is also a picture of our bondage to sin i.e. Egypt and His work to deliver us from that bondage via His Agent i.e. Messiah Yeshua (Not Jesus). So we can see Pesach is both literal and prophetic in nature as it discusses history but also the future Final Redemption. Further He paints a picture in that Moshe is a type/picture of the Agent of HaShem i.e. His Messiah!
Remember what we discussed many times before with regards to the Agent of HaShem and the Law of Agency from the Jewish Encyclopedia which says – “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).”
Point is, when Yeshua says “When you see Me, you have seen the Father” per John 14:9, Yeshua doesn’t mean this literally, as He is NOT HaShem in the flesh, but He is expressing He is the Agent of HaShem! Very important to remember this! I digress.
Now more than ever, in my opinion, the theme of Pesach is so much more meaningful for us in light of all the chaos going on around us in the country and the world! More and more every day America falls deeper into oppression and tyranny. The ‘Land of the Free and Home of the Brave’ is erased more and more literally by the stroke of a pen by our leadership. This isn’t a Democrat vs Republican issue, this is a judgment issue by HaShem for our collective rejection and willful rebellion of Him and His Torah!
Pesach is about hope, liberty, life and ultimately redemption! HaShem has given us so many countless ways to help us understand this whether it is through nature around us, the animals, the pleasant colors, the pleasant smells, the varieties of foods and ultimately our taste buds! What is more intimate to each of us than our taste buds? Who doesn’t like sweets? We experience so much in just a taste! Either it will be pleasant and good or it will be bad and we spit it out, either way it does have a direct effect on our mood, outlook on life, etc.
So, it is very interesting He chooses to use ‘taste and see HaShem is good’ and likens His Torah to sweet honey and honeycomb! Further, it is interesting He has chosen for us to experience the account of bondage to freedom through taste i.e. the elements of the Pesach Seder along with the Pesach meal! ‘Taste and see HaShem is good’ has a new dimension to it!
We will discuss this further, but before we begin, always remember the following unchanging characteristics of HaShem:
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
The following excerpt from a book entitled ‘The Haggadah’ by Rabbi Elias, published by Artscroll, when discussing the significance of Pesach says “There is, thus, a duality about Pesach – The liberation from Egypt and the redemption to come; occurring at the two extremes of our history, they are inextricably linked at this moment in our lives. At the Burning Bush Moshe was told by G-d, ‘I will be He Who I shall be’ quoting Shemot/Exodus 3:14. Our Sages explain this as an assurance that ‘I will be with them in this time of suffering as I will be with them when they are in bondage to other powers.’ In the same vein, the Prophet Micah assures the Jewish people that ‘Just as in the days of your going out from Egypt, I will show wonders’ quoting Shemot/Exodus 7:15. This, it has been suggested, does not tell us that the future redemption will merely be an aftermath of our deliverance from Egypt; rather, that the Exodus MUST be viewed as the PRELUDE to the MESSIANIC REDEMPTION.”
WOW…in other words, per all the prophecies and promises made by HaShem over the centuries, the Exodus from Egypt is the picture of how He will rescue out His Own in the time of the End! Baruch HaShem! Remember, He says He reveals the END from the beginning!!! No wonder the Adversary has worked so hard to convince people the Beginning has been ‘fulfilled’ and tossed aside, replaced by the Apostolic Writings! As long as he can keep people away from the Beginning, then there is no chance of understanding how the End will unfold and will rely on fables of men and idolatry laden themes such as Easter rabbits and painted eggs! I digress.
This is precisely why His Torah is so vitally important and why we all must study, learn and apply His Torah to our own lives. Does Torah save us? As I have said a billion times over the years, NO! Torah does not save anyone, it was never meant too! First we believe i.e. faith in HaShem, THEN we strive to learn and apply His Torah to our lives as the expression and evidence of faith in HaShem. This is why the rejection and disgust for HaShem and His Torah by society, people, Replacement Theology, etc, is so devastating on the world because it is by default embracing immorality, debauchery, wickedness and is the fullest expression of rebellion and idolatry. It is akin to flipping a giant middle finger to HaShem!
It is interesting because around this time of year i.e. Pesach, a typical reading is read from the Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers), specifically 6.1 and 6.2. Chapter 6.1 says “He who occupies himself with Torah for its own sake, merits many things; moreover, he is deserving of the whole world i.e. He is called: Friend, beloved of HaShem, a lover of HaShem, a lover of mankind, one who gladdens HaShem, one who gladdens mankind; and it clothes him in humility and reverence, and trains him to be righteous and pious, upright and faithful. It keeps him far from sin, and draws him near to virtue. From him men enjoy good counsel and sound knowledge, understanding and fortitude, as it is written in Proverbs 8:14 ‘Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge; I am understanding and power is mine.’ It gives him sovereignty and dominion and discernment in judgment. The mysteries of the Torah are revealed to him; he is made like an ever increasing spring, and like a river that never fails. He becomes modest and forbearing, and forgiving of insults. It magnifies and elevates him above all things.”
Now this is an even more interesting chapter from the Perkei Avot which says in 6.2 the following: “Every day a heavenly voice goes forth from Mount Horev (Another name for Mt Sinai) proclaiming and saying ‘Woe to mankind for their disdain of the Torah!’ For he who does not occupy himself with the Torah is called ‘rebuked’ as it is written in Proverbs 11:22 ‘As a golden ring in the snout of a swine, so is a fair woman without discretion.’ And it says in Exodus 32:16 ‘And the tablets were the work of HaShem, and the writing was the writing of HaShem, graven upon the tablets.’ Read not ‘graven’ but ‘freedom‘ for no man is free but he who occupies himself with the study of Torah, and he who devotes himself regularly to the study of Torah shall be exalted, as it is written in Numbers 21:19 ‘And from Mattanah to Nahaliel and from Nahaliel to Bamot'”
Now to better understand what that last sentence means, the commentary says “And from Mattanah (Means ‘Gift of the Torah’) to Nahaliel (Means ‘Divine heritage’) and from Nahaliel to Bamot (Means ‘High places’). The opening words of this verse ‘And from the wilderness to Mattanah’, our Sages expounded thus in Tractate Eruvin 54a from the Talmud Bavli ‘If a man renders himself as the wilderness upon which everyone treads, his learning is retained by him, and the Torah is given to him as a gift; once it is given to him as a gift, his heritage is HaShem as it is written ‘And from Mattanah to Nahaliel…’ And once his heritage is HaShem, he rises to greatness i.e. Bamot/high places, as it is written ‘And from Nahaliel to Bamot.”
HaShem offers His Torah to everyone, sadly very few reach out and take hold of it. Many reject it simply because Replacement Theology has taught and conditioned them too. Point is, HaShem likens His Torah to honey and honeycomb, thus just take a little morsel of His Torah as a taste and you will instantly see that He IS good and you will find yourself wanting more and more and more! Baruch HaShem!
Consider what Tractate Eruvin 54a from the Talmud Bavli says “The Gemara cites instructions issued by Shmuel that are similar to those of Berurya. Shmuel said to Rav Yehuda: Keen scholar [shinnana], open your mouth and read from the Torah, open your mouth and study the Talmud, in order that your studies should endure in you and that you should live a long life, as it is stated: “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22). Do not read: “To those who find them [lemotzeihem],” but rather “to those who express them [lemotzi’eihem],” with their mouth.”
It goes on and says: “Having expounded the verse “For they are life to those who find them” as referring to the Torah, the Gemara cites another teaching related to this verse that praises the Torah. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who is walking along the way without a companion and is afraid should engage in Torah study, as it is stated with regard to the words of Torah: “For they shall be a graceful wreath [livyat ĥen] for your head, and chains about your neck” (Proverbs 1:9). The word livyat is understood here as a reference to levaya, accompaniment, so that the verse is interpreted to mean that Torah is a graceful accompaniment to one who is traveling.”
“One who feels pain in his head should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “For they shall be a graceful wreath for your head.” One who feels pain in his throat should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “And chains about your neck.” One who feels pain in his intestines should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “It shall be health to your navel” (Proverbs 3:8). One who feels pain in his bones should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “And marrow to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8). One who feels pain in his entire body should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: “And health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22).”
“Rav Yehuda, son of Rabbi Ĥiyya, said: Come and see that the attribute of flesh and blood is unlike the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He. The attribute of flesh and blood is that when a person gives a drug to his fellow, it is good for this part of his body and it is harmful to that other part of his body. But the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not so; He gave the Torah to the Jewish people, and it is a drug of life for one’s entire body, as it is stated: “And health to all their flesh.”
“The Gemara continues with praise for Torah study and knowledge. Rav Ami said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them be firmly attached together to your lips” (Proverbs 22:18)? When are words of Torah pleasant? When you keep them within you and know them. And when will you keep them within you? When they will be attached together to your lips, i.e., when you articulate them audibly and expound them.”
What is the point of this thus far? TO TASTE AND SEE HASHEM IS GOOD!!!
How does this tie in with Pesach? Because HaShem commands us in His Torah to remember the Exodus! Exodus 13:3-10 says “Moshe said to the people, ‘Remember this day on which you departed from Egypt, from the house of bondage, for with a strong hand HaShem removed you from here, and therefore chametz (Leavening) may not be eaten. Today you are leaving, in the month of springtime (Nissan). And it shall come to pass when HaShem shall bring you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivvite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall perform this service in this month. For a seven day period shall you eat matzos, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to HaShem. Matzos shall be eaten throughout the seven day period; no chametz may be seen in your possession, nor may leaven be seen in your possession in all your borders. And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of this that HaShem acted on my behalf when I left Egypt.’ And it shall be for you a sign on your arm and a reminder between your eyes, so that HaShem’s Torah may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand HaShem removed you from Egypt. You shall observe this decree at its designated time from day to day.”
So, one of the main purposes for HaShem bringing us out of Egypt is “SO THAT HASHEM’S TORAH MAY BE IN YOUR MOUTH!” Can you see now more clearly the absolute absurdity of Replacement Theology and its Torah hating doctrine that says the Torah is bondage, death, destruction and done away with? You cannot separate the Torah from HaShem’s people!! Living apart from HaShem and His Torah is the bondage, destruction and ultimately death, not His Torah!!
Mitzvah #21 from the Book of the Mitzvos is ‘The Obligation to Recount the Exodus From Egypt.’ What is the underlying purpose of this commandment? “To remember the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt and because the story of the Exodus is A GREAT FOUNDATION AND A STRONG PILLAR OF OUR TORAH, AND OUR FAITH. It is imperative that the story of the Exodus be remembered because it serves for us as a definitive sign and proof of the Creation of the world, and that there is a G-d Who is the Original Being that preceded it all, Who is interested in the events of this world, and Who is all powerful; and that He brought into existence all things in creation, into the state in which they now exist, and that it is in His power to miraculously change them into any other state that He desires at any time, as He did in Egypt, when He altered the natural order of the universe for our sake and He performed for us unprecedented, great, and powerful wonders.”
With all this said, how do we remember to recount the Exodus on Pesach? We have a Seder meaning ‘order’ as the Seder is an ordered and structured event. The Seder is designed in such a fashion to mark every stage of the evening, as we are led from the experience of bondage to the joy of freedom. “In following this pattern, we are actually preparing the design of the coming redemption for, as we have seen, each Pesach repeats the experience of the first one and foreshadows each succeeding one until the final, climactic redemption.”
There are a total of 15 elements that make up the structure of the Seder, which include four cups of wine:
Kaddesh/Recite the Kiddush over the festival and the first cup of wine is drunk
U’rechatz/Wash hands in preparation
Karpas/Eating of karpas i.e. the vegetable dipped in salt water to arouse children’s curiosity
Yachatz/Break the middle Matzah, the smaller half serving as the Bread of Poverty
Maggid/Haggadah is recited and draws attention to the Bread of Poverty. The children ask questions in which the father replies – we were enslaved, and HaShem freed us, and therefore we should recount the story at length. Shows how every type of child is to be instructed at the Seder; explains when this special duty applies; shows the deeper roots of the exile, and the Exodus as the way to spiritual redemption; the Midrash presents the details of the Pesach story to its triumphant end; explains the concrete Mitzvos ordained for the Seder; emphasizes that in celebrating the Seder, we must see ourselves as having gone out from Egypt and therefore we praise HaShem for His kindness, ending with a blessing over the Haggadah. The second cup of wine is drunk.
Rachtzah/Wash hands
Motzi/Customary blessing over the Matzah
Matzah/And special blessing over Matzos from which we then eat
Maror/Special blessing is said over the Maror and it is eaten after we dip it into Charoses
Korech/Combination of Matzah and Maror is eaten and then…
Shulchan Orech/Eat the festive meal, ending with…
Tzafun/Eating of the Afikoman
Barech/Birchas HaMazon, the blessing after the meal, the third cup of wine is drunk
Hallel/Psalms of praise and declarations of our faith in HaShem are recited, the fourth cup of wine is drunk
Nirtzah/The Seder is completed with our prayers that our service be accepted by HaShem, and Mashiach come speedily!
These are the steps of the Seder and believe me, it looks long and tedious, but each part tells a specific piece of the story, culminating with the liberation, deliverance and redemption and why we call out to HaShem today, praying He hears our prayers and responds to deliver and liberate His people so that we can keep His Torah in our mouths and walk in service unto Him without any oppression or resistance from an utterly rotten and wicked world!
Again, I hope you can see it is ALL about Messiah and His Torah!! Remember, Yeshua (Not Jesus) IS the Agent/Word of HaShem. He is the walking, talking Torah, so to say Torah has been tossed out and replaced, means Yeshua has been tossed out and replaced, which Replacement Theology has unfortunately been very successful in doing and has replaced Yeshua with Torah rejecting Jesus!
As I have stated in the past and I will end this Op here with this one final thought:
Know Torah = Know Messiah Yeshua
No Torah = No Messiah Yeshua
Truly taste and see that HaShem truly is indeed good!!
Much to consider!
Have a blessed Shabbat and Chag Pesach Sameach!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures from the Institute for Scripture Research
The Haggadah by Rabbi Joseph Elias published by Artscroll
The Book of the Mitzvot by Artscroll
Tractate Eruvin Koren Talmud Bavli by Steinsaltz
Proverbs by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition The Chumash Shemot by Artscroll
“One who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” Proverbs 21:21
My goodness, it has been a long while since I posted an Op! Too much happening in life as of late which has prevented me from putting an Op together but Baruch HaShem, He is seeing my family and I through it all!
I have read several articles coming out of Israel as of late discussing the preparations for Pesach, which is coming up very shortly, as well as the serious efforts at beginning to discuss the rebuilding of the Temple, Baruch HaShem! This of course has once more raise the ire of many in Replacement Theology and the mocking and scoffing against HaShem and His House has commenced once more. Why do I cite this? Because many in Replacement Theology typically run for a few select verses in the Book of Acts to seemingly prove there is a great separation between the Torah of HaShem and what those who are not of Israeli descent are required to do in their religious performance. This typically fuels the mocking and scoffing against HaShem, His Torah and His Temple. How wrong they are!
It is this topic I plan on discussing in this Op in order to show once again there is nothing new under the sun and that what HaShem discussed in the beginning is still very much applicable today. But before we jump into this, always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem as they are even more relevant for us today than ever before:
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
Typically, those in Replacement Theology who reject HaShem and His Torah, run to the Book of Acts and cite four prohibitions listed as a proof text the Torah has been nullified and rendered irrelevant. Is there any truth to this? Let’s quickly examine this further to discover if this is the proper context of what is being spoken of.
First off, however, we will read in the Book of Acts about this counsel in Jerusalem. Who is comprising this counsel? It is comprised of every author who contributed to the Apostolic Writings to include all of the Talmidim (Apostles) of Yeshua (Not Jesus)! They were all Torah observant, continued going up to the Temple to bring their korbonot to include Chatat (Sin) korbonot. They were all continuing to keep the Feasts of HaShem as well as meet up in the synagogues on Shabbat to learn Moshe (Torah) and they all continued to eat kosher! They all walked in and lived a life fully dedicated to HaShem and His Torah! Sadly, this has been so watered down and scrubbed over the centuries in the various Replacement Theology translations to the point now the members of this counsel were either rebellious or deeply confused for NOT giving up the Torah. I digress.
