Mark of the Beast VS The Mark of God

 

Revelation 13:16-17And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The question is not what the mechanism it is that causes a person not to buy or sell. The question is what is it that brings about that power to get everyone to accept this new way of life. What causes mankind to accept this mark?

Unfortunately I think there is a certain mechanism that is all ready in place and many of us are not even aware if it.

We have slowly become a cashless society. First was direct deposit of our income. Then we were issued debit cards to access our direct deposit. With the Corona virus, I can easily see the banks being given their marching orders to ease us all into not using cash and coin and blaming it on these items; having the potential to spread the virus.

Of course this does not make sense because we all still get bill’s and junk mail in our mail boxes. Most all of us have some type of a credit card. Some times we have to hand our card to the checker and then their germs are on our card. Many eatery houses now have screens to pre-order food, and those things are standing petri dishes to spread germs, even if we eventually use a card once we go to pay for the meal.

We can do our very best to prevent ourselves from getting any virus but we cannot stop it. Just going to the grocery stores, you would not even begin to know how many people have touched each item before it got stocked on the shelf. From the maker, to the trucking industry, then to the market and on in shelf. Not to mention folks like me who pick up a box to count the calories then put it back because it is too high.

Another example is that most all of us have our own handheld devices that we use as scanners to access our bank accounts. These things have a computer chip in them.

Our own income that is funneled directly into our bank account could at any given moment in time become frozen and we would not have access to it. Some folks actually use their thumb print to access many of their personal accounts, so you can see how easy it is to receive a mark? An electromagnetic pulse might be better for us than we know huh?

When we use the recording device on our handheld, it recognizes our voice. It’s called voice recognition. When we share a photo on Facebook, it recognizes our family members or our loved ones in the photo. This is face recognition.

Heck, these hand held devices also track where we are on any given day.

Some folks use the iris in their eye to access their cell phone as a way of protecting it from someone else being able to access their hand held. This is Biometric Security.

There is a work in progress to do away with cash all together. I saw that beginning at yard sales.

But it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, free or bond like folks who are in a prison, or if a person has notoriety or not, the anti-christ has a system where it will ’cause’ all to receive the mark of the beast.

Could it be a vaccine for a future virus? I guess we will have to wait and see. Could we already have ‘the mark’ held in our hands? I don’t know but they sure have ’caused’ all of us to surrender our identity. And all for what?

Maybe we won’t recognize it right away but Covid-19 is supposed to come again in the fall with a vengence. In the mean time, the man named Bill Gates is spending vast amounts of his money to invent a vaccine for Covid-19. He sure is an angel that appears to be light huh? Maybe he isn’t satan in disguise but it seems to me that he stands to make a lot money off of the death caused by the Corona Virus if his company comes up with the vaccine.

Personally, I think this may be the reason why President Trump is being ignored when he talks of the promising use of Hydroxychloroquine matched with Zithromax that is actually proving to heal folks of the virus. We wouldn’t need a vaccine and Bill Gates wouldn’t get richer than he already is. Maybe this is why he said the other day that he would like to see us quarantine for 18 months more so that he can get the vaccine ready. Who knows, maybe it’s some vaccine that is the mark. What ever it is, it causes a grievous sore.

Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

But no matter how the mark actually comes, it will eventually come and people will have to make a decision if they want the mark or not. But if one does take the mark of the beast, there is no turning too Yahwey and no turning back to Him either.

Without the mark of the beast, no one will be able to buy or sell. What ever the mark of the beast is, it will affect the whole world. Those who are hungry and have not put away soluble food, they will be more tempted to take the mark of the beast so that they can continue to buy and sell. But we will only be able to hold out so long. Hunger causes follks to do crazy things.

The mark of the beast is a result of the choice that man will make. But make no mistake about it, there are consequences of the result of that choice. Those who do accept the beastal system and receive the mark of it will suffer greatly in the wrath of a Holy God.

Revelation 14:9-10 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

The mark comes by way of deception just the same as the forbidden fruit did in the garden, East of Eden. The enemy is the Father of lies. He uses deception to gain control over people. This is why Yahushua said many times regarding the latter days, ‘Do not be deceived’.

Those who are worshiping the beast are marked on either their hand which is bound by slavery or forced worship or maybe those who are already converted deceptively and that mark is already in their head. They have surrendered their will to the devil much like satanic worshippers have already done. They even have their own Bible published by Zondervan Publishing.

It’s all about worship. Yah will not allow any other God to be worshipped. These people that take the mark of the beast will share in God’s undiluted wrath…. and they will suffer torment with fire and brimstone because they chose to worship by way of accepting the mark of the beast.

On the good side of life, every thing that Yahwey does, the enemy mocks.

Does God mark His own?

Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Yahwey reassures Cain and corrects him, that he will put a mark on him and take vengeance on ‘anyone’ who kills him. He is still the caring Father of his wayward son and not the angry Father that Cain assumed. More than likely the tempter that had crouched at his door had lied to Cain, causing him to ‘think’ that Yah was going to kill him. But the Tempter is a liar.

Here is another text that describes a mark of The Most High God:

Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

I like this verse because it is more specific and mentions being marked in the hand and the forehead [between thine eyes]. But what is the ‘it’ that is the reason for the sign. It’s the observance of Passover. Go look it up.

This wording is mentioned three different times in the beginning of the Bible. Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel. 20:12 and the following verse:

Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

What is the mark there? The word sign is אות in Hebrew pronounced ‘ôth. It reminds me of the word oath. The definition of sign is:

1. sign, signal
   1. a distinguishing mark
   2. banner
   3. remembrance
   4. miraculous sign
   5. omen
   6. warning
2. token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof

Did you notice that when Yahwey was speaking through the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, He said ‘My Sabbaths’, not ‘the Jews’ Sabbaths. You have probably read the following verse but never attached it to yourself before. This is Yahushua talking here:

And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: ~ Mark 2:27

Man was created on the sixth day, the day before Sabbath. Man could not have rested on the next day, had man not yet have been created. The Sabbath wasn’t made for the Jewish people. The Sabbath was made for man.

