Mark of the Beast: What Are You Going To Do When They Come For You?

Mark of the Beast: What Are You Going To Do When They Come For You?

by | Apr 17, 2020 | Blog, Podcasts

Mark of the Beast-What Are You Going To Do When They Come For You?

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

This is, “The Mark of the Beast: What Are You Going To Do When They Come For You.”

 

The Question is: What are you going to do when they (the power-brokers with the mark) come for you?

 

We will apply the question of “What are you going to do when they come for you?” to this present world health crisis. I’m not so much interested in creating dialogue around what appears to be looming ahead in the coming months for every well-meaning Torah Observant Disciple in Yeshua Messiah. Instead, I’m interested in convincing every Torah Observant Disciple in Yeshua Messiah to start thinking. As well, I’m praying that the elect start planning for what appears to be dark days ahead for members of our beloved Faith.

 Not About The Validity of the Current Pandemic

And just to clarify: this is not a commentary on whether or not the present health crisis is real. This is not about whether or not this thing was intentionally created and spread by any government. And this is certainly not about whether or not our governments are properly handling the situation. 

I recognize there is something out there: I’ve had distant members of my family as well as friends affected by this thing. But I also understand that this thing must be looked at by people of Faith with proper biblical, spiritual and commonsense perspective. And I’ll leave it at that.

 

 A Power Broker’s Proposal to Combat the Current Pandemic:

According to Bill Gates (allegedly), founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:

“Eventually we will have some digital certificates to show who has recovered or been tested recently or when we have a vaccine who has received it.”

This quote came from Laura Ingraham’s interview with U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr on Fox News Channel. Essentially, Ingraham asked Attorney Barr his opinion on the virtue of  implementing a tracking system in this country. It would be presumed that this sytem would track citizens who are immune to the virus. Thus, the system would  by default single out those who cannot certify they have immunity to the disease. 

The Importance of Such a Proposal to People of the True Faith:

Such a thing becomes quite relevant to Bible believers who are familiar with the well recognized prophecy of the Mark of the Beast. This prophecy is recorded in the Book of Revelation.

The Apostle John records:

“And he (the 2nd Beast)  causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: …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. Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding calculate the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666” (13:16-18; Cepher).

Is a tracking system such as that which Bill Gates, and others like him, what this Book of Revelation prophecy portends?  

Is The Proposal Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy? 

There’s absolutely no way that we can say for certainty that this present situation will lead to the ominous Mark of the Beast system. 

However, what the Mark of the Beast prophecy does do is it provides a stern warning to those for whom the Revelation of Yahoshua haMashiyach was written (Revelation 1:3).

Taking a Serious Look at the Mark of the Beast Prophecy in Light of the Proposal

In other words, Mr. Gates’ alleged proposal may or may not be valid. Nevertheless, a number of self-professing “thinkers” are indeed proposing the same sort of thing Mr. Gates is alleged to have proposed. This being the case then, it behooves us to take a serious look at the Johnannine prophecy of the Mark of the Beast. I believe we must determine for ourselves what we’re going to do when they (the powers that be) come or us.

Which God Do We Serve

It further behooves the disciple of Messiah to determine right now which God he or she will serve if indeed Bill Gates’ alleged proposal were to come to fruition. Will he or she feel compelled to submit to the requirements of the “god” state? Would he or she freely take the tracker implanted in or on their person so that he or she may buy and or sell? Or will he or she reject the tracking system but remain true to their profession of Faith?

 

The Proposal Sounds Very Much Like An Iteration of the Mark of the Beast 

Most of us recognize the looming situation every Torah Observant Disciple of Yeshua Messiah is likely to face if such a mandated vaccination and tracking system were to be put in place in the Western Nations of this world.

I have come upon recent teachings on the subject of the Mark of the Beast that seems to have gotten a lot of traction of late. Under this recent teaching, those who received the Mark of the Beast are believed to have received some form of alteration to their biological make-up. That alteration results in the individual  becoming a hybrid: part human and part machine.

But I’m wondering, with this latest proposal, if the hybrid thinkers are rethinking their hypotheses on the subject of the Mark of the Beast?

I’ve always believed that the Mark of the Beast would be some form of artificial marker placed either on or within the individual receiving the mark. Under that paradigm the only reason given by the Beast Government for receiving the “Mark” was political. It would be to distinguish between those who would be loyal to the Beast government from those who would NOT be loyal.