Acts 15:19-21 says “Therefore I (Ya’akov/James) judge that we should not trouble those from among the nations (Non-Jews) who are turning to Elohim, but that we write to them to abstain from:
The defilements of idols
From whoring
From what is strangled
From blood
For from ancient generations Moshe (Torah) has, in every city, those proclaiming him, being read in the congregations every Shabbat.”
What is the context of these verses? If we read earlier in Acts 15 we see there were some folks from Judah who were teaching that the Non-Jews coming to serve HaShem, had to first become circumcised and keep the Torah BEFORE they could be allowed into the covenant. This is something HaShem never once commanded! Even Kepha (Peter) rose up and confronted these folks and said in Acts 15:7-10 “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago Elohim chose among us, that by my mouth the nations (Non-Jews) should ear the word of the Good News and believe. And Elohim, Who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Set-apart Spirit, as also to us, and made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by belief. Now then, why do you try Elohim by putting a yoke on the neck of the taught ones which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”
So, is the Torah of HaShem the yoke that neither our fathers nor anyone else were able to bear? Emphatically no! The unbearable yoke was teaching the Non-Jews they had to keep the Torah in its fullness BEFORE they could be allowed into the covenant! Remember, how is a person grafted into the covenant? Is it by doing the Torah or is it by faith/belief? Genesis 15:6 is clear, “Abraham BELIEVED and it was accounted to him as righteousness…” Does this somehow render Torah irrelevant? Not a chance! First Abraham believed HaShem i.e. faith, THEN he put that faith into action by walking in the Torah of HaShem as the expression of his faith, not perfectly as that is not possible for us right now. Perhaps it is better said that walking in the Torah of HaShem is an expression of our love, devotion and loyalty unto HaShem! Keep this in mind as we proceed!
Acts 21 we again read about this counsel in Jerusalem in which they tell Shaul (Paul) in verse 25 “But concerning the nations (Non-Jews) who believe, we have written and decided that they should keep themselves from:
What is offered to idols
From blood
From what is strangled
From whoring”
So, again, we see this counsel put these four prohibitions on the Non-Jews who are coming to HaShem. Are these four prohibitions the only requirements and the rest of the Torah can be ignored? What is their reasoning behind this? Let’s examine these four prohibitions more closely to see if we can answer these questions.
Further, they stated as we read in Acts 15 that the Non-Jews are to embrace these four prohibitions AND THEN they are expected to go to the synagogues each Shabbat to hear Moshe taught i.e. to learn the Torah! Very important to remember this!
The Greek words associated with these four prohibitions gives us some clues:
Eidolothuton – An image sacrifice, idolatrous offering, thing that is offered in sacrifice to idols.
Haima – Refers to the seat of life, shed blood, to be shed by violence, slay, murder.
Pniktos – An animal choked to death (Pagans of that time choked an animal to death and then ate it along with its blood).
Porneia – Illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, sex with animals, sex with relatives, worship of idols (Idol worship typically involved deviant sexual practices).
Very interesting. So these four prohibitions for the Non-Jews coming to believe in HaShem are to refrain from idolatry, murder, to only eat kosher and to abstain from any form of sexual deviancy while they are going each week to the synagogues to learn Moshe i.e. the Torah! How much of the Torah do these four prohibitions involve already? Why these specific four prohibitions?
Let’s jump back to Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 33:23-26 which says “The Word of HaShem came to me, saying: ‘Ben Adam! The inhabitants of these ruins upon the ground of Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was alone, yet he inherited the land, but we are many, to us the land is given as an inheritance.’ Therefore say to them: ‘Thus says my Master HaShem/Elohim: ‘You eat over the blood, and raise your eyes to your idols and shed blood and yet you inherit the land? You stood upon your sword; you committed abominations; each of you has defiled his neighbors wife, yet you inherit the land?'” What is the significance of these verses? They list out the exact same four prohibitions which Israel violated and as a result HaShem expelled them from the land of Israel!!
You eat over the blood – Eat strangled animals i.e. eat non kosher
Raise your eyes to your idols – Idol worship
Shed blood – Murder
You has defiled his neighbors wife – Whoring
HaShem then tells Israel in Yechezkel 33:27-29 says “Thus shall you say to them: ‘Thus says my Master HaShem/Elohim: ‘As I live! Surely those that are in the ruins shall fall by the sword; those that are on the face of the field, to the wild beasts I have presented him their food; and those that are in the strongholds and the caves, by the plague they shall die; and I shall make the land a desolate waste, and her prideful power shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate without a passerby. Then they shall know that I am HaShem when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the abominations which they committed.'” Very strong warning from HaShem! Keep this in mind!
Now consider what HaShem says in Vayikra (Leviticus) 18:24-30 which says “Do not become contaminated through any of these; for through all of these the nations that I expel before you became contaminated. The Land became contaminated and I recalled its iniquity upon it; and the Land disgorged its inhabitants. But you shall safeguard My decrees and My judgments, and not commit any of these abominations, THE NATIVE OR THE PROSELYTE (NON-JEWS) WHO LIVE AMONG YOU. For the inhabitants of the Land who are before you committed all these abominations, and the Land became contaminated. Let not the Land disgorge you for having contaminated it, as it disgorged the nation that was before you. For if anyone commits any of these abominations, the people doing so will be cut off from their people.'” What are the abominations HaShem is discussing here?
Vayikra 17:10-16 – Prohibition against eating blood i.e. only eat kosher
Vayikra 18:6-23 – Forbidden relationships
Vayikra 18:21 – Prohibition of idolatry
Shemot 20:13 – Prohibition to murder
Very interesting the Counsel in Jerusalem chose these four prohibitions to impose on the incoming Non-Jews because here in Vayikra 18, HaShem very clearly says they apply equally to both the Native and the Non-Jews who live in the Land! And why? Because, the Land of Israel has a level of holiness (Kedusha) associated with it and it will not tolerate contamination and thus the nations who live in the Land, when they have reached the pinnacle of contamination, then HaShem expels them and another nation moves in. This applies to everyone in the world, which is why it was so monumental in 1948 when Israel was re-established as a nation followed by 1967 when all of Jerusalem was captured and under the control of Israel.
HaShem commands in Vayikra 18:30 which says “You shall safeguard My charge not to do any of the abominable traditions that were done before you and not contaminate yourselves through them; I am HaShem, your Elohim.”
So what is the point for all this? The Counsel in Jerusalem obviously knew the ramifications for not walking in the Torah and therefore imposed these four prohibitions on the incoming Non-Jews as they begin their journey to learn and walk in the Torah, in order to prevent being disgorged from the Land. They knew the Torah is for ALL of mankind hence Shemot (Exodus) 12:49 “There is ONE Torah for both the Native and the Proselyte (Non-Jew)…” Point is, this abominable doctrine that says the Torah is done away with, replaced by grace, and now the epitome of bondage, death and destruction, as Replacement Theology teaches, is again exposed for being what it is…a tool of the Adversary in his attempt to keep the Land of Israel from being inhabited by HaShem’s people, comprised of both the Native and the Proselytes (Non-Jews)…one people Whom He calls…ISRAEL! I digress.
Consider what the following says from Tractate Shabbos 33a from the Talmud Bavli:
Due to the sin of bloodshed (Murder), the Holy Temple is destroyed, and the Divine Presence leaves Israel, as it says: So you shall not pollute the land wherein you are; for blood, it pollutes the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. And you shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the children of Israel” (Numbers 35:33–34). However, if you defile the land, you will not inhabit it, and I will not dwell in it.
Due to the sin of prohibited sexual relations, and idol worship, and failure to let the land lie fallow during the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years, exile comes to the world and they exile the Jewish people from their land, and others come and settle in their place. As it is stated with regard to illicit sexual relations: “For all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled; that the land expel not you also, when you defile it, as it expelled the nation that was before you” (Leviticus 18:27–28). And it is written: “And the land was defiled, therefore I did visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land expelled her inhabitants” (Leviticus 18:25). And it is written: “That the land expel not you also, when you defile it, as it expelled the nation that was before you.”
And with regard to idol worship it is written: “And I will cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols” (Leviticus 26:30). And it is written: “And I will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors” (Leviticus 26:31). “And you will I scatter among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you; and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste” (Leviticus 26:33).
In my opinion, this shows why the world is currently in the psychotic mess it is in today as the world is fully embracing the debauchery, filth, wickedness and everything HaShem said NOT to do. Sadly, Replacement Theology, whether they know it or not, tacitly encourages this behavior because of their vehement anti-Torah doctrine which teaches and encourages lawlessness i.e. without the Torah. As the lawlessness (Without the Torah) increases, so to does the violence, immorality, debauchery and every other form of wickedness. No wonder the Adversary is so enraged with those who have the testimony of Yeshua (Not Jesus) AND keep the Torah per Revelation 12:17!
In summary, this Op is my feeble attempt to once more show the Torah hating doctrine of Replacement Theology is exposed for the fraud it is and HaShem is completely consistent from beginning to end, sending a Messiah Who is completely obedient and submissive to HaShem, changing nothing! Now more than ever in this utterly wicked and abominable world we need HaShem’s consistency!
All I can keep saying is, ‘May it be so VERY, VERY soon in our days!’
Much to consider.
Shabbat Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
The Milstein Edition of the Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
“Treat Your servant according to Your kindness, and teach me Your statutes (Torah)! I am Your servant, grant me understanding, so that I may know Your testimonies (Torah)!” Psalm 119:124-125
In a society in which everyone is clamoring about doing what they want to do in their pursuit of entertainment, wealth, fame, success, etc, the concept of submission is increasingly lost and becoming a foreign concept. When rebellion, debauchery and immorality are embraced in the name of tolerance and compassion, what ends up happening to that society? It ends up lost and falling into bondage and will in its fullness end up destroying itself; cause and effect, no two ways around it, just the way HaShem set things up. Then we wonder why American society is collapsing into bondage more everyday?
This weeks Torah portion, Mishpatim (Shemot 21:1-24:18), is a very long portion as HaShem begins to lay out the terms of the Marriage Contract. What is interesting is He begins with discussing the topic of a Bondservant. This is very important and something not to gloss over because once more we will see HaShem is teaching us something very applicable to each of us today, but also a prophetic picture as well!
We know HaShem is unchanging and reveals the end from the beginning but He also reveals Himself in His established patterns. For example, in the Temple of HaShem, the number 13 is the number associated with His Temple! There were 13 chests to collect the Shekalim each year, 13 tables to complete the preparations for the korbonot, 13 prostrations during the Temple Services and 13 veils in the Temple with four in the Sanctuary alone with two that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Is it then a coincidence that the adversary has corrupted this number and made it associated with evil, horror, wickedness, etc i.e. Friday the 13th? Why did he chose Friday? Shabbat begins at sundown on a sixth day of the week i.e. Friday! Keep this concept in mind because we will discuss more later.
I will warn you up front, this Op could very likely end up being the longest one yet, simply because there is SO much to discuss! But before we jump into this, never forget the following unchanging, eternal characteristics of HaShem:
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
HaShem likens each of us as ‘Lost sheep’ who go astray. David describes it very well when he says the following in Psalms 119:176 says “I have strayed like a lost sheep, seek out Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.” The commentary on this verse states: “If a sheep is lost for a long time the chances of finding it are very slim, because the shepherd gives up hope and the sheep has FORGOTTEN THE VOICE AND DISTINCTIVE CALLS OF ITS MASTER. Moreover, once the sheep has grown accustomed to its freedom, it shuns human authority. However, in the case of a recently lost sheep, the odds are good that it will be found. The shepherd still has hope of finding it and presses his search, and the sheep still yearns for the security of its master and protection, whose voice and calls it still recognizes. Similarly, David said: ‘HaShem, even if I have gone astray, I am like a lost sheep only recently lost. I have NOT forgotten Your voice nor Your commandments. I yearn to have You as my Master and Protector. Therefore, do not give up on me! Seek me out!” This is interesting because Yeshua Himself says He came ONLY for the lost sheep of the House of Israel per Matthew 15:24! How do we not become a lost sheep? We strive to always recognize and listen to the voice and distinctive calls of our Master, HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel!
Shemot (Exodus) 21:2 says “If you buy a Hebrew servant (Bondservant), he shall work for six years; and in the seventh year he shall go free.” This verse seems very harsh, is HaShem actually endorsing slavery and oppression? There are two reasons for a person to become a Bondservant per the Torah as listed in the Book of the Mitzavot #42 which says “A Jewish man could become an ‘Eved Ivri’ (Hebrew Bondservant) in one of two situations:
If one stole and did not have enough money to pay back what he stole, he could, in certain circumstances be sold by the Beit Din (Sanhedrin/Court) as a bondservant, with the proceeds of the sale being used to repay his theft.
If one’s financial situation was so desperate that he did not have enough money to buy food and had nothing left to sell, he could sell himself as a bondservant.”
Can you see the connection with this concept and our state with our sin? We are in debt because of our sin and are in a position completely unable to pay for our debt i.e. our sin in our own strength and resources. Keep this in mind as we progress!
Consider also the prophetic connection in this verse in Shemot which says “He (the bondservant) shall work for six years and in the seventh year he shall go free!” Is there another pattern here HaShem is revealing? Work six days and on the seventh day rest on the Shabbat? How about humanity works for 6,000 years and on the last thousand years i.e. the seventh day, we rest in Him on His Shabbat? Remember, He says a thousand years is as one day! Further, the Torah commentary strongly cites the bondservant works for six years but at the BEGINNING of the seventh year he is to be set free! Very important prophetically, in my opinion! Again, keep this in mind!
What is the underlying purpose of this Mitzvah? “Among the underlying purpose of this mitzvah is that HaShem desired that His nation, Israel, Whom He chose from among the other peoples of the world, should be a holy nation, replete and crowned with all good and exalted qualities, as the Heavenly blessing will rest upon them. Kindness and mercy are among the finest qualities that a person can attain in the world; therefore He enjoined us through this mitzvah to have mercy upon one who is under our authority, such as the Hebrew bondservant, and to bestow upon him kindness in accordance with the laws written in this Torah passage regarding the servant.” So, in reality the concept of a bondservant is based in compassion, kindness and mercy!
From the Book of the Mitzvot it further states the following “Ramban, in his commentary to the Torah, introduces additional concepts relating to the specific details of this mitzvah, which constitute basic principles of our faith. He explains that showing mercy to a servant and releasing them from bondage serves as a reminder of our enslavement in Egypt and subsequent redemption by HaShem. Additionally, discharging a slave at the beginning of the seventh year, after six years of service, parallels the Shabbat, where we rest on the seventh day after working the previous six. Like the mitzvah of resting on the Shabbat, this mitzvah serves as a testimony that HaShem created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.”
This again reinforces the significance of HaShem’s weekly Shabbat!! Further, it reinforces that the Jesus of Replacement Theology Christendom could not have done away with nor changed Shabbat to Sunday or any ole day of the week that works out of convenience! It is an utter impossibility! I digress!
Artwork by Alex Levin.
Let me deviate here for a little bit as this next part is relevant to this Op. There is a Psalm which is recited/sung for each day of the week when the Temple was standing in Jerusalem. They are the following per Tractate Tamid 7.4 from the Mishnah:
Sunday = Ps 24 – This Psalm corresponds to the First Millennium of creation, before the Flood
Monday = Ps 48 – This Psalm corresponds to the Second Millennium when HaShem chose Mount Moriah, the place of His Temple in Jerusalem to be His Footstool on earth
Tuesday = Ps 82 – This Psalm corresponds to the Third Millennium when HaShem revealed Himself to Israel and gave them His Torah
Wednesday = Ps 94 – This Psalm corresponds to the Fourth Millennium when both Temples stood and were destroyed and will elicit HaShem’s vengeance
Thursday = Ps 81 – This Psalm corresponds to the Fifth Millennium when there was no sacrificial service, because the Temples were destroyed, but we continued to serve HaShem by singing aloud
Friday = Ps 93 – This Psalm corresponds to the Sixth Millennium in which HaShem will re-establish His rule on earth with the coming of His Messiah
Shabbat = Ps 92 – This Psalm corresponds to the Seventh Millennium, the future to come, there will be life in the world with the resurrection of the dead!