Yahushua also said in the very next verse: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. ~ Mark 2:28

Yahushua sure did not say that He was Lord of the first day of the week did He? While I am here mentioning the mark of the Sabbath, I might as well share something else. Did you know that on the seven days of Creation there is only one day that comes with a blessing? Yep, you guessed it:

Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Why do you think He said to remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy? Because the Sabbath is a distinguishing mark between The Creator and those that observe the seventh day of the week, that they might know that He is the One Who sanctified them. We are created in His image, therefore when we keep His Sabbath Holy, we are Holy as He is Holy.

Did you also notice that in the text in Ezekiel that Yahwey said ‘My Sabbaths’?

How many Sabbaths are there beside the weekly Sabbath? Hmmm, let’s see.

At the beginning and end of the feast week of Unleavened Bread, they are Sabbaths. At the beginning and end of the Feast week of Tabernacles, they too are Sabbaths. The day of Atonement is a Sabbath. The eight day at the tail of Tabernacles is also a Sabbath as well as the one day, Feast of Trumpets.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Nothing changed in the New Testament. Yahushua kept the Sabbath and the Holy days.

 

The writer of Hebrews wrote this:

 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of Elohim. ~ Hebrews 4:9

Down through the span of time and throughout all the writings of all the Bible, we do not read of any change where Yahwey changed the seventh day to the first day of the week being a Sabbath. As you just read in the verse at Hebrews, there still remains a day of rest for the people of Elohim. Yahwey does not change His word. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

Man may ‘think’ to change His laws, His times and His seasons but this does not mean that there is in fact a change. It is only man that ‘thinks’ that they have the power to change what is written. Man does not have such power no matter what man ‘thinks’ and neither does the Catholic Church. This is where Sunday keeping originated. Take the time to look it up. Study it out for yourself.

Are we given any scripture that tells us that we can forget the seventh day Sabbath and begin worshipping and remember to keep the first day of the week (Sunday) holy?

If we truly want to serve and worship Yahwey as He commands and love Him with all of our heart, mind and strength, then shouldn’t we do as He commanded?

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Yahwey said it Himself:

Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Keeping the Sabbath and honoring His Sabbath is what places a distinguishing mark on His own. Anyone can still find rest in His Holy Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and observing it by remembering each Sabbath, is what sets one apart from the rest of the world.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

If the law has been done away with, why is the dragon coming after the remnant that is keeping it?

If you had a piece of material, what would the remnant be? It is the last piece left over.

It is the remnant who keeps the commandments of God. There just isn’t a massive crowd of folks following the same scriptural path as Yahushua.

Matthew 7:13 -14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Every single Sabbath day and every single Feast of the Lord were instituted by a Holy God, the God of Israel for all of humanity, not just for the Jews.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the Feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My Feasts.

~ Leviticus 23:2

Thus saith the LORD !

The Shepherd’s Promise

John 10:1-4 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

In this next passage, Yahushua explains to the Pharisees what the first four verses represent.

John 10:10-15 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

11 I am the good shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. 

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

14 I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. 

15 As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.

I see the thief and robber as one in the same., the enemy. Why do I say this? Because the enemy is always the one who is working behind the scenes that is taking place on the center stage of our lives.

Yahushua is the Good Shepherd and we [The reader and believer] are the sheep. It reads that ‘he that entereth in by the door’ – I believe that it is Yahushua that leads His sheep through the door, which I believe will be the entrance to the Kingdom. But as our Shepherd, He ‘is’ the door.

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am The Door of the sheep.

In the days of Jeremiah the prophet, this is what Yahwey spoke through the mouth of His prophet regarding His flock of sheep.

Jeremiah 23:1-2 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed My people; Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

If you read verses 1-5, the reader learns that one day, the old guard will be removed and new shepherds will execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. The one who says I know about the truth, but does not teach his flock to honor the truth, will lose his flock before Yahushua returns.

All the teachers of the Law that came before Yahushua, were the thieves and the robbers because they took His word and twisted it. They were the hirelings. The word in the Greek for hirelings is misthōtos. – Reminds me of mystical.

For another reading, regarding the flock of The God of Israel, one might read Ezekiel 34:1-22.

In this passage of John where my walk began this morning, Yahushua was using the flock as an analogy. He often used the surroundings of what He saw when He taught His Disciples or spoke to the crowds.

Because He is the One Who gave His life, He is the One that the sheep are supposed to follow. In other words, we as the sheep in this analogy, are to walk in His exact same path here on earth. He, through the power of the Spirit, will lead us through the door of the Kingdom. We the sheep, are the sheep of His pasture because we depend upon Him to lead us.

Some of us are harmless, timid, shy, meek or quiet while some of us are boisterous and more social. But when a sheep gets cornered or frightened, they sure can lift their voices, just like us.

Sometimes we ‘as sheep’ have the tendency to get ourselves in the midst of the territory surrounded by grievous wolves. We expose ourselves when we perhaps shouldn’t. The Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want because He provides for our every need but because we are so much like sheep, we forget that. Even so, He guards us with His presence and guides us with His Spirit. The problem for me is that I don’t always have my ears turned on to listen for His voice.

Sometimes we let things lead us into a depressed state of mind and we start to look downward like the down trodden do. Another silly trait we as sheep have, is that we are constantly grazing and looking down when we ought to be looking up in the direction of our Shepherd.

The ancient sheepfold was enclosed with one opening where the shepherd would sleep in the doorway to protect the sheep. The top was opened to the sky but usually had thorns on the top of the wall so that foxes and other animals could not jump on the wall to come and attack the sheep. The shepherd, at the end of each day would have each sheep past under his staff and count to make sure that they were all there. As they passed into the sheep pen, he would check them for bugs on their skin and their overall health. He took good care of them. A porter was someone whom the shepherd would hire if he had to attend to another matter.

The sheep do not need to see their shepherd in order to be comforted by his voice.

Sheep cannot survive on their own and are completely scared to the point of panic if they realize that they are not with the shepherd, they will freeze and literally starve to death unless the Shepherd finds them.