 How Do You Get Compliance From the Populous?

Now, I always had an uneasiness with this particular thinking and scenario. For I could not fathom how you convince a populous to willingly take such a Mark for simply political purposes. Such a scenario would result in certain widespread uprisings and civil unrest. No matter how popular a world leader may be to his or her citizens, there’s always a good chunk of their population that cannot stand them. 

So the question always remained within me: how would the governments of the world convince their citizens to acquiesce and freely receive the mark? Well, prior to this latest pandemic, I could not think of many valid scenarios where this scenario would peacefully occur.

I Get It Now

With this latest proposal, I’m having second thoughts on the hybrid Mark paradigm. I am now leaning towards the Mark of the Beast paradigm that distinguishes one group of citizens from another group of citizens for health reasons. And the fundamental basis by which this particular tracking system, or Mark, would be implemented is an existential fear.

Indeed, this latest situation overrides the vast majority of people’s hesitancy to getting such a tracking system implanted on or in them:

(1) Fear of becoming infected from a highly contagious bug.

(2) The fear of not being able to provide for one’s self and family; and

(3) A fear of not being able to move about society freely as a westerner.

No Mark or Tracker For You?

Indeed, if such a tracking situation were to be deployed, the true believers of this world who would choose to reject the tracking system (aka Mark) would be forced to undergo hell.  That is, unless those brethren have planned and figured out a way to operate effectively “off-the-grid” so to speak.

The Mark of the Beast Described in Scriputre

The Apostle Yochanan (aka John) in the Revelation he received from Master Yeshua haMashiyach, described the Mark of the Beast this way: 

“And he (the 2nd Beast) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: …that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six” (Rev. 13:16-18; KJV).

 The Pre-Tribulation Factor

Now, one of the reasons most fundamentalists have no real concern about such a tracking or Mark system is because they hold to a “Pre-Tribulation-Sudden-Rapture” understanding of the end times. In this understanding, Churchianity has been sold a bill of goods. The false thinking is that “born again believers in Jesus Christ will be out of here” (ie., snatched up to heaven) before such a thing like the Mark of the Beast takes place.

 The Redeemed To Be Tribulated

However, Torah Observant Disciples of Yeshua Messiah clearly recognize that those who are still alive at the time before the Great Tribulation will undergo great persecution and even tribulation. That persecution and tribulation will be brought on by the peoples of this world. Not Yah. 

Our Master Yahoshua endured persecution and tribulation on our behalf. And by virtue of our operating under the Kingdom of YHVH economy, no one is better than another. Yeshua warned His disciples that they, like Him, would endure tribulation and persecution. And indeed they did. Simply read Foxes Book of Martyrs. It should become abundantly clear to you that many of Yeshua’s disciples of the first couple centuries A.D. endured hellish torture and tribulations. 

Yochanan in the Revelation that he received from Yeshua recorded the following:

 

“So the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed that keeps the commandments of YHVH and has the testimony of Yeshua Messiah” (Revelation 12:17).

 

In another place in the Cepher (Book) of Revelation we read:

 

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of YHVH, and for the testimony which they held” (6:9). 

 YHVH’s Elect Identified

Therefore friends, if we truly belong to YHVH and Yeshua Messiah and we are still around in the last days, we are most certainly marked for tribulation and even for martyrdom. Our Faith is not a get out of jail ticket for the End Times. Instead, our Faith will be the standard by which YHVH’s true children will be recognized: 

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of YHVH and the faith of Yeshua” (Revelation 14:12). 

And here’s the deal with those who acquiesce and take the Mark of the Beast: 

“…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 worshiped his image” (Rev. 16:2; KJV). 

“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, the same shall drink 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: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:9-11; KJV). 

 

 So What’s A Disciple of Yeshua to Do?

So getting any form of tracking, be it the actual Mark of the Beast when the time truly comes, or the tracking system that the powers that be are proposing for the citizens of the world today cannot be an option for Torah Observant Disciples of Yeshua Messiah. The reasons are obvious and biblical.

So what? What do we do about this potentially dire situation?

The Spiritual Preparations

Well, we have to be prayed up; fasted up; and studied up; ready for the dark days ahead. And when I say ready for the dark days ahead, I’m talking about making preparations the best way we know how and can.