Consider Psalm 92, the Shabbat Day Psalm, which is sung each Shabbat in the Temple by the Kohanim, which says “A song with musical accompaniment for the Shabbat day. It is good to give thanks to HaShem, and to sing to Your Name, O Most High. To declare in the morning Your kindness and Your faith at night. Upon a ten stringed harp and upon a psaltery, with speech upon a harp. For Your have made me happy, O Master, with Your work; with the work of Your hands I shall exult. How great are Your works, O Master! Your thoughts are very deep. A boorish man does not know; neither does a fool understand this. When the wicked flourish like grass, and all workers of violence blossom, only to be be destroyed to eternity. But You remain on high forever, O Master. For behold Your enemies, O Master, for behold Your enemies will perish; all workers of violence will scatter. But You have raised my horn like that of a wild ox; to soak me with fresh oil. My eye has gazed upon those who stare at me with envy; when evildoers rise up against me, my ears hears them. The righteous one flourishes like the palm; as a cedar in Lebanon he grows. Planted in the House of the Master (His Temple), in the courtyards of our Elohim they will flourish. They will yet grow in old age; fat and fresh will they be. To declare that the Master is upright, my Rock in Whom there is no injustice.” Baruch HaShem! What is very important to remember is Psalm 92 is recited each Shabbat because it deals with the World to Come, which will be entirely Shabbat from that point forward! May it be very soon in our days!
How does this tie into the concept of a Bondservant you ask? There is great hope in being a bondservant of HaShem! He is a good, kind, compassionate Master to work for! He is our Shield, our Protector, our Hightower, our Provider and ultimately He is our Redeemer for He is the One Who sent His Agent i.e. Yeshua to redeem Israel i.e. the Lost Sheep and as such, when we accept His Marriage Proposal and choose to enter the covenant willingly, we in effect, sell ourselves and become His Bondservants!
It is very interesting in that in Shemot 21:5 when discussing what to do if a Bondservant refuses to go into his freedom at the beginning of the seventh year “But if the servant shall say, ‘I love my master; my wife and my children, I shall NOT go free!'” So, we have a bondservant who loves his master because his master has treated him well, who wishes to continue serving his master, how is this handled in the Torah? HaShem says in verse 6 “Then his master shall bring him to the Sanhedrin and shall bring to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore through his ear with the awl, and he (the bondservant) shall serve his master forever.”
Why does the master bring the bondservant to the Sanhedrin and bore an awl through his ear to the doorpost? The commentary on this verse says “It is because his ear heard HaShem say at Sinai, ‘For unto Me the Children of Israel are bondservants (Vayikra – Leviticus 25:55)’. This means that Bnei Yisrarel are supposed to be servants of HaShem ONLY, not servants of other servants. When this person decided to continue working as a bondservant, his ear is pierced because he did not observe what his ear heard at Sinai.” The point being made is, we are to be enslaved to HaShem ONLY, no one else! This is not what HaShem desires for His people i.e. enslavement to other men. We are to be bondservants to HaShem only and then we will have true freedom!
Vayikra (Leviticus) 25:55 says “For the Children of Israel are servants (Bondservants) to Me, they are My servants, whom I have taken out of the land of Egypt, I am HaShem, your Elohim!” HaShem is reinforcing, we as His people are NOT to be slaves to any other human, because every human, whether they know it or not, are servants of HaShem and as an Israelite we are to recognize we are enslaved, per se, to HaShem alone!
Further, why does the ear have to be bored through at the doorpost? Per Tractate Kiddushin 22b from the Talmud Bavli it states “When HaShem took Bnei Yisrael out of slavery in Egypt, He told them to place the blood of the Pesach korbonot on the lintel on the top of their doors, and on their doorposts. HaShem passed over their doors and killed only the firstborn Egyptians. The door and the doorposts were witnesses to this miracle of HaShem taking Bnei Yisrael from slavery to freedom. Therefore, this person who does not want to leave slavery has his ear pierced through at the door and doorposts.” HaShem is showing the contrast, blood on the door and doorposts in the Exodus from Egypt to freedom, or blood on the door and doorposts if one wishes to remain in slavery, something HaShem does NOT desire or wish!
HaShem desires we all will willfully come to Him and desire to serve Him out of love, devotion and loyalty, not because of some religious rote or because someone forces us too, but simply because HaShem is good, kind, compassionate and because we desire to bring honor and esteem to His Great Name for He is deserving of it!
Blowing the Shofar – man in a tallith, Jewish prayer shawl is blowing the shofar ram’s horn
In Shemot 24:7-8 it says “He (Moshe) took the Book of the Covenant (Torah) and read it in earshot of the people, and they said, ‘Everything that HaShem has spoken, we will do and we will hear!’ Moshe took the blood and threw (Sprinkled) it upon the people and he said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that HaShem sealed with you concerning all these matters.'” Point is, it is here that Israel formally accepts HaShem’s Marriage Proposal and enters willfully into the covenant with HaShem! This is the exact same covenant Yeshua renews and restores as the Agent of HaShem, when He came the first time and was was executed and was resurrected by HaShem on the third day!
Further, to reinforce the point that if we have willfully accepted the terms of the Marriage Proposal HaShem offered to Israel, i.e. the Torah, then regardless of a person’s ethnicity, makes that person a Jew. They are no longer gentiles i.e. idolaters but are Jews. Tractate Yevamot 46b from the Talmud Bavli discusses this that members of the Covenant are “Jews”. I know this could be very inflammatory. Something to ponder on anyways.
It is interesting, to further this point, Tractate Kiddushin 17b from the Talmud Bavli says “By Torah law a gentile inherits the property of his father. By contrast, by Torah law a convert does NOT inherit the property of his gentile father or any other gentile, as once he converts he is considered a new person with no ties to his previous family.” Why is this significant? Because, the definition of a gentile is an idolater, one who worships false gods. Again, if one worships HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel and has entered into the covenant, that person is no longer a gentile but a Jew!
Now consider, as we discussed earlier the patterns HaShem establishes. In Shemot 24:15-18 says “Moshe ascended the mountain (Mount Sinai), and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of HaShem rested upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for a SIX DAY period. He called to Moshe on the SEVENTH DAY from the midst of the cloud. The appearance of the glory of HaShem was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop before the eyes of the Children of Israel. Moshe arrived in the midst of the cloud and ascended the mountain; and Moshe was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.” Again we see six days period passes by and on the seventh day, HaShem appears!! Nothing new under the sun!!
Now, thus far, there are those who would declare that I am saying one has to keep the Torah in order to obtain salvation in HaShem. This would be flatly wrong! First one believes in what HaShem has promised and that He is Who He says He is, THEN that person adopts the Torah, striving, learning and applying what they are learning to their own lives as the EVIDENCE of faith in HaShem. We see this time and again in His Word, first with Abraham who first believed, it was accounted to him as righteousness and then he began to walk in the Torah of HaShem. Nothing has changed.
Paul addresses this many times, especially in his letter to the Galatians, who were being hassled by groups of folks that taught non-Jews had to first convert and be Torah observant BEFORE they could enter the covenant. In other words they were teaching people had to keep the Torah in order to merit salvation, which is something HaShem never once says.
Galatians 4:21-31 discusses this topic and Paul, was addressing this issue with the Galatians as a very well learned Pharisee. On a side note, Paul never once stopped being a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), again destroys Replacement Theology’s depiction of the man that he was anti-Torah, nothing could be further from the truth. I digress.
I have a very good book by Steve Salter entitled ‘Galatians: Law and Grace Companions in Redemption. On page 99 of this book, Steve says when discussing Galatians 4:21-31 when Paul compares the two sons of Abraham, one by the bondwoman and the other by a freewoman (Ishmael and Isaac). “Paul begins this argument by stating, again, the reason for the letter, ‘Tell me, you who desire to be under the Torah, do you not hear the Torah?’ The article in the Greek is missing before the word Torah. This implies that the Galatians had not yet completely embraced the idea of observing the Torah for redemption, but were well on their way. If they desired so much to observe the Torah for their redemption, then Paul basically says, ‘here’s some food for thought concerning the Torah, from the Torah itself.'”
“This was a rabbinic tactic, and the flavor here is all rabbinics. Considering that Paul was raised under Gamaliel, and that he was son of a Pharisee, and still a practicing Pharisee himself, it should follow, and be no surprise, that he would use this type of argument to further illustrate his point. For Paul, or any of the writers of the New Testament, to use rabbinics was completely natural for them, and for us to understand what they were saying, we must understand this point and study Scriptures from this perspective or we will ultimately come to the wrong conclusion.”
“Isaac, here will be symbolic of the children of promise, whereas Ishmael, will be symbolic of those who attempt to obtain redemption by their own merit.” Steve goes on and says “All who believe are children of faith, or promise, and those who place their redemption on their performance, or works, are children of deeds, and are opposed to faith. Those who oppose faith alone for redemption always have, and always will, persecute those who believe in the promise of redemption by faith alone. This is NOT an argument for Grave vs Torah, it is an argument for faith vs works. Grace and Torah MUST coexist, they compliment one another. There is no need for grace without Torah.” What is the point Steve is reinforcing? Faith without works (Torah) is dead! Faith MUST have the Torah in order to qualify as faith in the eyes of HaShem! If a person relies on their performance of Torah to merit redemption, they will be sorely disappointed, but if one first believes in HaShem and then adopts the Torah as his statement of faith, then that person will receive the blessings of HaShem. Can we keep Torah perfectly? Sadly, no we cannot, but that does not in any means justify tossing Torah into the dust bin of history, on the contrary, we get up, dust ourselves off when we fail, and keep moving forward in faith!
David says it best in Psalms 119:44-48 “So shall I keep Your Torah continually, forever and ever. And I will walk at LIBERTY, for I seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. My hands also will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will mediate on Your statutes.”
Now consider what James says in James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect Torah of LIBERTY and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Torah, this one will be blessed in what he does.” Steve Salter says in his book on page 105 “The liberty that Paul was referring to was the same liberty David and James referred to in their writings, and this liberty can only be found in the Torah. It is the liberty to live without the yoke of sin around our necks to drag us down into the pits of hell without hope. The Torah gives liberty, liberty to live our lives with a definite set of rules that tell us what is right and what is wrong.”
This all said, do we want to be a bondservant of HaShem and walk in His Torah which is His definition of true freedom and liberty, or do we want to listen to Replacement Theology Christendom and how it defines bondage to be the very source of our liberty and freedom?
I willfully, happily, eagerly choose to be a bondservant of HaShem and willfully accept the terms of the Covenant, the Marriage Proposal, as the means to walk in service unto Him; knowing my redemption is secured by faith, not by my performance; which is exemplified by His Agent He sent, Messiah Yeshua, Who restored and renewed the broken covenant!
I firmly believe those six days of work are very rapidly coming to a close because at the BEGINNING of the seventh day is when we are to be released into freedom! May it be very soon in our days!
Shabbat Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
Galatians: Law and Grace Companions in Redemption by Steve Salter
Tractate Kiddusin from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
“The Name of HaShem is a tower of strength; with it a righteous person will run and be strong” Proverbs 18:10
What a wild ride 2020 was and 2021 is shaping up to be! Would you all agree that the past 12 months especially, have been truly extraordinary and unprecedented? The COVID pandemic, the political strife and division, financial losses, stresses beyond measure, deaths of family members and friends, and this is just the minor stuff going on! Say nothing about all the demonic schemes and plans being implemented to utterly change the United States into an oppressed society controlled by government rule. The shackles of imprisonment are truly falling on America and they are falling very, very quickly.
Is it a coincidence then that as I write this Op it is Shabbat, 30 January 2021 and the Torah portion for today is ‘Beshalach’ which is found in Shemot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16 which discusses the account of HaShem waging war on behalf of Israel against Egypt and parting the Sea, allowing all of Israel to walk in dry land to the other side and then He brought the sea back down upon Pharaoh and his military forces and wiped them all out once and for all, saving Israel! There is SO much contained in this one Torah portion, it is astounding! Nothing is a coincidence with HaShem! Everything is perfectly timed and placed exactly where He wants it to serve the purpose He has ordained to serve and NOTHING will thwart that! Baruch HaShem!
Consider us today in America, which is quickly being locked down under various pretexts and excuses along with law abiding citizens who happen to think on the Conservative side of the isle now being labeled potential ‘Domestic Terrorists/National Security Threats’. Those who are striving to walk in the Torah of HaShem and believe His Word, are doubly marked as being threats to society, again not a coincidence!
Would you be surprised that what is happening in America today is nothing new and has happened before? When we read the account of how Israel while in Egypt, originally a place of safety, suddenly turned into oppression and slavery by the rise of a Pharaoh who had zero regard for how Joseph had saved not only Israel but all of Egypt during the great famine. This same Pharaoh arose and suddenly declared all of Israel a national security threat, enslaved them and crushed their independence, thus Israel cried out to HaShem for help and deliverance, which He heard their cries. We know what happened next, in a quick summary, HaShem waged war on Pharaoh and the rest of Egypt, and Israel was led out with Moshe leading i.e. delivered! Why is this important? Remember HaShem commands each us to recall and retell this story of the Exodus every year! Why? Because He reveals the end out of the beginning, there is nothing new under the sun and as such how He delivered His people out the first time is how He will do so again, only on a much larger scale! Additionally, Pharaoh is a very good picture of the False Messiah, who will very, very soon rise to power on a global scale upon the sudden and complete destruction of Babylon (America) by a surprise nuclear attack by Russia and her allies (read Jeremiah 50-51 for more context).
My intention with this Op is to discuss the account of the Exodus and find the hope that is in it which we can apply to our current time and day in Babylon (America) as our new Pharaoh (President) has arisen and is locking the citizens down, having zero regard for what came before; again nothing new under the sun! But before we jump into that, always remember the unchanging characteristics of HaShem as they are even more important today than before:
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
“Moshe said to the people, ‘Do NOT fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of HaShem that He will perform for you today; for as you have seen Egypt today, you shall not see them ever again! HaShem shall make war for you, and you shall remain silent.'” Shemot (Exodus) 13:14-15
It is amazing to me to watch how quickly tyranny is arising in this country. It seems each day we as a nation fall deeper and deeper into that black hole of tyranny while a despot and his backers grow more powerful. I have heard many people ask the question ‘Why does HaShem allow this?’‘The wicked rise up while the righteous are crushed.’
In order to answer, we need to see how HaShem reacted to the cries of Israel under Egyptian oppression. To quickly summarize, He directs Moshe to go speak to Pharaoh, which he does and requests Pharaoh let Israel go. Pharaoh reacts harshly and increases the required work load on the enslaved Israelites which causes Israel to look at Moshe and say “What have you done! You have put a sword in Pharaoh’s hand and now we must work harder!” Even Moshe goes to HaShem and asks Him and I will paraphrase “What have You done! Now things are worse than ever!” HaShem replies and I will paraphrase “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh and Egypt and then you shall know I am HaShem!” Point is, HaShem, in an act of mercy and compassion, sped up the flourishing of the wicked in order to then rescue Israel! Keep this in mind in our day and time as well for remember He is unchanging and there is nothing new under the sun! I digress.
So why does HaShem allow the wicked to sprout and flourish? He does tell us why and is it again just a coincidence the answer is found in the Shabbat Psalm i.e. Psalms 92? Nothing is a coincidence with HaShem! He says in Psalms 92:6-8 which says “How great are Your deeds, HaShem, exceedingly profound are Your thoughts. A boor cannot know, nor can a fool understand this. WHEN THE WICKED BLOOM LIKE GRASS AND ALL THE INIQUITIOUS BLOSSOM, IT IS TO DESTROY THEM TILL ETERNITY.”” The commentary on this verse is very interesting. It says “The enemies of HaShem are raised up to meet their downfall! The Holy One, Blessed is He, elevates the wicked for their own detriment. This may be likened to the vile galley slave who viciously cursed the king’s beloved son. The king reasoned, ‘If I kill him, people will not take notice of it and they will learn nothing from it, for of what consequence is the life of a lowly galley slave?’ Therefore, the king first promoted the slave to the rank of captain, then he elevated him to the post of governor general. Only then, after giving him prominence and renown, did the king execute the rogue for his crime. Point is, every success which the wicked enjoy brings them one step closer to their eternal doom.” So, we can see HaShem allows the wicked to flourish only to destroy them in such a fashion that all will know HaShem is the One and only King! Further, once the wicked are destroyed, their destruction is eternal, there is zero hope for them.