In this story, Yahushua was talking to the Pharisees who were like modern day preachers who were supposed to know the truth of what is written in the Bible scriptures. They were supposed to be teaching the Law. The New Testament had not yet been written but Yahushua was a true teacher of the law.

In His ministry, He expounded on the Law of God to make it more honorable because the Pharisees had twisted the Law, building their own fences around it and had their own book as it were, called the Tulmud.

I think perhaps in the beginning, the intention of the Pharisees may have been good because they wanted to make sure that they did not cross over the boundaries written in Torah. But eventually they began to hold ‘their’ writing [Tulmud] above the Torah and were constantly checking Yahushua to see if He adhered to the Torah, according to how they viewed it.

Yahushua told the Pharisees in His analogy that the thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. It wasn’t just the sheep that they would harm, it was the Torah that they had built so many fences around, that they had made it so hard for anyone to obey what was originally written.

This is a very telling statement as those who will not follow the leadership ordained by Yahushua Messiah and follow false doctrine instead, cannot be part of the sheepfold of Yahushua.

He and the Father are one like a man and a woman who are married, become one. We must never loose sight of the fact that the Father sent the Son. He did not come on His own and He never taught anything on His own.

A true follower of Yahushua will never follow anyone but Yahushua and His ordained ministry because His ministry and His path leads us to the Father. He gave His life so that we might be free. But He always points His sheep to His Father.

When Yahushua said that He as the Shepherd lay down His life for His sheep, and that the sheep follow Him, so too are we, to lay down our life for our fellow man. We are to selflessly take care of our neighbors and loved ones in the same way and at the end of our days, we too must lay down our life. If we are living in the hope of being resurrected some day, we ultimately gotta die to be brought up from the grave.

In the mean time and until we finish our days, we shall follow our Great Shepherd.

Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. ~ 1st Peter 5:4

Hallilu-Yah!

The Lord’s Passover

Luke 22:14-20

14 Now when the hour came, Jesus took His place at the table and the apostles joined Him.

15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks He said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.

18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 Then He took bread, and after giving thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Yahushua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.

The body of Christ is signified and represented by bread because He had said formerly (John 6: 35), I am the bread of life. As we take of the bread we are metaphorically absorbing Him into our body. Yahushua provides for our every nourishment. “Take this bread and eat. My body it will be; so you will be part of Me.” “Take this cup and drink. It represents My blood. To wash away all sin.”

1st Corinthians 11:23-32 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said,

Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Paul says that whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. I find it interesting that when Yahushua ate the seder meal with His disciples and shared Passover, that He never said anything about taking the wine and the bread unworthily. This gives me pause: “Are any of us worthy?”

I realize that we should prepare our hearts thoughtfully and properly with due respect and reverence before we partake of the bread and the wine, simply because it is an annual reminder of what Yahushua did for us.

The only scripture that I can find regarding the cup of the Lord, and it’s possible un-worthyness, is the following verse.

1st Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of יהוה, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of יהוה’s table, and of the table of devils.

But then again, these were the words of the Apostle Paul too. We can only sit at one table. We have to make that choice of which table we will sit at. But no matter, we can only sit at Yahushua Messiah’s table, if we are invited to do so.

To me, the table represents when we sit to partake of the bread and the wine during Passover. Irregardless, we must be in Covenant to partake of the Passover and I’m wondering if that’s what Paul meant by it being an ‘unworthily’ thing to do.

If we are not in covenant, then we wouldn’t want to partake of the bread and the wine because it would be an un-worthy thing to do. I think that Paul meant that if someone is not in covenant that they should not do such a thing. This may be why a person was to be circumcised before taking the Passover.

Paul says to examine ourselves. This is probably a good time to be reminded that the root meaning of the Hebrew word for ‘to pray’ is “to judge oneself”. One ought to take the time to pray, to test, examine or see whether we are genuine in our proclaimed life. Are we living our life bringing glory to His name?

The Passover is a very intimate annual event in my personal opinion. It is important to note that there is no biblical president for partaking the Passover symbols of the bread and the wine; weekly, or monthly. That idea came into practice by Catholicism almost a hundred years after the resurrection of Yahushua by a Catholic Bishop. If one follows this type of practice, they are observing man’s way, rather than what Yahwey instituted and His Son Yahushua observed and obeyed.

The appointed time to keep Passover is on the 14th day of the first month of Aviv, according to the biblical calendar.

Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in His season from year to year. ~ Exodus 13: 10

The Passover is only to be taken once a year in it’s season. The word ‘season’ in the Hebrew is mô‛êd pronounced mo-ade’ meaning appointed place, appointed time, meeting.

I tend to think that observing the elements of the blood and the wine, once a year in its season; makes it all the more special because it is basically a renewal each year of the covenant that we made when we were baptized. No matter, we still observe ‘year to year’ [an annual time] in His season, when Yahwey said to observe.

All year long, believers proclaim a living Messiah, but on the Passover each year, the believer reflects on the death and suffering of Yahushua. This verse is specific because it says ‘in His season’. Yahwey ordained this. What He ordained is to be doing things His way and not our own.

The Passover night is a time for the renewing of the Covenant by partaking of the symbols of the bread and the fruit of the vine and also the foot washing, (John 13:1-7) and a few songs. I like to sing ‘Trust and Obey.’, because this is what we are doing and this song represents our life as it should be.

Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Passover is a very solemn time for the true believer to extensively reflect about the sacrifice that Yahushua made for them and also how His life is glorified in that sacrifice.

Yahushua did not abolish the Passover. He merely changed the symbols used.

Instead of annually shedding the blood of the lamb and eating it’s roasted body, we are now to use the unleavened bread that represents His body and the wine that represents His blood.

In this way, we can see that the newness of the covenant is in His blood instead of the blood of the animal that was sacrificed.

Passover is commanded to be kept as an annual memorial of our Messiah’s suffering and death since He was marked by the priest [John the Baptizer] as ‘The Lamb of God’.

It is through eating the bread, the symbol of His body and drinking the wine, the symbol of His blood; that we may be granted eternal life.