Seems the powers that be in our society today, as well as the Apostle John, have given us ample notice to prepare. It’s now up to us to ready ourselves for the consequences that will be inherent if we do not take the mark that the power brokers are proposing for the citizens of the world these days.

Material Preparations

For those of us who have means—such as land to grow food. Dwellings that are free and clear of debt. And the ability to subsist without public utilities and other such resources. Maybe it’s time to prepare to go off the grid. For those of us who are lacking in terms of material means we probably need to start looking at cutting back on the things that are not of necessity. Maybe it’s time to stock up on necessities in anticipation of a prolonged period of lack. This most recent pandemic situation was an excellent rehearsal for this. Many of us found that we can subsist without the extras that we’ve grown accustomed to having in our present lives.

 Learn Survival Skills

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn some skills that many of don’t currently possess. Maybe:

(1) Growing our own fruits and vegetables.

(2) Raising Torah sanctioned animals for food.

(3) Currying favor with those around us who may have skills and resources we can tap into in times of need.

(4) Clear-up our debts as much as possible under the present circumstances.

(5) Become a part of a trustworthy network of trustworthy brethren to work with in times of trouble. 

Trust in YHVH

And certainly, our faith must be unshakable. We must learn to rely on Father to guide us through the bad times ahead. To grant us wisdom and knowledge and grace to navigate these coming perilous times. And of course, it goes without saying: we must ask Yah for unshakable courage to stand-up to the power brokers who will attempt to enforce the taking of the Mark.

My Prayer

May you be ever so ready for the sobering days ahead of us. Regardless if this thing turms out to be the real Cepher of (Book of) Revelation Mark of the Beast, a precursor of the real thing, or just a well-crafted threat, designed to test the public’s willingness to comply with such a tracking system. We must be prepared: spiritually; emotionally; psychologically; and physically for the fall-out that’s sure to come from such a proposal. As I always try to get across to everyone who hears the content of this program, none of this is about us. All of this, however, is about Him—YHVH our Elohim.

In all things, let us give our Elohim the praise, glory and honor He so justly deserves.

May you, your families and fellowships stay well and abundantly blessed. Shalom.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: A Ridiculously Long Week

by | Apr 10, 2020 | Blog, Podcasts

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: A Ridiculously Long Week

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

My Struggle With Time 

One of the many things I struggle with in this life is the issue of time.Time is an enemy. It is often stressful. There never seems to be enough of it to go around. Time moves by so swiftly. And I often find myself fearful of wasting it; losing it; time consuming events popping up on me suddenly.

Leveraging Time

The most successful of us in this life leverage time to our advantage (in the secular world):

  • Investments
  • Education
  • Careers
  • Families
  • Relationships
  • Health

 Time Seems to be On Our Side When We Are Young

Indeed, when we’re young, time does seem to be on our side. But it’s not until you get to the latter part of your life that many of us have not leveraged time as we should. And far too many of us come to the conclusion that time is no longer on our side. In fact, time suddenly becomes an enemy. In the secular world: did I put enough money away for retirement; did I take care of my health well enough; did I foster relationships as I should; did I raise my children properly; did I treat my wife the way I should have; achieve all I set out to achieve? When career was my focus in life, I worried about all those things and now having retired, I recognize that I did not leverage time as I should.

Maybe I Squandered My Time in my Youth

Looking back, I see now that I often squandered time. In fact, I did not use time well. I messed up in a lot of places in my life because I did not leverage or use the time allotted to me by the Almighty as I should.

Time is Precious 

I’m particularly sensitive to time as it relates to our Faith. We’ve been allotted just so many years of this life:

Psalms 90:9-10–“For all our days pass away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. [In fact] The days of our years are seventy; and if any by strength live eighty years, yet their pride is labor and vanity; for it soon passes and we fly away.”

Time Does Matter to YHVH, but Moreso It Should Matter to Us

Time matters to Father–but time matters greatly for mankind. Father created time to achieve His purpose in the earth
Remember the time the Israelites made and worshiped the golden calf after they had covenanted with YHVH to be their Elohim and after seeing the mighty wonders Elohim performed on their behalf. Abba told Moshe:

“I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Let Me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under the heavens; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they” (Deuteronomy 9:13, 14).

Father didn’t say to Moshe that He’d wasted His time on Moshe’s brethren and to just forget the whole thing. He proposed to start over with Moshe and get it right the next time–THAT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME. What about when the spies returned from scoping out the Promised Land and they reported the presence of giants and caused the people to refuse to enter and take the Land as He had commanded them to do.