On the flip side, what does HaShem say about the righteous? Psalms 92:13-16 says “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall. Planted in the House of HaShem, in the courtyards of our Elohim they will flourish. They will still be fruitful in old age, full of sap and freshness they will be. To declare that HaShem is just, My Rock in Whom there is no wrong!”
Why does HaShem use a Date Palm Tree as an example of a righteous person? The commentary on these verses explains why which says “The palm grows very straight, without bending, just as the righteous man remains upright and honest. The wood of the palm is free of knots, just as the righteous man is free of flaws. The palm’s shady leaves and fronds are far off the ground, at the very top of the tree. Similarly, the reward promised the righteous is not immediate, but reserved for the distant future of the World to Come. Every part of the palm is useful, its fruits are eaten, its leaves and fronds are used in thatching, and its wood is used for construction. Similarly, each righteous person fulfills a special purpose.”
Further, HaShem uses the example of a cedar in the Lebanon: “Cedar symbolizes virtue and righteousness. Furthermore, the unique properties of the cedar compensates for any deficiencies in the palm tree. The wood of a palm is unsuitable for furniture and utensils, whereas the wood of the cedar is excellent for these purposes. When a palm tree is cut down, its trunk dries in the ground. When the cedar is felled, however, its roots and stump remain alive, and a new cedar shoot will sprout in its place. Similarly, righteousness is indestructible; if a righteous man is harmed, he will only grow stronger. If he is cut down, another righteous man will rise to take his place.”
“Moshe died on the Shabbat, and David died on the Shabbat. Moshe wrote the five books of the Torah, and David wrote the five books of the Psalms to strengthen the Jew’s faith in Torah. Both Moshe and David excelled in their recognition that HaShem’s judgment is completely righteous and fair. Thus both could declare with full confidence that there is no wrong in Him!” Further, we must understand HaShem executes His judgment typically by using the elements of His creation to do so!
So, you are probably asking how Psalms 92 fits into the Torah portion ‘Beshalach’ and the path of deliverance? We see in this Torah portion after HaShem brought Israel out of Egypt, He brought them to the Sea, seemingly trapping them into one place, an inescapable position from which to be easily defeated. Egypt pursues not realizing they are riding head fast into HaShem’s trap! HaShem then tells Moshe to “Stretch out his hand over the sea and HaShem then moved the sea with a strong east wind all the night, and He turned the sea to damp land and the water split. The Children of Israel came within the sea on dry land; and the water was a wall for them, on their right and on their left.” Then Egypt, in their arrogance, pursues after them, “Every horse of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen, into the midst of the sea. It happened at the morning watch that HaShem looked down at the camp of Egypt with a pillar of fire and cloud, and He confounded the camp of Egypt. He removed the wheels of their chariots and caused them to drive with difficulty. Egypt said, ‘I shall flee before Israel, for HaShem is waging war for them against Egypt!‘“ I love that verse….“For HaShem is waging war for them against Egypt!” Imagine HaShem waging war for you and I? Baruch HaShem!
Then HaShem commands Moshe “Stretch out your hand over the sea, and the water will go back upon Egypt, upon its chariots and upon its horsemen. Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and toward morning the water went back to its power as the Egyptians were fleeing toward it; and HaShem churned Egypt in the midst of the sea. The water came back and covered the chariots and the horsemen of the entire army of Pharaoh, who were coming behind them in the sea, there remained not a one of them. The Children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea; the water was a wall for them, on their right and on their left.”
Now this next part of the Exodus account is extremely important because it immediately has a prophetic connection to it. HaShem says in Shemot (Exodus) 14:30-31 “ON THAT DAY, HaShem saved Israel from the hand of Egypt, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel the great hand that HaShem had inflicted upon Egypt; and the people revered HaShem, and they had faith in HaShem and in Moshe, His servant.” Whenever read read in His Word the phrase ‘On that day’ or ‘In that day’ it always points to ‘The Day of HaShem’ i.e. the Millennium in which the first seven years are the Birth Pains, what Christendom erroneously calls ‘The Tribulation’. Why is that important here for us today? Because, again HaShem reveals the end from the beginning and in the End of Days the major players are: Babylon (USA), Egypt (Europe) and Gog and Magog (Russia and her allies). Since Pharaoh is a picture of the False Messiah and arises out of Egypt, then in the end the False Messiah will arise out of Egypt i.e. Europe and ultimately HaShem WILL save Israel from the hand of Egypt as well as destroy Gog and Magog and Israel from that point on for all eternity will have faith in HaShem and His Messiah Yeshua (Not Jesus) Who comes in the likeness of Moshe i.e. teaching the Torah per Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18:15-19!
What is the point for all this thus far? The more we see the rise of wickedness and oppression, the faster HaShem WILL act on our behalf for just as it was with Israel in Egypt, when He sped up the oppression, it just meant His mercy was in play so He could rescue His people!! IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN!! WE HAVE TO TRUST HE IS TRUE TO HIS WORD! Then when He does suddenly rescue us, then we can sing the same song Israel sang as recorded in Shemot 15:1-19 which says “Then Moshe and Children of Israel chose to sing this song to HaShem, and they said the following:
I shall sing to HaShem for He is exalted above the arrogant, having hurled horse with its rider into the sea. The might and vengeance of Elohim was salvation for me. This is my Elohim and I will build Him a Sanctuary; the Elohim of my father and I will exalt Him. HaShem is MASTER OF WAR, His Name is HaShem. Pharaoh’s chariots and army He threw into the sea, and the pick of his officers were mired in the Sea of Reeds. Deep waters covered them; they descended in the depths like stone. Your right hand, HaShem is glorified with strength; Your right hand, HaShem smashes the enemy. In Your abundant grandeur You shatter Your opponents; You send forth Your wrath, it consumes them like straw. At a blast of Your nostrils the waters were heaped up; straight as a wall stood the running water, the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide plunder; I will satisfy my lust with them. I will unsheathe my sword, my hand will impoverish them.’ You blew with Your wind, the sea enshrouded them; the mighty sank like lead in the water; Who is like You among the heavenly powers, HaShem! Who is like You, mighty in holiness, too awesome for praise, Doer of wonders! You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them. With Your kindness You guided this people that You redeemed; You led with Your might to Your holy abode. Peoples heard, they were agitated, terror gripped the dwells of Philistia. Then the chieftains of Edom were confounded, trembling gripped the powers of Moab, all the dwellers of Canaan dissolved. May fear and terror befall them, at the greatness of Your arm may they be still as stone; until Your people passes through, HaShem, until this people You have acquired passes through. You will bring them and implant them on the mount of Your heritage, the foundation of Your dwelling place that You, HaShem, have made, the Sanctuary, my Master, that Your hands established. HaShem shall reign for all eternity! When Pharaoh’s cavalry came with his chariots and horsemen into the sea and HaShem turned back the waters of the sea upon them, the Children of Israel walked on the dry land amid the sea.”
I know it is much easier said than done, I struggle with it all the time as well, but HaShem is unchanging, He reveals the end out of the beginning and thus if He rescued His people once before in the beginning, then He WILL do so again in the end! How that is, when that will be, I have absolutely no idea, however, I can look at all that is going on around us and know it is getting very, very, very close, in my opinion, much closer than I think we realize! With this said, don’t lose hope and don’t lose resolve…HaShem will send His Mighty Right Arm i.e. Messiah Yeshua to rescue His Own…He IS coming!
I will close with this excerpt from Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) 2:8-9 says “The Voice of my Beloved! Behold it came suddenly to redeem me, as if leaping over mountains, skipping over hills. In His swiftness to redeem me, my Beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart. I thought I would be forever alone, but behold! He was standing behind our wall, observing through the windows, peering through the lattices.” Point is, He hasn’t abandoned us! If we first believe Him i.e. faith, this is what secures our salvation, then we strive to walk with Him and His Torah out of love, devotion and loyalty to Him, to ever improve our relationship with Him, because we are His people! He IS coming!
“For He looks to the very ends of the earth, sees everything that is under the heavens. So that He can assign heft to the winds, precisely measure the waters. Can make the rain follow set paths, specify lanes for the thunder’s roar among the clouds. Then did He contemplate it and inscribe it, readied it and explored it. And told man, ‘See the fear of Elohim is wisdom, steering away from evil – understanding.'” Job 28:24-28
We currently live in VERY tumultuous times with everything unfolding concerning a seemingly unending pandemic, the resulting collapsing society, destabilizing government, overrun borders, debauchery running amok and promoted as being normal followed by endless and increasing terrorism and war. Good grief, just look at all the debauchery alerts I keep posting in my news updates? It just gets worse and worse! Just about every television commercial promoting pharmaceuticals is now portrayed by homosexual couples! There is no more shame and hiding it while it is being crammed down our throats, figuratively speaking!
There can be no doubt now that sadly America in 2021 fits the perfect description of the end of days biblical Babylon, which we have discussed many times before. This is something I do NOT take any pleasure in whatsoever! HaShem established America upon biblical principles BUT it was predicated upon the people being able to maintain a moral and just society and hold onto this precious gift of freedom. Sadly, the people have been corrupted from within and now that precious gift of freedom has been and is being quickly eroded and replaced by chaos, tyranny and destruction. “A lady asked Dr. Benjamin Franklin ‘Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy. A republic replied the Doctor IF you can keep it.’” Sadly, we, collectively, did not keep it!
Now the people, instead of repenting to HaShem and seeking His Face, have put their trust, hopes and faith in a single man (Trump or Biden, depending on who you support) to lead us and HaShem warns us we are NOT to put our faith and trust in a man! Only HaShem can be trusted!!
For the record, let me state I am NOT anti-Trump, nor am I a rah-rah MAGA hat wearing pro-Trump supporter for that matter. I simply recognize that per law, he is, as I prepare this Op, the duly elected President of the United States by the votes of the people and I acknowledge and accept his position and authority as such. However, I also recognize kings and presidents are established by HaShem Himself and for His plans and purposes!
This all said, the more this nation’s society collectively embraces the debauchery and corruption, the more turmoil we are going to have. Further, the more we as a nation export our debauchery around the world, the more the anger of HaShem is fueled and the faster that cup of wrath fills up. As such we are going to discuss in this Op something HaShem showed me a while ago concerning my questions as to why we are witnessing the mess we are witnessing today. Pay very close attention to the verbiage because it denotes just how HaShem feels about Babylon in the End of Days!
Understand this will be a VERY, VERY long Op as there is SO much to cover and even then it is just the tip of the iceberg per se for the amount of information HaShem given to us!
Is America the Babylon HaShem refers too as it relates to biblical prophecy? Yes, absolutely America is! How do we know? Babylon, in the Bible was an empire in and of itself. It had global domination and its power wasn’t just military, but also financial. The entire known world flocked to Babylon not only for safety and security, but also for money, for entertainment, etc. The known world adopted the abominations of Babylon. Its military power was so strong, no other power could take it by force. Babylonians put their faith in their defenses i.e. a giant wall. Its society was comprised of people from all over the world. It was also a very young power in comparison to other global powers meaning it hadn’t been in existence for very long. All of which aptly describes America today.
For the record, when we read the prophecies of the End of Days in the Bible, we read primarily of three world powers i.e. Babylon, Egypt and Assyria. Today these powers can be directly associated with:
Babylon = The United States of America + Allies
Egypt = Europe + Allies
Assyria = Russia/Gog and Magog + Allies such as Iran, China/N Korea
But before we jump into this, always remember the following eternal, unchanging characteristics of HaShem for in all the chaos He IS our ONLY place of refuge, safety, security, provision, defense and health:
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 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
The following is from Jeremiah 50 which is discussing the fate of Babylon in the End of Days i.e. our day and time.
Jeremiah 50:1 says “The word that HaShem spoke concerning Babylonia, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, through the hand of Jeremiah the prophet:”
Jeremiah 50:2-3 says “Proclaim it among the nations, announce it and hoist up a banner; make it heard, do not hold back. Say, ‘Babylonia is captured! Bel is ashamed, Merodach is devastated (Babylonian deities); her idols are ashamed, her gods are devastated; for a nation from the North has attacked it.’ They will lay their land waste and there will be no inhabitant in it; from man to beast, they have all wandered and gone off.”
Since we know nothing is new under the sun and HaShem reveals the end out of the beginning, historically it was Persia and Medea who swooped down from the north to conquer Babylon. This is VERY interesting because today we are on the cusp of war with Iran/Persia. Now, can Iran invade and destroy the US? Not by themselves and this is key to understand…Persia has allies i.e. Russia and China and they most certainly can destroy the US in a single attack if provoked enough. Further, add the fact it is HaShem Who is stirring them up and that means there are zero defenses in play! Can you see how serious this is folks? Moving on.
Jeremiah 50:4-7 says “In those days (An idiom to mean in the End of Days) and at that time (The appointed time of HaShem), the word of HaShem, the Children of Israel will come, they together with the Children of Judah; they will walk along crying, they will seek out HaShem, their Elohim. They will ask about Zion; their faces will be turned toward it; and they will say, ‘Come, be joined to HaShem, with an eternal covenant, never to be forgotten.’ My people were like lost sheep; their shepherds caused them to go astray, aimless in the mountains. They went from mountain to hilltop, they forgot their pasture. All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We feel no guilt; because they sinned against HaShem, the Abode of righteousness, the Hope of their forefathers, HaShem.'”
In the midst of the proclaimed destruction of Babylon i.e. America, by HaShem, He consoles Israel who are in Babylon. It should be noted the rabbis of old all recognized and understood that America is to be the last bastion for exiled Israel before all of Israel returns home into the Land under the leadership of Messiah!
Jeremiah 50:8-12 says “Now wander forth from amid Babylonia, and leave the land of the Chaldeans; be like male goats in front of the flock. For behold, I am arousing and raising up against Babylonia an assembly of great nations from the land of the North and they will array themselves for battle against her; from there they will be captured. His arrows are like a deadly warrior, they will not return empty handed. The Chaldeans will become plunder; all its plunderers will be sated, the Word of HaShem. Because you are glad, because you exult, you tramplers of My heritage; because you fatten yourselves like a calf in the grass and neigh like mighty steeds; your mother is very shamed; the one who bore you is embarrassed; behold, the final outcome of the nations is as a wilderness, a wasteland, and a desert.”
Very interesting for it is HaShem Who arouses and raises up the great nations which in my opinion will be a coalition of nations involving Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and all their allies in a sudden, catastrophic strike against Babylon (America) in which their arrows (Missiles) will strike and get through any defense systems.
Why does HaShem do this? Because of the joy and exultation over replacing His heritage i.e. Replacement Theology Christendom rejoicing over how the systems Replacement Theology ‘Jesus’ has tossed aside HaShem, His Torah, His Shabbat, His Feasts and His Temple. Added with the lust for money and possessions. The reference to the ‘mother is very shamed’ is an idiom to mean those who were proud of Babylon’s military power and ability to rapidly defeat enemies, is now suddenly shamed and embarrassed over how quickly Babylon’s military power is defeated and destroyed.
Finally, HaShem again states Babylon will be so utterly destroyed, wasted and defeated, the land literally becomes a wilderness, a wasteland and a desert. In my opinion this will be a result of not only the nuclear, biological and chemical weapons which will be used, but also the results of massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Jeremiah 50:13-16 says “Out of the rage of HaShem it will not be inhabited, and all of it will be desolate; whoever passes Babylonia will be astonished and whistle over all its afflictions. Array yourselves for battle against Babylonia all around, all you who draw the bow; shoot at her, do not spare arrows; for she has sinned to HaShem. Shout the battle cry against her, she puts her hand out for help all around. The foundations of her wall have fallen, her walls were cast down. Because it is the vengeance of HaShem; be avenged against her! Do to her as she did! Eliminate the sower from Babylonia, as well as the bearer of a sickle at harvest time; from before the oppressor’s sword, every man will turn toward his people and every man will flee to his country.”
WOW…notice the wording? HaShem says “Out of the rage of HaShem…” This is not just a minor irritation or a slight anger…this is His rage! Its from His rage that Babylon will be so utterly wiped out those who pass by Babylon will be astonished! Again, in my opinion, the destruction of Babylon (America) in one hour, is what propels the False Messiah to emerge from Europe and come on to the world scene.
The reference to the walls of Babylon is very interesting for the walls were Babylon’s number one defense and made them literally impregnable against their enemies just like America’s military power is our number one defense which renders us literally impregnable. On a side note, is it just a coincidence that Pres. Trump is currently building a giant wall on our southern border? Another similarity with ancient Babylon!