Paul wrote that ‘for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.’ ~ 1st Corinthians 11:26

Yahushua commanded His disciples to keep Passover in remembrance of Him, until He returns. Passover only occurres once a year and this was the season in which Yahushua observed and shared the elements with His disciples.

Yahushua said that He would not partake of these elements again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God when we celebrate together with Him. Sounds to me as if we will join Him once a year in the Kingdom to partake of the fruit of the vine and the bread that represents His body and His blood. Perhaps this time will always be an eternal memorial of what He did for us.

We commemorate a dying Messiah and we remember the sacrifice that He made so that our sins may be forgiven. We are demonstrating our total commitment to Yahweh and His way of life and our willingness to partake of our Messiah’s sufferings, to suffer as a disciple for righteousness sake.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to Me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.

He is the bread that came down from heaven. Messiah suffered this torture and death on the tree so that we, through faith in His body and shed blood, may have the forgiveness of our sins, and that He may live in us and we in Him through a new consecrated way of life.

John 6:53-57 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.

Yahushua said that if we do not eat the bread (His flesh) and the wine (His blood), there is no life in us but that when we do partake of His blood and His body we do have eternal life. He said that His flesh is meat and His blood is drink. When we do this, we dwell in Him and He dwells in us.

This is why I mentioned earlier that as we take of the bread and drink the wine, we are metaphorically absorbing Him into our body.

This is Passover.

A Night To Be Much Observed

Exodus 12:42 It is a night to be much observed unto יהוה for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of יהוה to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

This night as it is written, is the LORD’S PASSOVER.

Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.

It is on this night that the children of Israel were commanded to stay in their own homes, to eat in haste the ingredients that Yahwey commanded.

Exodus 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

The perfect lamb was slain. The blood was painted on the top of the entrance to each home (Tent or like shelter) and on the sides of the entrance as well.

That night, the following ingredients were what they were commanded to eat as they were also commanded to eat alone with their own families. If a family were pitched next to them were a small family and could not eat a lamb by themselves, that two or three families, if they were small, should join for a lamb.

The Lamb: roasted by fire and no water to be used. This Lamb pointed to a future time when Yahushua would become the Perfect Lamb of God.

Matza: bread without yeast. The bread pointed to the future when Yahushua would eat the Passover meal with His disciples. He told them that the bread that they would eat would represent His body, His flesh.

Bitter Herbs: They were to remember they were once slaves in Egypt. They were never to forget. I cannot prove this but it is my thought that the bitter herbs would point to a future when Yahushua was offered the bitter water, which He did receive, while clinging to the tree where He was crucified. It was right after this that He said, ‘It is finished’.

John 19:29-30 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.

The first born Son, died.

Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Yahushua became the perfect Lamb of God. His blood was poured out upon the altar of the earth and it was His blood that would now be symbolized by the wine.

His body was sacrificed on the tree. The unleavened bread is the symbol of His flesh. We must always remember that a covenant is not ratified until there is a blood sacrifice. This is why Yahushua became mediator of the new covenant and made the new covenant with His disciples.

23-26, Luke 22:19-20

Spiritural Protective Order Over Samson

The story of Samson is written in the book of Judges in chapter 13-16. I have condensed the story just to show the power of a spiritural restraining order that was on the life of Samson.

Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Samson was the child that was born unto the barren woman, wife of Manoa. (We are not told her name) She was told that she would conceive and bear a son. No razor was to be used to cut his hair. Her son would be born a Nazarite [Under Nazarite vow] and he would deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. This was Samson’s life purpose.

The restraining principle for Samson was that he was not to cut his hair. Both of Samson’s parents knew this and at some point in his life, revealed this to their son.

As long as Samson had his original hair that he was born with, then he would have great strength. In the end, he did not cut his hair but he did reveal unto Delilah, a woman from the valley of Sorek, that if his hair were shaved that his strength would go away from him and that he would be weak like any other man.

Delilah shared this information with the Philistines and a man came in and cut his hair. (Judges 16:19)

He did not cut His own hair, someone else did. But he did loose his strength and was weaked as a result.

I think this may have been the reason that when his hair did come back that Samson prayed and asked for strength again. He wanted revenge on the Philistines because they had gouged out his eyes.

Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

The LORD gave Samson strength again to kill more people in one day than he had killed in all of his life and he died with the Philistines on the day that he reckoned vengence.

Samson had his strength as long as he had his hair. No one could overpower Samson because there was a protective order on his life as long as he had his hair. This was a deciding factor that restrained anyone from harming Samson.

Spiritural Judicial Restraining Order

Where is your covering?
Where is your shelter?
Where is your hiding place?

Most people think that they are protected by different things. Some folks think their banks are protected. We know that there are computer hackers so why would we believe this lie?

I heard a commercial the other day offering title insurance protection against folks who have figured out how to get a copy of the title to your home and they are somehow able too sell the home that you own and live in.

If our homes are not protected and the funds that we earn are not protected, are we as human beings protected? Of course not, at least not in the natural world that we live in because evil is on the rise. But I have got good news, you can be protected in both the spiritual and the natural when you put your faith in the God of Israel.

Did you know that as a full fledged servant of Yahwey, a person of destiny can be protected by a divine restraining order by the judicial government of God? I believe that we are watching this played out right here in our nation’s capital with our president.

Here’s why I believe this. In Numbers chapter 22, the children of Israel pitched their tents in the plains of Moab. At this time, Balak, the son of Zippor was the king of the Moabites. His people were afraid of the Israelites because there were so many of them.

So the king sent messengers to see a Mesopotamian prophet by the name of Balaam who was in Pethor [ A town in Mesopotamia] because he was worried about this people that had recently come out of Egypt. The King of the Moabites wanted this prophet to curse the children of Israel so that he could drive the Israelites out of the land, but Yahwey, the God of Israel told Balaam that he was not to go with these people and that he shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. [Numbers 22:12 ]

When Yahwey is for you, who can be against you? The wrath of Elohim (God) ‘is’ revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. There’s just no getting around this truth.

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If יהוה be for us, who can be against us?

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmameint shows His handywork. The characteristics of our God that make His existence self evident, His power and His divine nature are known to us because He has already made it plain to us. He’s presented Himself in plain view, through creation.