So what did Father do? He postponed the people entering the land for 40 years–until the generation that left Egypt died in the wilderness. 40-YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO GET IT RIGHT.

Thus Father instituted the Feast Days in His Torah. These are all time sensitive. For the Feasts and Torah are shadows of good things to come according to the writer of Hebrews.

The Feasts Outline Father’s Plan of Salvation for Humankind

We recognize that the Feasts of YHVH, among other things, is a beautiful outline of the Plan of Salvation–Redemption–Restoration for mankind from start to finish:

  • Passover–The sacrifice of Messiah for the sins of the world.
  • Unleavened Bread–Illustrating the elimination of sin from our lives.
  • Shavuot/Pentecost–The receiving/imparting of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His people and the final touches to preparing His people to enter His Kingdom.
  • Trumpets (Yom Teruah)–The return of Messiah to establish His Millennial Reign upon this earth.
  • Atonement/Yom Kippurim–Ridding of the planet of the Enemy–hasatan.
  • Tabernacles/Last Great Day–The 1,000-year reign of Messiah–the final judgment of mankind and the world–The New Heaven and New Earth.

Each Feast Has a Defined Time 

Each of the Feasts on the Creator’s Calendar occurs at a time and for a duration that Father alone determined. To me, this is all beautifully laid out and I look forward to each and every one as it comes. But one thing intrigues me about the feasts: and that’s the time Father has allotted for them: For Pesach (Passover)–Firstfruits–Shavuot (Pentecost)–Trumpets (Yom Teruah)–Atonement–Last Great Day (Shimeni Atzeret) are just one day moedim or feast days.

The Two Week-Long Feasts

Yet Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles are 7-day observances and celebrations. Why? Why not just 1 day for these festivals. The impact these have on the lives of God’s people is always something that one is forced to deal with: jobs–families–life situations. It requires alterations in our lives–major in some cases.

For most of us, Tabernacles is a much appreciated Feast. We get to leave our homes and go to hotels or other places where we set up temporary abodes. We get to be reunited with friends and family. We get to have a wonderful time of celebration: usually great teachings–activities–food–talking, talking, talking–food–sleeping. Our focus is on the Millennial Kingdom and the World Tomorrow–A VERY POSITIVE/DESIRABLE FOCUS. It often seems as though it’s over before it’s begun and we are sad to have to leave and return back to our day-to-day lives.

But then there’s Unleavened Bread. It’s NOT LIKE TABERNACLES/SUKKOT. For we are required to eat unleavened bread and NOT consume any leavened products for 7 long days and take off from work 2 of those 7 days. For many of us who love baked goods, it’s a very difficult and challenging time. Our focus in terms of the spiritual is ridding sin from our lives: NOT A VERY POSITIVE FOCUS. In fact, when we look at this thing from a carnal perspective: The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a RIDICULOUSLY LONG WEEK.

Why Is The Feast of Unleavened Bread a 7-Day Observance?

Why not 1 or 2 days for this feast?

To the carnal mind it seems natural to wonder why Father places such a burden upon the people He claims so much to love.

Apart from the obvious reason: YHVH IS SOVEREIGN AND HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE CHOOSES TO DO; or simply: BECAUSE YAH SAID SO! 

Yeshua informed us that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and Scribes in order to be permitted entrance into the Kingdom of YHVH (Matthew 5:20). In other words: As Yeshua’s disciples, we must exceed the standards of righteousness that the Pharisees placed upon their disciples.

 The Feast of Unleaven Bread Illustrates a Journey Every Disciple Must Take

This is a journey to perfection. For YHVH set and provided for us the standards of perfection by which we must live. As well as He gave us His Son, Yahoshua, as the very image of those standards of perfection. It’s not about Yeshua keeping Torah perfectly during His earthly ministry so that we today don’t have to. Indeed the the fundamentalists contend this to be the case, which they say is the basis for their outright rejection of Christians keeping Torah.

 Yeshua Clarified and Elevated the Meaning of the Feast For Us

However, this is about Yeshua clarifying, elevating, explaining and modeling Torah for us–the standards of perfection requires of His children. Furthermore, just after Master departed this world, He sent us Father’s Holy Spirit (ie., Father’s Ruach haKodesh) to help us in our journey towards perfection. (And the Spirit of the Almighty enables us to overcome this sinful existence and live the life abundance that Master preached and taught about.) 