Jeremiah 50:17-20 says “Israel is like scattered sheep, lions dispersed them; the first one, the king of Assyria, devoured him, and this last one, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, chewed up the bones. Therefore, thus said HaShem, Master of Legions, Elohim of Israel: ‘Behold, I will punish the king of Babylonia and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria. And I will return Israel to its abode, and he will graze in the Carmel and in the Bashan; and in Mount Ephraim and in the Gilead his soul will satiated. In those days (End of Days) and at that time (The appointed time of HaShem), the Word of HaShem, the iniquity of Israel will be sought but it will not be there, and the transgressions of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will forgive those whom I will leave over.”
Again, intermixed with all the statements of destruction of Babylon, HaShem talks about the hope Israel has and how He will protect and restore His people!! Baruch HaShem! May it be VERY soon in our days!
Jeremiah 50:21-27 says “Attack the rebellious land and the inhabitants of Pekod (Another name for Babylonia); destroy and demolish them, the Word of HaShem, and do according to all that I command you! There is a sound of war in the land and a great disaster. How has the hammer for the whole world been snapped and broken? How has Babylonia become desolate among the nations? I LAID A SNARE FOR YOU AND YOU WERE TRAPPED IN IT, O BABYLONIA, AND YOU WERE UNAWARE. You have been found and even seized, FOR YOU PROVOKED HASHEM. HaShem has opened up His arsenal and has taken out the weapons of His wrath, for it is a task for my Master, HaShem/Elohim, Master of Legions, in the land of the Chaldeans. Come to her from the side, open up her storehouses, trample her like piles of grain and decimate her; leave her no remnant. Destroy all her bulls, let them go down to the slaughter, woe to them for their day is coming, the time of their reckoning.”
What is more rebellious than a doctrine that says the Torah is now tossed aside, go do what you want, just be led by the ‘spirit?’ It is what leads to all the debauchery, homosexuality and corruption that is flourishing! Because of this rebellion, HaShem opens up His arsenal which includes storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, economic collapse, terrorism, war, pandemics, etc. Notice also, it is HaShem that leads Babylon (America) into His trap!!!! This means Babylon has no clue it is walking head strong into its own destruction and why? Because Babylon (America) has provoked HaShem! How has He been provoked? Again, all the chest thumping in defiance against Him teaching His Torah is dung and tossed aside along with all embracing of the debauchery! Our national leaders boasting in accepting and tolerating the debauchery and filth which is a direct middle finger in the Face of HaShem!
This current round in tensions rising with Iran, in my opinion, coupled with the unveiling of the so called ‘peace plan’ in Israel and the Palestinians, is the very trap HaShem speaks about here! Notice also, He talks about the sound of war in the land and a great disaster? Does this intimate mass civil unrest along with natural disasters? I believe it does!
Jeremiah 50:28-32 says “There is a sound of fleeing people and fugitives from the land of Babylonia to relate in Zion the revenge of HaShem, our Elohim, the revenge of His Sanctuary. Mobilize against Babylonia, you marksmen, all who draw the bow, encamp against her all around; let her not have any survivor. Repay her according to her actions; do unto her according to all that she has done, for she has acted wickedly toward HaShem, toward the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in her streets, and all her men of war will fall silent on that day, the Word of HaShem. Behold, I am against you, O wicked one, the Word of my Master, HaShem/Elohim, Master of Legions, for your day has arrived, the time for Me to punish you. The wicked one will stumble and fall, and there will be no one to lift it up. And I will set fire to its cities, and it will consume all its surroundings.”
Interesting….so there will be an attempt for people to flee from the land but HaShem will not allow them to get out! Can people get out today? Nope…and why not? The COVID Pandemic prevents people from traveling and crossing borders! Further, He mobilizes the great nations to unleash their military power on Babylon (America) and to destroy everything and not let any person left alive! This obviously hasn’t happened yet, however, when our enemies see the civil unrest and how fractured our government and society are, they are licking their lips, per se, for the opportunity to strike!
The statement He makes about the young men falling in the streets and all her men of war falling silent, clearly indicates this attack is so sudden and swift, the US military has no time to react and is just obliterated in mere moments!! Remember, HaShem is acting out of rage, not anger, and thus there is zero help for Babylon (America) at this time. Very sobering!
Jeremiah 50:33-36 says “Thus said HaShem, Master of Legions: The Children of Israel and the Children of Judah are oppressed together; all their captors hold them fast and refuse to let them free. Their mighty Redeemer, HaShem, Master of Legions is His Name, will certainly take up their grievance, in order to calm the land and cause trembling for the inhabitants of Babylonia. A sword against the Chaldeans, the Word of HaShem, and against the inhabitants of Babylonia and against its officers and against its wise men! As word against the sorcerers; let them be shown to be fools! A sword against its mighty men; let them be devastated!”
Once again HaShem offers Israel consolation and promises of protection for Israel while He personally deals with Babylon. He further talks about a sword (War, conflict, division, confusion) against Babylon’s religious leaders, political leadership and military leaders which causes them to make stupid and foolish decisions!
Jeremiah 50:37-40 says “A sword against its horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in its midst; let them be like women! A sword against its treasuries; let them be sacked! A dry heat against its waters; let them evaporate! For it is a land of graven idols, and they are mad over dread idols. Therefore, the martens will inhabit it together with the cats, and owls will dwell there; and it will NEVER AGAIN be settled, and it will NOT BE inhabited for generation after generation, like HaShem’s overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbors, the Word of HaShem, where no man shall live and no human shall sojourn.”
Again, HaShem talks about the sword destroying the horses and chariots i.e. military power and how the military will be as helpless as women in battle against a furious adversary. Not to mention this may be more literal in how many in uniform today want to have transgenders in the ranks? Your male soldiers literally becoming women! Its revolting and beyond offensive!
The statement that the land is full of graven idols and as a result the animals will inhabit the land never again to be settled by humans….must be the result of earthquakes, volcanoes, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons usage, just like He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah!
Jeremiah 50:41-43 says “Behold, a people is coming from the North; a great nation and many kings will arouse themselves from the ends of the earth. They will be holding bow and spear; they are cruel and will show no mercy; their voice will roar like the sea, and they will ride upon horses. Armed, like a man going to war, against you, O daughter of Babylonia. The king of Babylonia heard of their renown and his hands weakened; consternation seizes him, and pains like a woman in childbirth.”
Very interesting…so hear again HaShem shows us this great nation from the North is a coalition of nations from around the world coming together to launch a surprise attack on America. Further, the king of Babylonia i.e the President of the US, must somehow see this coalition forming and is powerless to stop it. Or, now it makes more sense in that is it possible this new king of Babylonia i.e. the President of the United States, who is being sworn into power on 20 January 2021, is so compromised and is such in league with Assyria, he willfully and knowingly looks the other way and intentionally lets Assyria attack? Now it makes a little more sense!
Jeremiah 50:44-46 says “Behold, the enemy will ascend like a lion from the heights of the Jordan to a secure pasture land, for I shall bring the enemy SUDDENLY and I shall make him overrun them, and I shall charge the designated enemy to deal with them. For who is like Me? Who can challenge Me? And who is the shepherd who can stand before Me? Therefore, hear the counsel of HaShem that HE has devised against Babylonia, and His thoughts that He has conceived against the land of the Chaldeans: The enemy will indeed drag them off, the youngest of the flock; he will indeed destroy their abode. The earth quakes from the sound of Babylonia’s being seized, and the outcry is heard among the nations.”
The crux of this prophecy is this attack upon Babylon (America) is SUDDEN like a lion who pounces from a concealed location upon its prey. The coalition of nations will suddenly overrun America’s defenses and destroy the US military and all the cities of America will burn because of the rage of HaShem. The earth will quake from the power of this attack, along with the volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc that all strike in one hour. Perhaps it is this earthquake that causes the earth’s axis to shift and the days to shorten as is referenced in the Book of Revelation?
Now let’s continue with Jeremiah 51 as HaShem’s fury is explained further.
Jeremiah 51:1-6 says “Thus said HaShem: Behold, I am stirring up a spirit of destruction against Babylonia and against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai. I shall send foreigners to Babylonia, who will scatter her and empty her land; for they will descend upon her from all around on the day of evil. To the archer who draws his bow and to the one who goes forth boldly in his armor I say: ‘Do not have compassion upon her young men; destroy all her legions!’ The slain will fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and the pierced in her streets. For Israel is not widowed, nor is Judah, from his G-d, HaShem, Master of Legions; for the Chaldean land is full of guilt toward the Holy One of Israel. Flee from the midst of Babylonia; everyone save his soul; do not be annihilated for their sin. For it is a time of vengeance for HaShem; He is paying Babylonia her due.”
So again, we can see it is HaShem Himself Who is bringing this destruction to Babylon for He stirs up a spirit of destruction against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai. Who are the inhabitants of Leb-kamai? The Hebrew word ‘Leb-kamai’ is very descriptive of the state of the people for it means “Whose hearts brim with thoughts of rebellion against HaShem.” Does the society in America today brim with thoughts of rebellion against HaShem? Look at the state of everything? Debauchery, homosexuality, immorality, cruelty, greed, arrogance, selfishness, murder, lies, theft, abortion, etc. I would say that qualifies as rebellion against HaShem!
The people He sends to destroy Babylon are those who have zero affinity for the people of Babylon and therefore will not have any compassion whatsoever and will wholesale slaughter everyone. However, in the midst of all this, HaShem reminds Israel, who are still in Babylon the He has NOT abandoned Israel. His pattern in the past is to always secure and get His people to safety BEFORE the judgment falls. For example, Noach and his family were secured on the Ark BEFORE the deluge struck and He sent angels to Sodom to secure and escort out of the city Lot and his family BEFORE the destruction fell. Since He never changes and reveals the end out of the beginning, then must be a picture for us today! There IS still hope in HaShem!
Jeremiah 51:7-14 says “Babylonia was a gold cup in the hands of HaShem; it made the whole earth drunk, the nations drank her wine; this is why the nations have lost their senses. Babylonia has suddenly fallen. She is broken; wail for her. Bring healing ointment for her wounds; perhaps she can be healed. ‘We tried to heal Babylonia, but she cannot be healed. So, leave her alone, and each of us will return to his own country.’ For the judgment against her rises to the skies and reaches even the clouds. HaShem has brought forth our victory. Come, let us proclaim in Zion the work of HaShem our Elohim!” Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! HaShem roused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because He plans to destroy Babylonia. This is the vengeance of HaShem vengeance over His temple. Raise a standard against the walls of Babylonia! Strengthen the guard! Post the sentries! Prepare ambushes! For HaShem has both planned and accomplished what He promised to do to those living in Babylonia. You who live near plenty of water, so rich in treasure your end has come, your time for being cut off! HaShem, Master of Legions has sworn by Himself, ‘I will fill you with men as numerous as grasshoppers; they will raise over you a shout of triumph.’”
It is very interesting that HaShem describes Babylon as a gold cup in His Hands. It intimates that HaShem used this gold cup i.e. Babylon to intoxicate all the land with the wine of His fury because Babylon is a global superpower and therefore Babylon either rewarded its allies or punished its enemies…either case ALL drank the wine from its cup, some beneficially and others disastrously. Babylon is a very wealthy nation and has a global economic and military presence around the globe! The point is, Babylon i.e. America, was and is HaShem’s agent in the world through which He would mete out justice. But according to this prophecy, Babylon will suddenly fall and become broken and the so called ‘Invincible’ empire will be defeated by Persia (Iran) and her allies (Assyria)! Further, HaShem warns that He will fill the land with foreign military forces as numerous as grasshoppers as they shout in triumph! Does this mean the new King of Babylon i.e. the President of the US will invite in foreign military forces to restore order in the event the civil unrest becomes too much to handle? Remember, it is my opinion this new King of Babylon who is to take power next week i.e. 20 Jan 2021, has zero loyalty too or affinity for the US, but has already and will in an instant sell out the land for profit or power…again just my opinion!
Jeremiah 51:15-19 says “He made the earth by His power, established the world by His wisdom spread out the sky by His understanding. When He thunders, the waters in heaven roar, He raises clouds from the ends of the earth, He makes the lightning flash in the rain and brings the wind out from His storehouses. At this, everyone is proved stupid, ignorant, every goldsmith put to shame by his idol! The figures he casts are a fraud, there is no breath in them, they are nothings, ridiculous objects; when the day for their punishment comes, they will perish. Ya‘akov’s portion is not like these, for He is the one Who formed all things, including the tribe He claims as His heritage. HaShem, Master of Legions is His Name.”
These verses here are intended to remind us again of just Who we are dealing with i.e. HaShem, Master of the Legions of Heaven, Who is in absolute control over all things and Who directs where the wind gusts blow, or where a rain drop falls, etc. Point is, it is utterly futile for humanity to think we are in any way superior to HaShem! When He acts, everyone will know exactly Who HaShem is and realize all the worshipped idolatry and images are utterly stupid and worthless!
Jeremiah 51:20-24 says “Babylonia you are My war club and weapon of war, with you I shatter nations; with you I destroy kingdoms; with you I shatter horses and their riders; with you I shatter chariots and their drivers; with you I shatter husbands and wives; with you I shatter old and young; with you I shatter young men and virgins, with you I shatter shepherds and their flocks; with you I shatter farmers and their teams; with you I shatter governors and deputies. But I will repay Babylonia and all living in the land of the Kasdim for all the evil they did in Tziyon, before your eyes, the Word of HaShem.”
Here HaShem reveals that Babylon i.e. America, has been His war club, a weapon of war, He has used in the world to shatter nations. America entered and helped win WW1, WW2 and utterly changed the dynamics and politics of the world. It also was instrumental in the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 along with many other wars over the decades. But, unfortunately in the midst of all this, America has not been a good friend to Israel and in many cases has betrayed Israel and has forced Israel to do things, such as land for peace swaps with Israel’s enemies which has resulted in Israelis being murdered or displaced. HaShem warns He WILL repay Babylon for its treachery with Israel! What is disturbing is this new King of Babylon being sworn into power shortly, despite his words, his actions show he is vehemently anti-Israel.
Jeremiah 51:25-32 says “I am against you, destructive mountain, destroying all the earth,” says HaShem. ‘I will stretch out my hand against you, to send you tumbling down from the crags and make you a burned-out mountain. No one will make cornerstones or foundation-stones from you again; but you will be desolate forever,’ says HaShem. ‘Raise up a banner in the land, blow the shofar among the nations. Prepare the nations for war against her. Summon kingdoms against her, Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz. Appoint an officer against her; bring up horses like bristling grasshoppers. Prepare the nations against her, the kings of the Medes, his governors and deputies, and all the land he controls. The earth quakes and writhes, as HaShem’s designs against Babylonia are fulfilled, to make the land of Babylonia a ruin, with no one living there. Babylonia’s warriors have given up fighting; they remain in their fortresses; their courage has failed; they are now like women. Her homes are on fire, her gate-bars broken. One runner runs to meet another, messenger to meet messenger, to report to the king of Babylonia that every part of his city is taken, the fords have been occupied, and the swamp thickets set on fire, while the warriors are seized with panic.”
As we read in Jeremiah 50, this isn’t some nation that is coming up against Babylon i.e. America, but this is HaShem Himself!!! It is He Who calls for the enemies of Babylon to assemble and to deploy against Babylon! The names He gives as some of those kingdoms He summons i.e. Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz, are places such as Iraq i.e. Ararat, Minni are deeply associated with the former Soviet Republics of Armenia, Estonia, i.e. allies of Assyria. Ashkenaz is very likely for Eastern European block countries formerly under Soviet rule i.e. Assyrian rule. I could be wrong on this however. Point is, however, it is an international coalition HaShem assembles that moves to destroy Babylon i.e. America! The attack is so sudden and so fierce the American military is either caught off guard and never leave their military installations, or the King of Babylon, has ordered the military to remain in place, not to resist, in an act to complete his treachery. Again, just my speculation. Further, in the commentaries on these verses, it indicates this judgment will occur very similarly to how Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed i.e. Fire, such as nuclear weapons detonations and volcanic eruptions.
Jeremiah 51:33 says “For here is what HaShem, Master of Legions, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘The daughter of Babylonia is like a threshing-floor at treading-time. Just a little while longer, and the time for harvesting her will come.’” This verse indicates that Babylon i.e. America is so rich and wealthy that soon it will be as empty as a threshing floor at the time of harvest. It further indicates it is a sudden catastrophe that strikes!