Yahwey certainly does not have to prove Himself, but there it is. Right there above us, all around us, the air we breathe; all that is created, all that ever will be created, was created by Him.

It takes sincere effort for people to ignore the God of Israel. Their defense mechanism actually requires an active energy for their maintenance. Yet there are people who continue to suppress the truth of His exsistance with the very breath that He gave them.

If there is a blessing on your life, that blessing was placed on you by the very hand of God Himself and no one can come against His will without certain consequences.

Sure, everyone dies. But,  in order to be resurrected, two things have to happen. Number one, you have to have the Spirit of God and number two, you have to die, in order to be brought out of the grave. It is not a big thing for the God of Creation to resurrect whom ever He decides to resurrect.

When the sun rises, it shines on both the good and evil and when rain comes out of the sky, it falls on both the just and the unjust but if there is a divine order of protection on your life, nothing and no one can harm you until your purpose is fulfilled.

We all know the story of Job. Lots of horrific things happened to him but the devil could not kill him because there was a divine restraining order on his life. Even though all those bad things happened to Job, he still had a blessing on his life but it just hadn’t manifested yet. But when the blessing did manifest, Job was blessed more in his latter life than he was in the beginning.

So my question to you shouldn’t be where is your covering, your shelter and your hiding place, my question should be WHO?

Who is your covering?
Who is your shelter?
Who is your hiding place?

Psalms 91:1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

AUTHORS NOTE: There are many passages and stories throughout the Bible that support this thought process regarding spiritural restraining orders. I have always been fascinated with the topic of law and I have always believed that one day we all will have to face Yahwey as our Judge. On that day, I believe that Yahushua will stand beside us as our Judge Advocate.

For me, this article that I have written and am sharing is just a break through in this topic. I plan to dig deeper. Knowing myself and my study habit, I will probably have many articles on this topic.

The Cheerful Face Unmasked

 

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

 
When this was written by King Solomon, mirrors had not yet been invented. He used the word ‘water’ because anyone can look into water and see their own reflection. Now that we know this, we can better understand what is being said here in this ancient Proverb.

 
Most of us do not realize the damage we inflict on others because of our carelessness, our mood or our negative attitude reflecting from our face. If every person is created in the image of God and we know that it is, shouldn’t we as believers be putting forth a reflection of Him in our daily encounters with others?

 
When we come into contact with other human beings we ought to smile. Our smile just might be like a mirror when we see the other person smile back at us. The reflection of our smile, warms the heart of others and their returned smile results in our heart being warmed too. This is one heart reflecting the other.

 
If one cannot find any good reason to smile at others, even those folks who are consistently negative, perhaps knowing that every person is created in the image of God ought to bring about a smile. Isn’t that something to simply smile about? I’ve got this one down pat. I always smile but I hardly ever spark up a conversation.

 
Receive all men with a cheerful face.

 
Matthew 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 
Everybody is kind to those who are kind. When somone on the street says’ “Hello Eudora, how are you today?”, I respond likewise. But my problem is that I was raised not to speak until spoken too.

 
Yesterday, I saw a young woman that I know of, who knew our daughter in high school. This girl has had a pretty ruff life but is doing well in her adult years. I saw her across the street and I could have raised my voice and said ‘hello’ but I didn’t and that’s when it dawned on me that she might think I am just rood. So believe me when I tell you, this script hit me right between the eyes.

 
I have decided to break out of my own shell of not speaking until being spoken too and am trying to be the first to break the ice. Again, I missed that opportunity yesterday.

 
After 60 years of having been this way, living under this rule of thumb, I have come to understand that what I was taught has been nothing more than myself having been placed ‘under’ a thumb. It has kept me from meeting people I might have otherwise gotten to know.
If I only greet those that I know in a more personal way, where is the reward in that? There are so many folks I could have gotten to know. I intend to do much better. I hope to become contagious.

Take the Beauty, Let Go of the Ashes

Proverbs 12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Stress is weighty. Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word or an encouraging word makes the heart glad and brings him joy.

One of the plagues of Egypt in the time of Moses was ‘frogs’. There were frogs in the land, frogs in their homes, frogs in their bed; frogs everywhere. Moses told the Pharoah that he would pray for him and the frogs would go away but the Pharaoh said, “pray tomorrow”.

We often put off til tomorrow what we should put off today.

Stress is a real enemy. Stress and anxiety can make us sick. We reap what we sew. If we continue to stay stressed we will become sick. It’s all about choices. We have to surrender our own will toward Yahwey. The choices that we make today, we will live tomorrow.

If we sew wisdom, we will reap wisdom. If we choose to anoint our minds with the word of Elohim today, we will live by that word tomorrow.

God knows all the answers to our every day problems. When we ‘lean not’ unto our own will or our own understanding and we stop for just a few minutes and acknowledge Yahwey, He will direct our path, our day and our tomorrow if we continue to surrender each day to Him.

We can trade in our stress for His joy and peace. It’s time to stand up for ourself today and take care of our human nature today and invite Yahwey into our daily life [each day] and He will bring comfort. We can take the beauty, but we have to let go of the ashes.

REST – in Him!

Taking responsibility for our own life is all we need to do. We have to make the move and make the choice for our life. We have to unload and let go of everything that weighs us down.

The seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Sew your seed today. Place that tiny seed in His hands and let God move the mountain.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Verses references raised in this writing:

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Prophecy VS Unknown Tongues

This is a study of 1st Corinthians chapter 14.

I began this study because I heard someone quote verse two. But, before I go there, let’s look at verse one.

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

The apostle Paul is the one who wrote this letter to the folks at Corinth.

Corinth is a large port city in southern Greece where Paul had began his work in a Jewish meeting place, but he had to move next door to the home of a Gentile who had become a follower of Jesus. Most of the followers in Corinth were poor people but there was a mixture of some wealthy people as well. While Paul had been there he had worked as a tent maker to earn his living. This is where he met Aquila of Pontus and his wife Priscilla. These were the Gentiles he came to know, love and trust.

While Paul was in Corinth he became especially concerned about the way that Corinthian believers were arguing and dividing themselves into groups and about the way that they treated each other.