Jeremiah 51:34-35 says “Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia, has devoured me (Jerusalem), crushed me. He left me like an empty pot. Like a monster, he swallowed me whole. With my delicacies he stuffed his belly; then he rinsed me out. But one who lives in Zion will say, ‘May my torn flesh be avenged on Babylonia’; and Jerusalem will say, ‘May my blood be avenged on the Chaldeans.’” Again, we read of the treachery of Babylon against Israel and Jerusalem! Will this new King of Babylon who takes power shortly backstab Israel and move the US Embassy out of Jerusalem and then divide up the city in the name of peace? Only HaShem knows!
Jeremiah 51:36-44 says “Therefore here is what HaShem says: ‘I will plead your cause. I will take vengeance for you. I will dry up her river and make her water sources dry. Babylonia will become a heap of ruins, a place for jackals to live, an object of horror and hissing, with no one living there. Together they roar like young lions, growl like lion cubs. When they are hot with desire, I will prepare them a drink. I will make them so drunk they will have convulsions, sleep forever and never wake up,’ says HaShem. ‘I will drag them down like lambs to be slaughtered, like rams and male goats.’ Sheshach has been captured, the pride of the whole earth seized! Babylonia has become an object of horror throughout the nations! The sea has flooded Babylonia, overwhelmed her with its raging waves. Her cities have become desolate, parched, arid land, a land where no one lives; nobody even passes through. I will punish Bel in Babylonia and make him disgorge what he swallowed. The nations will no longer flow to him. Babylonia’s wall will fall.’”
In these verses HaShem states His answer to Israel regarding their suffering as the hands of Babylonia! It is HaShem Himself Who comes to Israel defense and will take vengeance! Again, we see it is HaShem Who removes the effectiveness of the military power of Babylon i.e. America, which makes it possible for Assyria and her allies to strike! Remember, military victory of any kind is a gift from HaShem!
It is interesting HaShem references the Babylonian god names ‘Bel’ here because the commentary states this god was the main deity Babylon worshipped. Why is this important? Because the King of Babylon took this figure i.e. Bel and then he placed the Name of HaShem on it and declared it to be the god of Babylon. How is this different from what Replacement Theology has done with its Torah abolishing ‘Jesus’ and then declared this ‘Jesus’ to be HaShem in the flesh? If there is nothing new under the sun and He reveals the end out of the beginning then what was is what will be again, maybe with new names but the functions will be the same! I digress.
Jeremiah 51:45-46 says “Get out of her, My people! Each one, save yourself from HaShem’s furious anger! Don’t be fainthearted, don’t be afraid of the rumors spreading abroad in the land. One year one rumor comes, the next year another one, rumors of violence in the land and rulers fighting rulers.” I know for a fact that for the last year many Orthodox Rabbis in Israel and in the US are frantically telling Jews to GET OUT of America as fast as possible because HaShem has told them, America’s destruction is imminent! Unfortunately, not many have the means to get out simply because of the COVID lockdowns and financial inability.
Jeremiah 51:47-50 says “Therefore, listen! The days are coming when I will pass judgment on Babylonia’s idols. Her whole land will be put to shame, as all her slain fall on home soil. Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will sing for joy over Babylonia; for the plunderers from the north are coming to her,’ says HaShem. Just as Babylonia caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylonia will fall the slain of all the land. You who escaped the sword, go! Don’t stand still! Remember HaShem from afar, let Jerusalem come into your minds.’” What are some of the main idols in Babylon i.e. America today? Greed, money, entertainment, lust, immorality, etc. HaShem WILL pass judgment and expose these idols for they are, worthless, destructive pieces of nothing. Notice how HaShem says the Heavens will rejoice over the sudden destruction of Babylon i.e. America? Why? Because the we have exported our idolatry, immorality, lust, perversions, debaucheries, abortion, entertainment, etc, across the whole world!
Jeremiah 51:51 says “The reproaches we have heard have put us to shame, disgrace covers our faces; because foreigners have entered the sanctuaries of HaShem’s House.” Here Israel responds that indeed it things about Jerusalem but is humiliated the way Babylon has disgraced HaShem’s ways and His Temple. I point back to Replacement Theology which declares HaShem’s ways i.e. His Torah to be a disgrace and His Temple is the epitome of blasphemy and the seat of Satan himself!
Jeremiah 51:52-57 says “Therefore,” says HaShem, ‘The days are coming when I will pass judgment on her idols, and the wounded will groan throughout her land. Even if Babylonia scales the heavens or reinforces her lofty stronghold, plunderers will come to her from Me,’ says HaShem. An agonized cry is heard from Babylonia! Great destruction in the land of the Kasdim! For HaShem is plundering Babylonia and silencing her noisy din their waves roar like the raging ocean, their clamor sounds and resounds. Yes, the plunderer has fallen upon her, fallen on Babylonia. Her warriors are captured, their bows are broken. For HaShem is a Elohim of retribution; He will surely repay. ‘I will intoxicate her leaders and sages, her governors, deputies and warriors. They will sleep forever and never wake up,’ says the King, Whose Name is HaShem, Master of Legions.”
The fury of HaShem is beyond description! He will pass judgment on the idolatry of Babylon i.e. America and the groaning throughout the land will be loud! Further, He says that even if Babylon had the military capability to scale the heavens and reinforce their defenses, these attackers are coming from Him, therefore, there is zero chance at a successful defense! The destruction will be total, swift and will leave nothing left alive of human, animal or plant. HaShem will break the military power of Babylon and further He will dull the wisdom of the government, military and economic leaders and blunt the effectiveness of the military as if they are intoxicated and as a result they all will die! Very sobering!
Jeremiah 51:58 says “Thus says HaShem, Master of Legions: ‘The wide walls of Babylonia will be razed to the ground, her lofty gates will be set on fire. The peoples are toiling for nothing, the nation’s labor goes up in flames, and everyone is exhausted.’” The defenses are rendered ineffective, the military is shattered and broken, the government has collapsed and whomever are left, resisting, have zero success. Like that statement from the Borg in Star Trek the Next Generation “Resistance is futile!” So, it is here as well, for HaShem has removed any chance of success.
Jeremiah 51-59-64 says “This is the order which Jeremiah the prophet gave to S’rayah the son of Neriyah, the son of Machseyah, when he went to Babylonia with Zedekiah, the king of Judah in the fourth year of his reign. S’rayah was quartermaster. Jeremiah had written on a separate scroll all the above words describing the disaster that was to befall Babylonia. Jeremiah said to S’rayah, ‘See to it that when you arrive in Babylonia you read all these words aloud. Then say, ‘HaShem, you have promised to destroy this place, that no one will live here, neither human nor animal, but that it will be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this scroll, tie a rock to it, throw it into the middle of the Euphrates,and say, ‘Like this, Babylonia will sink, never to rise again, because of the disaster I am bringing on her; and they will grow weary.’”
What is astounding is this prophecy is clear that once this destruction falls upon Babylon in the End of Days i.e. America, the destruction will be so complete and devastating, the land will NEVER be inhabited again, for eternity!! Again, we see the fury of HaShem!!
Now, does this help better explain what we read in Revelation chapters 17-18 which discusses the fall of Babylon in one literal hour! The fall of Babylon will occur in one literal hour and the people around the world will watch in horror. Some will literally die in terror as they grasp to try to find something to hold onto! In my opinion, it is this sudden destruction of Babylon i.e. America by Assyria and its allies which will propel the False Messiah onto the world stage and rise out of Europe and Europe tries to find a way to defend against Assyria. Afterall, if Assyria could destroy Babylon in one hour, then can Europe defend itself any better? Thus, they run to the one guy who will claim to have an answer to defend against Assyria. Thus the seven years of the Birth Pains of Messiah will commence!
In all of this, I hope you can see that we can only put our trust in HaShem and HaShem alone!! Do NOT look to some man in office to be your source of salvation for he WILL fail you!! HaShem, He is our Rock and He is our place of refuge…for only He is in absolute control of all things.
There is great hope in HaShem despite these terrible prophecies, but for the sake of the innocent and the children who are being exploited, slaughtered, conditioned and destroyed by the homosexual perverts and the abortionists, may HaShem act VERY, VERY, VERY soon!!
As our Master Yeshua said when we begin to see these things, then look up, for our redemption draws near! May it be so very soon in our days!! Much to consider!
Shabbat Shalom
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Milstein Edition Jeremiah by Artscroll
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
“Do not remove from my mouth the word of utmost truth (Torah), because I hoped for Your judgment. I will safeguard Your Torah constantly, forever and ever. Then I will walk in broad pathways (Freedom), for I sought Your precepts.” Psalms 119:43-45
What did Messiah Yeshua truly come to do on His first coming as prophesied in the Tanakh (Old Testament)? If HaShem truly reveals the end out of the beginning and does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets first coupled with the fact there is nothing new under the sun, then there MUST be some indicators HaShem has left for us to find in His Tanakh! The answer is, yes He has done so, over and over and over again. Keep this in mind as we proceed in this Op.
There is much confusion today concerning the mission of the Messiah of HaShem. Many have and continue to teach that Messiah came solely to be the final Chatat (Sin) offering in order to free humanity from the Torah, to challenge and destroy the Temple Services, to end the korbonot (Offerings), to ‘fulfill’ Shabbat along with the annual Feasts of HaShem and then replace it all with a brand new, never before heard of covenant devoid of everything of what I mentioned here above.
Others have and continue to teach that before the advent of Messiah, the world was devoid of love and was bound under the dark, crushing oppression of the Law (Torah) and that through the fulfillment of the Law, Law was once and for all tossed aside and love finally came flooding into the world. Now the only requirement is for everyone to love each other. Is there any truth to any of this? Right up front, the answer is an emphatic NO!
In a recent Torah portion i.e. ‘Vayeshev’ which is found in Bereshit (Genesis) 37:1-40:23, this portion discusses Ya’akov settling down and the narrative for what will later become Messiah Ben Yosef (Messiah Son of Joseph) and I will briefly explain.
I should first note, with regards to the concept of Messiah in ancient Judaism, there two concepts i.e. Messiah Ben Yosef or otherwise known to be Messiah the Son of Yosef or Messiah the Suffering Servant. Then there is Messiah Ben David or Messiah Son of David, the Conquering and Ruling King. Yeshua first came as Messiah Ben Yosef, now we await HaShem sending Him as Messiah Ben David! Keep this all in mind as it is very important to this Op.
Yosef, the son of Ya’akov, favored by his father, grew up and experienced two prophetic dreams in which he saw himself being established as a ruler and leader. He then tells his dreams to his eleven brothers who end up hating and despising him for it. They initially conspire to kill him, but instead sell him to Ishmaelite traders who take Yosef to Egypt and sell him to Potiphar, the servant of Pharaoh. Yosef suffers greatly by this betrayal of his brothers, but HaShem is watching over him and Yosef NEVER forgets who he is nor does he forget to Whom he serves i.e. HaShem! Ultimately, Yosef is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, is thrown into prison and while in prison he interprets the dreams of two other prisoners which reaches the ears of Pharaoh. Then in the following Torah portion ‘Mikeitz’, Pharaoh has a troubling dream but no one could interpret it. Yosef is brought before him and is able to interpret it by the revealing of HaShem. The dream from HaShem warns of a coming famine which will be long and very severe. Pharaoh then declares Yosef to be the Viceroy over ALL of Egypt i.e. second in command and Yosef, by the hand of HaShem, mission is to prepare Egypt for this famine and he ends up saving all of Egypt along with Israel when Israel descends into Egypt during the time of this great famine. It is at this point that Yosef’s brothers approach him, not knowing who they are talking too. Yosef indeed knows who they are, he has not forgotten them. Yosef then reveals himself to them and they are all reunited and restored! All of which is a picture of Yeshua, second in command under HaShem, saving all of Israel along with the world, then He will one day rule over ALL of the world from Jerusalem, leading the world in service to HaShem! Baruch HaShem! May it be very soon in our days!
The following is an excerpt from the book, ‘The Messiah Texts’ by Raphael Patai. This book encapsulates what ancient Judaism understood and prepared for with regards to the concept of the Messiah of HaShem. For the record, it is not to be taken literally, but to understand the concepts and the pictures being painted by the author as he references the texts of ancient Judaism. As I have said before, it is an astounding book and helps to understand what the people of Israel during the time of Yeshua actually thought as it is vastly different from what Christendom teaches. I digress.
On page 104-105 of this book, it states “The Messiah himself, on the other hand, must spend his entire life, from the moment of his creation until the time of his advent many centuries or millennia later, in a state of constant and acute suffering. Despised and afflicted with unhealing wounds, he sits in the gates of Great Rome (Figuratively) and winds and unwinds his bandages of his festering sores; as a Midrash expresses it, ‘Pains have adopted him.’ According to one of the most moving and at the same time psychologically most meaningful, of all Messiah legends, Elohim, when He created the Messiah, gave him the choice whether or not to accept the sufferings for the sins of Israel. And the Messiah answered: ‘I accept it with joy, so that not a single soul of Israel should perish.’ In the later Zoharic formulation of this legend, the Messiah himself summons all the diseases, pains and sufferings of Israel to come upon him, in order thus to ease the anguish of Israel to which otherwise would be unbearable. In all this the Messiah becomes heir to the Suffering Servant of Elohim, who, figures prominently in the prophecies of Deutero-Isaiah, and who suffers undeservedly for the sins of others.”
So we can see ancient Judaism understood the concept of a Suffering Servant of HaShem Who would come twice…once to redeem Israel and the second to conquer, gather all of Israel from around the world, defeat the enemies of Israel once and for all and rule from Jerusalem for a thousand years from where the Torah will go out to the entire world, preparing the world for the World to Come.
You may be asking how, per the title, First-fruits plays into this? Glad you asked! We will discuss this shortly, but before we jump into this topic, always remember and consider the following:
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 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
‘Bikkurim’, the Hebrew word for ‘Firstfruits’ which is derived from the Hebrew word ‘Bechor’ are the Firstfruits of agriculture, kosher animals and firstborn human sons, which are all marked, set apart for HaShem, then are brought to the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem, redeemed and given to the Kohanim (Priests) and Levi’im (Levites). The Kohanim and Levi’im then offer them up on the Altar to HaShem and eat them within the walls of Jerusalem because they have a kedusha (Holiness) level attached to them. I will explain in much more detail as we proceed because HaShem is very much teaching us a concept and it will also explain what we are reading the Apostolic Writings!
Per Tractate Bechoros in the Talmud Bavli in the general introduction it states the following: “When Elohim redeemed the Children of Israel from Egypt and destroyed all the firstsborns of Egypt, from humans to livestock, in the last of the ten plagues, He forever sanctified the firstborns of Israel by sparing them per Bamidbar (Numbers) 3:13 (‘For every firstborn is Mine: On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified every firstborn in Israel for Myself, from man to beast; they shall be Mine, I am HaShem.’) The laws defining this sanctification were then given to Moshe to teach the people per Shemot (Exodus) 13:2, 12-16.”
Lets examine Shemot 13:2 which says “Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first issue of every womb among the Children of Israel, of man and beast, is Mine.”
Now lets look at Shemot 13:12-16 which says “Then you shall set apart every first issue of the womb to HaShem, and every first issue that is dropped by livestock that belong to you, the males are HaShem’s. Every first issue donkey you shall redeem with a lamb or kid; if you do not redeem it, you shall axe the back of its neck. And you shall redeem every human firstborn among your sons. And it shall be when your son will ask you at some future time, ‘What is this?’ You shall say to him, ‘With a strong hand HaShem removed us from Egypt from the house of bondage. And it happened when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to send us out, that HaShem killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of beast. Therefore I offer to HaShem all male first issue of the womb, and I shall redeem all the firstborn of my sons. And it shall be a sign upon your arm, and an ornament between your eyes, for with a strong hand HaShem removed us from Egypt.'”
Very interesting verses!! Can you see the connection to the Exodus and deliverance from Egypt with the Firstfruits? If HaShem reveals the end from the beginning then what does this mean for us, here and now today at the end? Let’s keep exploring.
HaShem commands in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 26:1-5 says “It will be when you enter the Land that HaShem, your Elohim, gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it, and dwell in it, that you shall take the first of every fruit of the ground that you bring in from your Land that HaShem, your Elohim, gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that HaShem, your Elohim, will choose to make His Name rest there. You shall come to whoever will be the Kohen in those days, and you shall say to him, ‘I declare today to HaShem, your Elohim, that I have come to the Land that HaShem swore to our forefathers to give us.’ The Kohen shall take the basket from your hand, and lay it before the Altar of HaShem, your Elohim.”
Okay, so we now see HaShem is setting up the principles of His Kingdom via His Torah with the setting apart not just the firstborn sons and kosher animals, but also the agriculture of the field from the Land of Israel!
Then HaShem says in verses 5-10 “Then you shall call out and say before HaShem, your Elohim, ‘An Aramean tried to destroy my forefather (Laban who tried to deceive Ya’akov). He descended to Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, strong and numerous. The Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, and placed hard work upon us. Then we cried out to HaShem, the Elohim of our forefathers, and HaShem heard our voice and saw our affliction, our travail, and our oppression. HaShem took us out of Egypt with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, with great awesomeness, and with signs and with wonders. He brought us to this place, and He gave us this Land, a Land flowing with milk and honey. And now, behold! I have brought the first fruit of the ground that You have given me, O HaShem!’ And you shall lay it before HaShem, your Elohim, and you shall prostrate yourself before HaShem, your Elohim.”
Can you again see the connection to bringing the Bikkurim to the Temple and the Exodus from Egyptian bondage? I will say it for the umpteenth time….If He reveals the end from the beginning, then what does this mean today at the end?
Why do we bring our Bikkurim to the Temple? Devarim 26:11 says “You shall rejoice with all the goodness that HaShem, your Elohim, has given you and your household, you and the Levite and the proselyte who is in your midst.” So we do this to rejoice in what HaShem has blessed us with!!
So what Bikkurim are considered acceptable for bringing to the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem? Remember the Bikkurim have to be free of blemishes, no defects and must literally be the best of the crop is what is set apart to HaShem. This said, is any ole produce acceptable, whatever we decide? Actually, HaShem tells us what is acceptable and there are seven species of agriculture that are acceptable per Devarim 8:8:
Wheat
Barley
Grape
Fig
Pomegranate
Oil Olives
Date Honey
Of the animals, only the kosher animals are acceptable i.e.:
Cows
Sheep
Goats
When where the Bikkurim brought to the Temple of HaShem? They began bringing them on Shavuot (Erroneously known as Pentecost) per Shemot (Exodus) 23:16 in what is also known as ‘The Feast of Harvest’ as well as the ‘Feast of In-gathering’ which is another name for the Feast of Sukkot. They could continue to bring their Bikkurim through Chanukah which is very significant in itself which we will discuss shortly!
How did they bring the Bikkurim to the Temple of HaShem?
Tractate Bikkurim in the Mishnah is very clear that the time for bringing the Bikkurim into Jerusalem was a GIGANTIC celebration and rejoicing! One commentator said that a person has not observed true rejoicing and celebrating in their lives until they witness the Bikkurim celebration at Shavuot!!!
Chapter 3.2 from Tractate Bikkurim in the Mishnah says “How do we bring the bikkurim up to the Beit HaMikdash (Temple)? All the people of the cities in the maamad (Delegation of Israelis officials which correspond to one of the 24 weekly shifts of the Kohanim serving in the Temple) gather in the city of the maamad. They stay overnight in the town square and they would not enter the houses. And in the morning, the appointee would say ‘Let us rise and ascend to Zion, to the House of HaShem our Elohim’ quoting Jeremiah 31:5.”
Chapter 3.3 says “The near ones bring fresh figs and grapes, while the far ones bring dried figs and raisins. And the ox walks ahead of them, and his horns are overlaid with gold, and a wreath of olive branches is on his head. The flute plays before them, until they reach close to Jerusalem. When they reach close to Jerusalem, they sent messengers ahead of them, and they adorned their bikkurim. The princes, the leaders, and the treasurers go out to greet them according to the honor of those entering they would go out to greet them. And all the craftsmen of Jerusalem stand up before them and inquire into their welfare: ‘Our brethren, the people of such and such a place, have you arrived in peace?'”
Chapter 3.4 says “The flute plays ahead of them until they reach the Temple Mount. When they reach the Temple Mount, even King Agrippas takes the basket on his shoulder and enters, until he reaches the Temple Courtyard. When he reaches the Courtyard, the Levi’im break out in song:‘I will exalt You, O HaShem, for You have uplifted me and You have not let my enemies rejoice over me. HaShem, my Elohim, I cried out to You and You healed me. HaShem, You have raised up my soul from the Lower World, You have preserved me lest I descend into the Pit. Sing to HaShem, His devoted ones, and give thanks to His holy Name. For His anger endures but a moment; life results from his pleasure; in the evening one lies down weeping, but with dawn, a cry of joy! I had said in my serenity, ‘I would never falter.’ But HaShem, it was Your good will alone that supported my greatness with might. You but conceal Your face, I would be terrified. To You, HaShem I would call and to my Master I would appeal. What gain is there in my death, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust acknowledge You? Will it tell of Your Truth (Torah)? Hear, HaShem, and favor me HaShem, be my helper! You have changed for me my lament into dancing, You undid my sackcloth and girded me with joy. So that my soul might sing to You and not be stilled, HaShem, my Elohim, forever will I thank You.'” Quoting Psalms 30.
It should be noted that each day of the week there is a daily Psalm which was and is recited. During the time of bringing in the Bikkurim they sing Psalms 30, which is listed above, but also during Chanukah, the daily Psalm which is read during the eight days is also Psalms 30! Coincidence? Not a chance!
Chapter 3.5 says “The young birds which were on the baskets were Olah (Burnt) Offerings, and that which was in their hands, they gave to the Kohanim.”
Chapter 3.6 says “While the basket is still on his shoulders, he reads from ‘I have declared today to HaShem your Elohim’ (The declaration we discussed above from Devarim 26) until he finishes the whole section. When he reaches ‘An Aramean planned to destroy my father’ he lowers the basket from his shoulder and holds it from its rim, and a Kohen places his hand under it and waves it before HaShem. And he reads from ‘An Aramean planned to destroy my father’ until he finishes the whole section. And he places it on the side of the Altar, and he bows and he leaves.”
Can you see there is a set protocol for how and when to bring the Bikkurim to HaShem in His Temple in Jerusalem? As I have said before, the Torah is the constitution per se for the system of government in the Kingdom of HaShem and at some point, hopefully very soon, the entire world will be living under the Torah with Yeshua leading from the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem! I digress…got ahead of myself a bit.
Now remember, HaShem is teaching us a concept here with the Bikkurim such as kedusha (Holiness), being set apart to Him, don’t be like the world, etc, for He commands we as His people are to be kadosh (Holy) as He is kadosh per Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:2/20:7/20:26/26:8 and I Kepha (Peter) 1:16, etc.
So how does all of this tie in with Yeshua? First we must remember that in the end, Yeshua will be both King and Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) in the order of Melchizedek and will serve in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem per Ezekiel chapters 40-48! Very important to remember this because Yeshua is NOT a Levite, so how can He be Kohen HaGadol if that is reserved only for Levi? The answer is below!
Tractate Bechoros in the Talmud Bavli says “The unique esteem in which firstborns were held is evident not only from the fact that their destruction was the final blow that shattered Egyptian resistance to the emancipation of the Israelites. Long before this, from the times of Adam, it had been the practice to assign the performance of the avodah (Sacrificial Service) to the firstborns per Bereshit (Genesis) 25:31. This remained the practice of the Jews until the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was erected in the Wilderness. At that time, the firstborns were superseded in the avodah by the Kohanim and Levi’im, the only group that had not participated in the sin of the Golden Calf.”
WOW…do see how significant this is in relation to Yeshua? Yeshua is constantly prophesied to be the King and Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) in the order of Melchizedek. Yeshua is NOT a Levite therefore He technically cannot serve as Kohen HaGadol in the earthly Temple because that is only reserved for Levi, because Levi didn’t bow to the Golden Calf incident! If the Priesthood was originally relegated to the firstborn sons, beginning from Adam on down, and Yeshua is called the Last Adam (I Corinthians 15:45), and Adam functioned as both King and Kohen unto HaShem in the first Temple i.e. the Garden of Eden, then this is why Yeshua can be both King and Kohen unto HaShem in the end because He reveals the end from the beginning! Yeshua isn’t setting up some new Kohanim order, He is simply performing the avodah as the Firstborn of HaShem as originally intended by HaShem!! In other words Yeshua is RESTORING what was lost, NOT ushering in something brand new as Christendom in its Replacement Theology claims! Nothing changes, nothing new under the sun and He reveals the end out of the beginning!! Very exciting to understand this, Baruch HaShem!
Now it makes MUCH more sense when we read in the Apostolic Writings in I Corinthians 15:20-23 which says “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and has become the FIRST FRUITS of those having fallen asleep. For since death is through a man (Adam), resurrection of the dead is also through a Man (Yeshua – The Last Adam). For as all die in Adam, so also all shall be made alive in Messiah. And each in his own order: Messiah the FIRST FRUITS, THEN those who are of Messiah at His coming.”
Very interesting because Yeshua suffered as Messiah Ben Yosef i.e. the Suffering Messiah on behalf of Israel in order to redeem and restore Israel and as the First Fruits is raised up by HaShem on the Feast of First Fruits, three days after His death on Pesach, no coincidence by the way, He is the first of humanity to be raised from the grave into eternal life, serving HaShem for eternity free from the sin nature we all are born with!
Further evidence is found in Yochanan (John) 20:15 says “Yeshua said to her (Miryam), ‘Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?’ Thinking He was the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Master, if You have carried Him away, say to me where You put Him, and I shall take Him away.'” Why is this significant? Because Miryam thought she was talking to the gardener. Why did she think this? Because Yeshua was wearing His all white, Priestly garments, which are worn when approaching the Most Holy Place. How do we know this?
Yochanan (John) 20:17 says “Yeshua said to her, ‘Do not hold onto Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim.'” When the Kohen HaGadol is set apart for approaching HaShem in the Most Holy Place, he is separated out and cannot be contaminated by anything, even a human touch could contaminate him and prevent his approaching HaShem! Here Yeshua tells Miryam NOT to touch Him for just this very reason while He is wearing His all white Priestly garments!! He is the FIRST FRUITS as confirmed in Colossians 1:15 which says “Who (Yeshua) is the likeness of the invisible Elohim, the FIRST BORN of all creation.”
Now consider Revelation 14:1-4 which says “And I looked and saw a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father’s Name written upon their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of the heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder, and I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a renewed song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one was able to learn the song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. They are those who are not defiled with women, for they are maiden. They are those following the Lamb wherever He leads them on. They were redeemed from among men, being the FIRST FRUITS to Elohim and to the Lamb.” Now does this make a little more sense when we read this? And how are they the First Fruits of HaShem?
Ya’akov (James) 1:18 tells us “Having purposed it, He brought us forth by the Word of Truth (Torah), for us to be a kind of FIRST FRUITS of His creatures.” Point is, once more, He tells us the only way to be set apart to Him as His people is by doing the Torah! Remember this is NOT talking about salvation…this is talking about walking in service to HaShem in our daily lives. Yeshua walked out the Torah perfectly and we are to emulate Him as He currently serves HaShem in the Heavenly Temple on our behalf as our Kohen HaGadol in the order of Melchizedek!
Its ALL about being the FIRST FRUITS i.e. kadosh unto HaShem!! This is why we need the Temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt soon in our days…may it be VERY VERY soon!!
Shabbat Shalom
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Stone Chumash by Artscroll
Tractate Bikkurim from the Mishnah
Tractate Bikkurim from the Talmud Bavli
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
“Gather together the people, the men, the women, and the small children, and your stranger (Non-Jewish believers) who is in your cities, so that they will hear and so they will learn, and they shall fear HaShem, your Elohim, and be careful to perform all the words of this Torah.” Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:12
Did Yeshua personally bring animal and grain korbonot (Offerings) up and offer them to HaShem in the Temple? I know this question and its subsequent research and answer could ignite a firestorm, even though that is NOT my intention, however, I believe it is a very good question which needs to be asked, researched and answered!
Unfortunately Replacement Theology has done enormous amounts of damage to the Apostolic Writings and especially to tainting and corrupting just Who is the Messiah of HaShem! It is has presented an image of a Messiah who does not in any way, shape or form, fit in with the Prophecies and Scriptural references HaShem gave in His Tanakh. This must be addressed and must be corrected, especially in these unprecedented times we currently live in!
We will address this question in this Op, but keep in mind, the Apostolic Writings ARE in fact very Jewish writings, utilizing Jewish customs, references and idioms and carry on what was written in the Tanakh. It is Replacement Theology, going back hundreds and hundreds of years, which has taken the Apostolic Writings, and twisted them into what we see today, a compilation of letters which seemingly endorses separating from the Torah of HaShem, changing what HaShem established in the beginning, establishing new Feasts and presenting a figure head which when compared to the Torah of HaShem, appears to be teaching a message of rebellion and insurrection against HaShem and His Kingdom. The point I am attempting to make right off the bat per se, is DO NOT LISTEN to what Replacement Theology teaches about the Apostolic Writings! Replacement Theology is NOT in any way the expert interpreters of the letters! When 95% of the entire Bible is disregarded and ignored, how can Replacement Theology be qualified to render any definitive interpretation of the Apostolic Writings?
No, this Op is not a bash fest on Replacement Theology, I have to lay the foundation before we can proceed and explain why Replacement Theology is not qualified to be a credible source. Keep this in mind as we progress in this Op, but as always, never forget the following unchanging characteristics of HaShem:
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 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
The opening verse at the top of this Op from Devarim 31:12 is very interesting because HaShem is clearly saying the Torah is for EVERYONE and it is the vehicle through which we can have a relationship with our Great King! Torah doesn’t save or redeem, Torah is the natural result of true faith in HaShem! First Abraham believed and then he began his journey in striving to walk in the Torah of HaShem out of love, devotion and loyalty. I point this out because I do not want anyone to come away from any of my Ops thinking I am teaching a Torah based salvation, which is impossible, none of us can keep His Torah perfectly. I will reiterate, first we believe in HaShem, THEN we begin our Torah journey and learning the Torah each Shabbat. I digress.
In order to answer the question of whether Yeshua personally offered up animal korbonot to HaShem in the Temple, we need to first lay the foundation of what HaShem commanded in His Torah with regards to the korbonot.
Always remember the following from my previous Op’s because it is vital to our discussion concerning Yeshua: Yeshua MUST come in the likeness of Moshe (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) because it was Moshe, who was HaShem’s Agent i.e His Sheliach/Sent One, who brought the Torah to Israel. Remember as we have discussed in previous Op’s, an agent is likened to the one who sent him in the first place, therefore when read the words of Yeshua where He says “When you see Me, you have seen the Father” per John 14:9, now it makes much more sense in that Yeshua is re-affirming He is the AGENT of HaShem i.e. the Sheliach of HaShem and NOT literally HaShem in the flesh as that is just not possible for many, many Scriptural reasons.
The following is from the article ‘The Law of Agency’ from the Jewish Encyclopedia and it states: “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).” I digress.
Additionally, consider what Replacement Theology has taught over the centuries that Yeshua and Yosef were carpenters in the literal sense of working with wood is very likely not accurate. The word ‘Carpenter’ in Greek, as is used in the Apostolic Writings, is ‘Tekton’ which can mean a literal carpenter but also a ‘Builder’. This is VERY interesting because in Hebrew a builder is not just someone who constructs objects and buildings, etc, but per Tractate Shabbos 114a from the Talmud Bavli it says “Who are the Builders? The Builders are Torah scholars who are engaged in building the world all of their days.” Now wouldn’t this make much more sense for the Messiah of HaShem to be a Torah scholar especially if He is to come in the likeness of Moshe i.e. teach the Torah? Keep this in mind!
The Hebrew word ‘Korban’ means ‘To be close to someone. To draw near to HaShem’. The truest offering is when the owner brings himself as the offering. The owner of the animal or grain offering sets himself apart to HaShem to make himself subservient to the teachings of the Torah. The animal or grain offering is secondary in that it is an indication of what the owner feels and what the owner is striving for.