After Paul left, the congregation had written to him asking him for instruction on certain matters. The two letters that he wrote back to them; addressed their questions. However, the number one thing Paul wanted them to grasp was that even though faith and hope are important, love is the most important and that through the attribute of love, all problems could be solved.

Following after charity (Brotherly love and affection), and desiring spiritual gifts were extremely important but his hope was that they might rather prophesy. It is here now in this chapter, verse two that Paul takes up his instruction and guidance for worship within the body of believers. He gives an instruction comparison between speaking in tongues and prophecy.

1st Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Paul is writing that anyone who speaks in a special language speaks only to God. That person is not speaking to other people, because the other people do not understand him or her. The Spirit is causing him to speak about secret things, but other people do not understand what is being said. The one speaking in an unknown tongue is speaking mysteries by the power of the Spirit.

An unknown tongue is not a language known to mankind. Only God could understand an unknown tounge. However, Yah could give that unknown word [spoken by that one], and give to another, the interpretation in a language that is understood.

For myself, I pray in an un-known tongue in my conversations with Yahwey. I have never spoken this heavenly language with anyone around with the exception of the first day I received the blessing.

A mystery language is of God: the secret counsels which govern Him in dealing with the righteous, are plain to those who are given the token of His Spirit, but the understanding is hidden from ungodly and wicked men.

1st Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Anyone who prophecies, their words would be for edification, exhortation and comfort. Their message would be instructive or conciliatory. I am not sure, but to me it sounds as if the words spoken in an unknown tongue aught to be all three. So the words should be edifying, uplifting and bring comfort.

The only time I have ever spoke a prophetic word was when I told someone that the cane that she was using would some day be something she would only use, maybe as something to hold up a houseplant in the corner since her came was such a pretty one. I didn’t hear a word from Yahwey, I saw a visual photo and spoke what I saw.

1st Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Paul wrote here that those who speak in an un-known tongue are edifying themselves. It sounds to me as if Paul is writing about folks who speak an unknown tongue out loud, are edifying themselves.

Thayer defines this metaphorically:

# to found, establish
# to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness
# to grow in wisdom and piety.

The folks that lived in Corinth were a diverse people of different languages. Paul is addressing in verse 5 that he wishes that all could speak in tongues but rather that they would prophecy because that is greater than speaking in tongues. If they were able to interpret then the whole assembly would be edified.

1st Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Paul is ok with folks who speak in the unknown tongue since he clarified it as a gift. However, in order for this gift to be edifying toward the whole church, Paul wrote that the message given in the un-known tongue, aught to be interpreted and as we will see soon enough in verse 14 because Paul wrote that folks who speak in an unknown tongue should pray for interpretation and he had reasoning.

1st Corinthians 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

With all of Paul’s knowledge, he knew it wouldn’t do him any good unless he spoke to the capacity of his hearers. His most instructive discourses would be unprofitable if he spoke them in different languages since each language would have to be interpreted. It was better if he spoke in one language.

In verses 7 and through 9, Paul brings up instruments that have a sound. All instruments have a certain sound. However trumpets have different sounds depending on what the trumpet blower is trying to let the people know.

1st Corinthians 14:7-9 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Paul is using the sound of instruments to illustrate his meaning. If a pipe or a harp only have one sound and each one is different, how could anyone keep in step if the harp were used to call folks to battle rather than a trumpet. [Pipe]

To speak words that have no significance to those who hear them is to leave them ignorant of what is spoken; it is like speaking to the air if one doesn’t understand what is being spoken.

One of the sounds made with the trumpet, is a call to battle. This is why Paul is asking how will anyone know if they are being called to battle. If a person is speaking in a different tongue than the audience would speak, how will they know what is being said? Paul wants all people to be edified by what is being spoken.

1st Corinthians 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

Paul is writing that each language in the world is distinct just like every sound is distinct. A goat doesn’t sound like a cow. A baby goat’s cry is different from its nanny. Each sound in the universe is different, having it’s own sound.

1st Corinthians 14:11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

Paul is writing here that one who speaks a foreign or strange language which is not understood by another is useless and only aggravates the hearer and that the hearer would be aggravating towards the speaker. This could be dangerous thing and cause a ruckus.

1st Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Our goal should always be to speak words of comfort, edification and lift up those we are speaking too.

1st Corinthians 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

We should not hoard the experience for ourself. Paul is teaching here that we aught to pray for the insight and ability to bring others into the joy and peaceful intimacy with Abba. Folks like myself who speak in an unknown tongue are admonished by the Apostle Paul to pray that we may interpret.

As I mentioned somewhere in my notes, I pray in a gifted language of an unknown tongue. I do not know what I am praying each time I do that. There are times when I purposely want to keep the enemy from hearing my prayers and more often than not, this is the case. I still never know what I am saying to my Father.

Jude 20- 21: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.”

There is no doubt in my mind that praying in the Holy Spirit builds us up.

1st Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Although at times, when I am praying, I know that I have something that I am burdened with or I see a vision of something or a vision of someone; that might be what I am saying in the unknown language but as Paul speaks truth, we really do not know. I just trust Yahwey because what ever I am praying, the words I speak are only for my Fathers ears because I trust Him.

1st Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

I have done this a few times as well. Once I was praying with a joyful attitude and felt like I was in praise mode. Half way into that I began to sing in unknown tongues and it was beautiful, what ever was spoken and then sung, I do not know.

Once I was deep in grief and sadness and began praying as I was curled up into a ball and I saw a vision of someone I know. They were on their knees crying. I instantly knew that Yahwey had called them to pray for me and He showed me that. Even though I was still sad at the time and He expressed His comfort and power towards me, I began to sing what seemed like a sad song, or at least it sounded sad at the time. Who knows, maybe I was in praise mode but perhaps in a slower motion of song.

1st Corinthians 14:16 -17 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

Paul is right. Even if we are pouring out a praise or blessing in an unknown tongue, what good would it do for anyone else in the room if they do not understand. They certainly could not agree with a hearty ‘Amen’ if they do not understand a single thing I said.

1st Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

I think Paul is talking about the different languages that he speaks. The reason I think this is because he is not saying… ‘unknown tongue’. Plus, looking at the next verse Paul does clarify the difference.

1st Corinthians 14:19 – 20 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

I am fairly certain that Paul knew at least two languages; Hebrew and Greek, more specifically – Koine Greek because he was born in Tarsus, a hellenistic city in the southeast corner of Asia Minor.

He had to have known Aramaic because he referred to Peter as Cephas which is the original form of ‘rock’. This was a nick name given to Peter by Yahushua. Paul also used the word ‘maranatha’ which is Aramaic for ‘come LORD’. Afterall, Aramaic was the common language spoken in Judea.

He may have picked up some Latin while visiting Philippi on his 2nd missionary trip. Not to mention but I will, all the time he spent in Rome where he eventually died, the folks spoke mostly Latin.

The Apostle Wrote here [Verses 19-20] that he would rather instruct a congregation with five words than speak an unknown tongue that no one would benefit from. Why? Because five words of encouragement would be worth more than a myriad of words that no one else knows.

In the book of Acts when Paul first met Yahushua, Paul understood Yahushua who spoke to him in Hebrew.

Saul, Saul… When God calls out to someone using their name twice, He is trying to get their attention. Yahwey spoke to Saul in the Hebrew language.

Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

This is what Strongs wrote about the word Hebrew in verse 14 of Acts:

Hebrew, the Hebrew language, not that however in which the OT was written but the Chaldee, which at the time of Jesus and the apostles had long superseded it in Palestine.

In verses 21 and 23 we will learn why the interpretation of a tounge is needed in a congregation.

1st Corinthians 14:21-25 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Un-instructed folks who might walk into a congregation where they are speaking in unknown tongues might think the people there are mad, as in raving maniacs.

In verse 21, I was a bit stymied because I have always believed that the Torah [1st five books of the Bible], were the Law. I had to do some research.

I could see in the margin of my Bible that Paul was quoting the prophet Isaiah. Turns out that most of the scholars agree that the words of the prophets are also considered the law because Yahwey spoke through their mouths, His words, just like He spoke through the mouth of Moses.

In Isaiah 28: 11-12 the prophet told his audience [ The backslidden in Ephraim] something that he heard Yahwey speak.

Isaiah 28:11- 12 For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Isaiah went on to tell his audience that when Yahwey spoke, He spoke to them commandment, commandment upon commandment, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little so they could go and fall backward, be broken, snared, and taken.

It has become obvious to me that I need not finish this whole chapter because I have found the answers to the questions that I have had for quite some time.

1st Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Yahwey’s Spirit gently guides and leads but the spirit of satan possesses and is demonically out of control. If folks in a congregation began to speak out of turn without interpretation or chanting all around, clearly this would not be edifying to the whole body. This behavior would only be confusing and Yahwey is not the author of that. He is not a God of unruliness but of shalom, wholeness, health and integrity.

Isaiah 28: 12 To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Isaiah is referencing and confirming what Yahwey spoke through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

This chapter here in the letter that Paul wrote to the folks at Corinthians is confirming to me that yes, there are times when Yahwey may strike up a conversation in an unknown tongue as long as there is someone who can interpret what is being said but for more than the most part, Paul is teaching here that it is better to speak prophecy than many words spoken that are not edifying to the whole body.

I tend to think that a prayer language is very helpful and the hidden mystery spoken of in verse 2 of this chapter is Holy, because the unknown tongue is a gift from our Holy Elohim.

1st Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysterie.

So, in conclusion, it is apparently more important to understand the commandments and precepts than try to understand the mystery spoken in a prayer language. That type of conversation of a prayer language is between man and Elohim.

Unknown tongues are a sign for the unbeliever not the believer. Prophecy is just the opposite. Prophecy is for the believer and not the unbeliever. (Vs 22)

It sounds like the Corinthians had gotten so carried away with the gift of tongues, that they were neglecting the more beneficial gift… that of prophecy

1st Corinthians 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

If an un-instructed or unbeliever were to come into a congregation, he or she would be moved by the Spirit and convicted if a prophecy were spoken. For that un-instructed person, their inner hidden secrets would become manifest and that person would fall on his or her face in repentance because they would recognize the Spirit of truth. [Vs 24-25]

In a congregation, it is better to speak prophecy. While we most often think of prophecy as addressing something that will happen in the future, the literal meaning of property is to ‘speak the mind of God’. So rather than fortelling, one would be telling forth the word of God.

Yahwey does not promise us the life that we want. We have to learn to ask our Father to draw the portrait of our life and stop trying to take the pen to draw our own portrait.

He is the author of life and The Creator of all that exsists. He is not confused about what He wants for His children. He knows exactly what He wants and exactly what He expects. After all, Yahwey spoke through the mouth of the last Prophet in the Old Testament, saying the following:

Malachi 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

He is the God of Israel. If we belong to Him, we too are a family member and therefore a child of Israel.

He wants us to be still so that He can be our God. And… like Paul says,

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy”.

CROSSROADS OF LIFE – PART ONE / ELIJAH TO THE BAPTIZER

To anyone who plans to read this: This is not a finished article.  I only published it for the sake of printing it.

 

We must remember that Bible prophecy is rarely fulfilled the exact way that we the people might expect. This was the case before and during the time of Yahushua, and it will more than likely continue to be this way until His return.

 

But one thing we can always trust is that when it comes to eschatology, God reveals all that we need to know about what to expect in the future. Before He reveals anything in His word, He reveals the hidden things to a certain people.

 

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.

 

Yahushua did the same thing. He spoke in parables so that His followers would seek Him, to find the understanding.

 

Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

 

He also said something similar: For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. ~ Luke 8:17

 

So in this sense, I tend to think that I am like a detective, looking at all the clues to help build a case of hidden truth, yet a truth revealed in plain sight. We just gotta search it out.