Per Vayikra (Leviticus) chapter 1 there are only three species of animals which are acceptable for korbonot i.e:
Cattle – Bull and Male/Female calf
Sheep – Male/Female lambs and Rams
Goats – Male/Female goats and male/female kids
Turtledoves and young pigeons are the one acceptable species of birds.
Minchah (Flour/Bread) korbonot are primarily made from wheat however on two occasions they are made from barley i.e. the Sotah Test (For a woman suspected and accused of adultery) per Bamidbar (Numbers) 5:15 and Vayikra (Leviticus) 2:15.
Wine korbonot are brought from unsweetened grapes.
There are eight categories of korbonot which may be brought:
Chatat (Sin)
Olah (Burnt)
Asham (Guilt/Trespass)
Shelamim (Peace)
Todah (Thanksgiving)
Bechor (Firstfruits)
Maaser (Tithes)
Pesach (Passover)
Of these eight korbonot they are divided up into two types of sanctity which will determine where in the Temple they are slaughtered:
Kodashim Kalim – Minor sanctity korbonot which means they can be slaughtered anywhere in the Azarah (Courtyard)
Kodashei Kodashim – Major sanctity korbonot which means they can only be slaughtered in a specific location i.e. north of the Mizbe’ach in the Beit HaMitbechayim (Slaughter House).
There are TWO Altar’s in the Temple of HaShem:
Inner Altar (Golden Altar) – Where the Daily Incense is burned and sits in the Holy Place just in front of the Parochet (Veil), which is one of FOUR Parochet in the Holy Place. There are TWO Parochet which separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, one Parochet upstairs in the Sanctuary building itself and one Parochet at the front entrance.
Outer Altar – This is where the fires burned continuously and where the korbonot are burned.
It is the application of the blood to the Mizbe’ach (Altar) which atones, not the burning of the fats or meat. The application of the blood is what fulfills the obligation of the owner of the korbonot.
Depending on where the blood was to be applied would determine if the korbonot was an: Internal or External Korbonot i.e. the blood applied either to the Inner Altar or the Outer Altar. Additionally, the korbonot were either an Individual or a Communal korbonot, offered up by one individual or offered up on behalf of all Israel.
What is the purpose for the korbonot? They are not just for obtaining forgiveness or redemption, but are for the purpose of communing with HaShem, drawing near to Him. To give thanks, gratitude, cleansing from ritual impurity (Not a sin BTW). It should be noted there is no korbonot which can be offered to atone for malicious or deliberate sins! Those can only be dealt with by HaShem on Yom Kippur! But, it should also be noted the korbonot are a picture of the Messiah!
There are two types of actions the owner of the korbonot will do depending on what type of korbonot they are bringing to HaShem. One is ‘Semichah’ or ‘Leaning’ in which the owner places their hands on the animals head and leans down with all their strength and recites their confession stating the sin for which the offering is intended to atone for. It can only be performed for personal animal korbonot, not on bird or minchah korbonot. The other is ‘Vidui’ which the owner recites or confesses words of praise to HaShem. This applies only to Shelamim or Todah korbonot.
The four steps of the animal korbonot are:
Shechitah/Slaughter
Keibalah/Receiving of the blood in a sanctified vessel
Holachah/Carrying of the blood to the Mizbe’ach (Altar)
Zerikah/Throwing of the blood onto the Mizbe’ach
The ‘Emurim’ are the sacrificial parts or the remainder of the korbonot which are salted and is to be eaten by the kohen (Priest) or by the owner of the korbonot or the owner and their guests in the required timeframe.
This all said, we need to explore what HaShem commanded in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16-17 which says “THREE times a year ALL your males should appear before HaShem, your Elohim, in the place that He will choose (His Temple in Jerusalem): On the Festival of Matzos (Pesach/Passover), the Festival of Shavuos (Erroneously called Pentecost), and the Festival of Sukkot (Erroneously called Tabernacles); and he shall NOT appear before HaShem empty handed, everyone according to what he can give, according to the blessing that HaShem, your Elohim, has given to you.”
There a total of seven Feasts of HaShem per year, but these listed above are the three Pilgrimage Feasts! It should be noted the Festival of Matzos and Sukkot both last for seven days while the Festival of Shavuos lasts for only one day. This is important, so keep it in mind.
What is interesting to note is in the verses above from Devarim 16, the phrase ‘Shall not appear empty handed’ when translated into Hebrew actually points to a specific type of Olah (Burnt) korbonot which is called an ‘Olah R’iyah’.
The commentary on this from the Chumash says “Our pasuk (Verse) commands every adult Jewish male to appear in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) on the three Regalim (Pilgrimage Festivals): Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot and to bring an ‘Olah Re’iyah’, an olah (Burnt korbonot) of ‘Appearance’.”
Mitzvot #489 and 490 discuss this from the Book of the Mitzvot: Mitzvah 489 – “The obligation to appear in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) on the Festivals” plus Mitzvah 490 – “The prohibition to make the Festival pilgrimage without bringing an offering.” These give an answer to the one underlying question of this command from HaShem, which is why? What is the purpose? The purpose is “So that all the Jewish people should see and should take heart, through the act of bringing an offering, which arouses the heart, that all of them, from their youngest to their oldest, are the lot of HaShem and His heritage, a holy and chosen nation, which preserves His legacy, most treasured of all the nations under the Heavens, chosen to observe HaShem’s statutes and to uphold His decree. They are therefore brought to the Temple of HaShem three times each year, and by appearing there, it is as though they are declaring figuratively: ‘Behold, we are servants of the Almighty, entering and coming beneath the shade of His roof and into His domain, forever affirmed in love and fear of Him; no stranger may come along with us, for we alone are the members of His household.'”
Again we can see the whole point of this, is all about the heart. Not because of some religious rote, but out of love, devotion and loyalty to HaShem, Master of Legions! He doesn’t want people to strive to keep His Torah because there is a figurative gun to their heads, He wants people to strive to keep His Torah out of love, devotion and loyalty to Him…..remember as we discussed earlier, first faith then the Torah! I digress.
Per the Mishnah Torah by Rambam Hilchot Chagigah 2.3 it says “Whenever a child can hold his father’s hand and ascend from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount, his father is obligated to have him ascend and appear before HaShem to train him in the observance of the mitzvot, as implied by the phrase: ‘All your males shall appear’ (Devarim 16:16).” Tractate Chagigah 4a from the Talmud Bavli states the same with regards to when a child would accompany his father.
So thus far we can see Yeshua as a child would have had to go with Yosef up to the Temple at a minimm on these Regalim and participate in the offering of an Olah R’iyah! But, we need to address if He would have done this as an adult, during the time of His as a Rabbi. Hang on, we are getting there.
Let’s now quickly examine what all is involved with bringing an Olah R’iyah to the Temple!
Per the book ‘Avodas HaKorbanos’ by Artscroll, on page 449 it begins to list in detail the procedures of bringing an Olah R’iyah to the Temple. It begins with “On the first day of each festival (Regalim/Pilgrimage), when it falls on a weekday (If the first day fell on a Shabbat then this offering would be brought the following day), at the time that a Jewish male comes to appear before HaShem to fulfill the mitzvah to be seen before HaShem, he must bring with him an animal (Male lamb or goat in its first year).”
“He (The one bringing the korbonot) would give over the animal to the official appointed to inspect it for any blemish before designating it as an Olah (It is prohibited from verbally consecrating a blemished animal as an korbonot to HaShem). After it was inspected and deemed fit, the owner would lead the offering to the entrance of the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting) (This is a specific place located in the Temple which is located at the Nikanor Gate which is in the Court of the Women and leads to the Court of Israel. See the picture to the right).”
It was here that the owner would verbally consecrate the animal as an Olah R’iyah to HaShem. “He would then bring it (the animal) into the Courtyard, to the norther side (Of the Outer Altar because the Torah deems an Olah R’iyah as an Kodshei Kodashim or a Most Holy Korbonot). He woud position it there in the north with its face to the west, with the owner, who was to perform the rite of semichah (Leaning), standing to the east of the animal, facing west. He would place both of his hands between the animal’s horns and lean with all his strength upon the head of the Olah; and in the place that they would perform the leaning, they would carry out the slaughter.” It should be noted again that an Olah korbonot is NOT for sin i.e. atonement. In this instance of an Olah R’iyah it is brought simply because HaShem commanded it and none of the meat is eaten, all of it is burned on the Outer Altar!
Okay, so the animal is slaughtered according to how HaShem commands in the Torah in order to ensure the slaughter is painless without any fear to the animal. “The Kohen who was to receive the blood would stand opposite the Kohen who was to perform the slaughter, on a diagonal, his face toward the southwest, and his back toward the northeast. He would receive all of the lifeblood to fulfill the mitzvah of receiving the blood. He would recite a blessing over the blood (Blessed are You, HaShem, our Elohim, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with the sanctity of Aharon and commanded us regarding receiving the blood of the Olah.)”
The Kohen who received the blood would then walk, “Holding the mizrak (Sanctified container) containing the blood, toward the northeastern corner of the Mizbe’ach (Altar) of the Olah, in order to fulfill the mitzvah of bringing the blood to the Mizbe’ach i.e. Holachah. He would recite the blessing upon the mitzvah of holachah (‘Blessed are You, HaShem, our Elohim, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with the sanctity of Aharon and commanded us regarding the bringing of the blood of the Olah’).”
“And when the Kohen reached the northeastern corner of the Mizbe’ach, he would stand on the Courtyard floor in front of the corner, and throw the blood in the mizrak, from a distance, against the corner, beneath the red line (Red line marked the middle of the Mizbe’ach and the blood of all animal Olah korbonot would be applied beneath it). He would aim his throw intending that the blood would spread onto the two sides of the corner, to the east as well as to the north. He would then circle the Mizbe’ach, walking to his right until he came to the southwestern corner, where he would throw the blood in the same manner, to fulfill which is written per Vayikra (Leviticus) 1:11 ‘and the sons of Aharon, the Kohanim, shall throw its blood on the Mizbe’ach all around.’ Any remaining blood was then poured onto the base of the Mizbe’ach of the Olah.”
The animal is then dismembered and the emurim (Sacrificial parts) are salted and the Kohen takes them and puts them on the fire on the Mizbe’ach to be completely burned as a pleasing aroma to HaShem.
Some may think the level of detail required in these korbonot is ridiculous or added by the mind of man, but the reality is, it is HaShem Himself Who gave the procedures for every action and korbonot in the Temple…man had nothing to do with it! We see this in Shemot (Exodus) 25 when HaShem gave Moshe the ‘Tavnit’ or Blueprints for the Mishkan (Tabernacle) to include all the details. He did so again with David in I Chronicles 28 by His Ruach (Holy Spirit) with regards to the blueprints for the Temple to include all the detailed procedures!
Thus far we see per the Torah Yeshua was required, as a male, to appear at a minimum of three times a year on the Regalim and bring His Olah R’iyah before HaShem. But in addition to His Olah R’iyah there is the Torah command for a Chagigah Shelamim korbonot!
Per the Avodas HaKorbonos book on page 461 it says “There is an additional obligation incumbent upon every Jewish male, when he comes to appear before HaShem in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) on the Regalim, to bring a chagigah korbonot, brought as a Shelamim (Peace) korbonot, as it is written in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:41 ‘You shall celebrate it as a festival for HaShem, a seven day period.'”
So in addition to an Olah R’iyah korbonot, a Shelamim korbonot is also required! Per Vayikra (Leviticus) 3:1 it says “If his offering is a feast Peace (Shelamim) offering, if he offers it from the cattle whether male or female, unblemished shall he offer it before HaShem. He shall lean his hand upon the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting/Nikanor Gate in the Temple).” HaShem says the same thing in verses 6-11 with regards to a sheep being offered up and verses 12-16 with regards to a goat being offered up. In verse 17 He says “An ETERNAL DECREE for your generations in all your dwelling places; you may not consume any fat or any blood.”
The procedures for the Chagigah Shelamim are the virtually the same as the Olah R’iyah to include how the blood was applied to the Outer Altar beneath the red line. The one difference is after the emurim (Sacrificial parts) were salted and put on the fire to be burned, the chest section and the thigh of the Chagigah Shelamim are given to the Kohanim of that day’s service. Vayikra (Leviticus) 7:34 says “For the chest of the waving and the thigh of the raising up have I taken from the Children of Israel from their slaughtered shelamim offerings; and I have given them to Aharon the Kohen and his sons as an eternal stipend from the Children of Israel.”
Can you see these Olah and Shelamim korbonot are commanded by HaShem in His Torah, therefore, Yeshua, by default, MUST have obeyed and brought these animals to the Temple as korbonot at a minimum on the Regalim otherwise He would have broken the Torah and been immediately disqualified as being the Messiah! Remember He is the AGENT of HaShem and is NOT HaShem in the flesh! The point is He wasn’t offering korbonot to Himself!
Consider did anyone ever confront Yeshua about NOT bringing the required korbonot to the Temple on the Regalim? At His illegal trial, did anyone accuse Him of not bringing the required korbonot? Nope, no one ever accused Him or challenged Him on this topic, which is another proof He DID so!
Yeshua kept on bringing these korbonot to the Temple on the Regalim up until His death and resurrection! What gets the blood to boiling in fury with many in Replacement Theology is the idea the animal korbonot will resume when He returns and assumes both the position of King and Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) in Yechezkel (Ezekiel’s) Temple! This time He will be offering them up as the Kohen HaGadol in the order of Melchizedek! Point is, His death and resurrection ended nothing nor was the Temple rendered to be something blasphemous and rejected by HaShem as is commonly taught. I will quickly prove it to you!
Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 45:22 says “The Prince shall make on that day, for Himself and for the entire population a bull for a Chatat (Sin) korbonot.” The question is, who is this Prince? The commentary is clear this Prince is the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) and is the Messiah! Can we prove this Prince is Messiah? Yes we can! Yechezkel 37:23-25 says speaking of the future “And they will no longer be contaminated with their idols and their abhorrent things and with all their sins; and I shall save them from all their habitations in which they sinned, and I shall purify them, and they shall be a nation for Me, and I will be Elohim for them, with My servant David King over them, and a single shepherd will be for all of them. In my ordinance they will go and My decrees they will guard, and perform them, and they shall dwell on the land which I gave to My servant Jacob within which your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell upon it, they, their children and their children’s children forever, and MY SERVANT DAVID WILL BE PRINCE FOR THEM, FOREVER.”
Very interesting so we have King Messiah Yeshua Who is serving as not only King but also as Kohen HaGadol in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and He is offering up Chatat (Sin) korbonot as well as the daily Tamid (Burnt) korbonot, Festival korbonot, Minchah (Bread) korbonot, Nesachim (Wine libations), etc. If you wish to read up on this yourselves, Yechezkel chapters 40-48 discusses in detail the rebuilt Temple that Yeshua will oversee in Jerusalem after the Birth Pains are completed, the False Messiah has been destroyed and all of Israel has been gathered back into the Land of Israel forever and ever! Point is, NOTHING changes! HaShem reveals the end out of the beginning and there truly is nothing new under the sun! This in itself fully exposes Replacement Theology as well as the False Messiah!
I know this Op has thrown a ton of information at everyone, but this is just a tiny, minuscule glimpse at the complexity of the Beit HaMikdash and how astounding HaShem is and all that He is teaching us through His Beit HaMikdash if we will just stop listening to the garbage Replacement Theology pumps out and actually search this out for ourselves! There is SO much to learn it will literally take an eternity and even then it will just be scratching the surface! Always keep in mind the Torah is the Heart of HaShem and His Beit HaMikdash is His Throne on earth! No wonder the adversary has worked so hard to convince the masses both the Torah and the Beit HaMikdash are now relegated to dung and tossed onto the dung pile of history! Further, the Torah and the Beit HaMikdash reveal the real Messiah and expose the False one!
I could keep going on and on with this subject but will end it here and continue it in future Ops. Be encouraged and stay strong….All I can say is may it be so very soon in our days!
Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS
Yechezkel by Artscroll
Avodas HaKorbanos by Artscroll
Mishnah Torah Hilchot Chagigah by Rambam
The Milstein Edition Chumash the Book of Exodus by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Chumash the Book of Leviticus by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Chumash the Book of Deuteronomy by Artscroll
Kunteres Avodas HaKorbonos by Johannesburg Cheder
Measure the Pattern Vol 1 by Joe Good HaTikvah Ministries