 

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

 

For example, almost 500 years prior to Yahushua’s arrival on the earth, the prophet Malachi issued the word of the Lord saying, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” ~ Malachi 4:5-6

 

John the Baptist was asked a question by the priests and Levites from Jerusalem:

 

And they asked him, “What then? Art thou Elias?” And he saith, “I am not”. “Art thou that prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ~ John 1:21

 

They had asked John one question, two different ways and twice John told them that he was not Elias/ Elijah. The reason they were asking is because of the prophecy by Malachi.

 

So my question is, was this prophecy fulfilled? Let’s read the words that our Messiah spoke:

 

Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

 

Yahushua publicly identified John the Baptist as Elijah who was to come. So when John the Baptist was asked, I wonder why he said no and yet Yahushua said yes.

 

Others during Yahushua’s own ministry, thought that He might be Elijah but He wasn’t. Here we have Yahushua who was speaking in His own time, that John the Baptist was the one who the prophets spoke about that was to come. We must take Yahushua at His word.

 

But we clearly have written testimony that John the Baptist said he was not Elijah. That’s because he wasn’t. He was John. If they had asked John if he had the same spirit as that which Elijah had, he might have said, “yes”.

 

The prophet Malachi’s words may not have come to pass in a litteral sense but they were fulfilled in a spiritual sense, which must have been intended.

 

John the Baptist was indeed the forerunner for the Lord’s arrival. We know through reading the scriptures that Elijah came in the form of John the Baptist.

 

In chapter one of Luke’s letter to Theophilus, Luke begins to tell the story of John the Baptist. I am using only two verses to get to my point.

 

Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

 

In this passage, the angel is talking to Zechariah, telling him that His Son John the Baptist, will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God.

 

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 

John the Baptizer would minister to the people, before the arrival of the Lord. He would come in the ‘Spirit and Power’; the same type of mantle that Elijah had.

 

Because of this spirit and power upon John, parents would be more thoughtful of their children and the folks in this particular generation who then disobeyed God, would begin to think as they ought to. In this way, John was preparing a people to be ready for The LORD.

 

This is the fulfillment of the words spoken by Malachi. “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

 

We have another prophecy that most folks believe to be about John the Baptist.

 

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of יהוה, make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim.

 

The reason we believe this is because this is exactly what John did. He was the forerunner to Christ.

 

Matthew also recorded Yahushua speaking about Elijah coming on the scene but then goes on to say that he had already come.

 

Matthew 17:10-12 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

 

The disciples had just seen a vision of Elijah up on the high mountain. Now they were asking Yahushua why the scribes say that Elijah must come first.

 

11 And Yahushua answered and said unto them, EliYah truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12 But I say unto you, That EliYah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

 

First Yahushua said that EliYah truly shall first come, and restore all things.

 

We know that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah so his mission was to revive the decay in the family unit and turn the hearts of mankind toward repentance. In any case, John’s mission was to fulfil the prophecy spoken of by the prophet Elijah and prepare a people to receive the truth that Yahushua would soon begin to teach.

 

Just like the spirit of the prophet Elijah preceeded the Messiah’s first coming in the human body of John, he also came in power like that of Elijah, with a powerful voice speaking things that would cause fathers hearts to tender once again to their children and children’s hearts also to tender toward their fathers. Forgiveness is a very powerful thing and so is repentance.

 

During Elijah’s ministry, he condemned sin and tried to point the people to turn back to Elohim. That’s the same ministry that John the Baptist had. So the teachers of the law [scribes], also taught what the prophets had said so this is why the fella’s asked Yahushua about this.

 

But notice what else Yahushua said. He said that EliYah had come already but they had done unto him whatsoever they listed and that in the same like manner,He would also suffer of them. John was beheaded and Yahushua was crucified.

 

Nevertheless, Yahushua has said twice now that Elijah had already come.

 

When I think of a great and dreadful day, I think of the crucifixion. Not only had John the Baptist come in the spirit and power of Elijah, he was seen in the Spirit by Peter, John and James on the Mount of Transfiguration. He truly had come in the Spirit and the power.

 

The prophets of old saw Messiah’s day at a distance, and their vision was yet to come; but John saw that day dawn. While the prophets prophesied about Yahushua, John physically pointed to Him.

 

As a priest in the lineage of His Father Zacharias, John the Baptist even declared that Yahushua was indeed the Lamb of God. He examined Yahushua just as he would a lamb prepared for sacrifice. He found Him suitable to be the Lamb of God that would not only be sacrificed, but He would take away the sin of the world.

 

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

So for this part of Malachi’s prophecy, it has already been fulfilled in John. As Yahushua Himself pointed out saying, “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” Yahushua has verified that Elias has come and that we the reader, should receive this truth.

 

There may be another appearance yet to appear before the return of Christ but I am not so sure. The Israelites are still waiting for their Messiah because they did not recognize Him when He was here the first time. The prophet Malachi said the Elijah would come. Malachi never said anything about Elijah coming by Spirit and power, just that he would come. I suppose Elijah himself could come because we have no record of him dying and it is appointed to every man to die once.

 

In Judism every Passover, the seder table is set with an extra place to welcome Elijah the Prophet. If that culture of people were not willing to accept Yahushua, perhaps they have not received the truth that Elias has already come, just as Yahushua spoke.

 

Yahushua said that they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.

 

When the disciples could not reconcile what Christ said about Elijah, with what they had heard out of the Old Testament, they asked Him to explain it to them. We do the same thing. When we don’t understand something, we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us.

 

The last thing that Yahushua says on this subject is in verse 15: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

How hard of hearing are do we have to be to miss the fact that Yahushua said that Elijah has already come?

 

When I read these words, it seems like a secret code to tell me to pay close attention to what I have just read. These are things which require our serious consideration, and therefore we should heed this warning.

 

The things of God are of great and common concern. Yahushua is saying that every one that has ears to hear any thing, aught to be concerned to hear this. It’s almost seems to me that God requires that we rightly use the ears that He has given us and to use the thing in between them to reason. He does not want us ignorant of the truth.

 

Bible prophecy is rarely what we think and we can not build a scenario of it, just to suit our own purpose. The Bible is truth and we are to search here a little and there a little to find the answers that we seek.

 

Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

 

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

 

In any case, both John and Messiah’s message were not accepted.