BUT WE STILL MUST PUT IN THE WORK TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION–NO FREE LUNCHES.

 The Standards For Entry Into the Kingdom of YHVH Are Very High

Thus, Father says to us, look, I’ve given you the standards by which I require you to live by in the form of Torah. Here’s what living by those standards look like in the person of My Son, Yeshua. And oh by the way: knowing that you will encounter difficulties living up to those standards by virtue of your flesh, I will endow you with My Holy Spirit. All you have to do is ask for it and you will receive. But you got to let my Spirit take control of your life, otherwise, you will stumble and never achieve the standards I’ve established and expect you to meet.

Now go and walk and live out those standards. There’s no excuses for not living the perfect life.

BUT THE PROCESS FOR ACHIEVING PERFECTION TAKES TIME. In fact, it takes a lifetime.

The Feasts Embody Life Processes in the Great Plan of Salvation

Father gave us two 7-day feasts–Unleavened Bread and the Sukkot. Both foreshadowed and embodied processes and journeys that mankind would go through towards perfection:

  • Unleavened Bread would be a journey and process towards living a perfect life THAT IS WHOLLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO YHVH (the sanctification process).
  • Tabernacles would be a journey whereby creation would be brought back to its original perfect state, to be returned to Father on the Last Great Day (aka Shemini Atzeret) in that perfect state.

 The remainder of the moedim or set-apart days are inserted processes and events in the great work of redemption, restoration and salvation: Passover–Yeshua atones: Pentecost–My Holy Spirit; Trumpets–Yeshua coming back; Atonement–I’ll deal with satan; Last Great Day–A New Heaven and New Earth. (Father takes care of these things for us!) 

BOOM!

 As it relates to Unleavened Bread, however, the process of sanctification by which we are required to endure takes time and has a lot of twists and turns embedded in it.

 The Answer to Why The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a Ridiculously Long Week

Why is the Feast of Unleavened Bread a ridiculously long week? Because the process for sanctification takes a lifetime to complete.

Abba demands perfection in His people. But Abba knows that achieving that perfection takes time.

Our First Passover–An Overview of the First Passover Exodus Chapters 1 through 12

by | Apr 5, 2020 | Blog, Podcasts

Our First Passover--An Overview of the First Passover Exodus Chapters 1 through 12

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Exodus 1

 

  • 70 blood relative of Jacob enter Egypt–>Joseph dies as well as the Patriarchs.
  • Israelites grow in number.
  • A pharaoh who did not know Joseph enslaves the Hebrews, yet the Hebrews flourish in number.
  • Pharaoh orders every male infant be cast into the Nile:
    • Spiritual significance seen in the plague of blood.
    • Foreshadowing of the murder of male children murdered by Herod at Yeshua’s birth.

Exodus 2

  •  Birth of Moshe–>Pharaoh’s daughter adopts him as her son.
  • Moshe knew he was a Hebrew, despite being a member of the Egyptian royal house (vss. 13, 14).
  • Moshe slays an Egyptian he catches beating a Hebrew unjustly.
  • Word gets out that Moshe murdered the Egyptian and Pharaoh issues a death order against Moshe.
  • Moshe flees Egypt and makes his home in Midian–>Marries Zipphorah–>bears son Gershom.
  • YHVH hears the cries of the enslaved Hebrews and remembers His covenant with Avraham, Yitchaq and Ya’achov (vss. 23-25).

 

Exodus 3 

  • While tending Jethro’s (Moshe’s father-in-law) flocks around Mount Sinai, Moshe has a face-to-face encounter with YHVH.
  • YHVH commissions Moshe to lead the Hebrews out of bondage and explains how it all is going to work, noting that Pharaoh is going to be a tough nut to crack. But the people of Egypt were also going to have a close encounter with the Creator of the Universe that will ultimately lead them releasing the Hebrews.

And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Mitsrayim (ie., Egypt) with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he (ie., Pharaoh) will let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Mitsriym (ie., the Egyptians): and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourns in her raiment: and yet shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters: and ye shall spoil the Mitsriym (vss. 20-22).

 

Exodus 4

  •  Moshe is a defeated man who has and expresses unto YHVH reasons why he was not a good fit to lead the people out of bondage.
  • Moshe gives 3 excuses why he believes YHVH’s plan won’t work:
    • What name would Moshe give to the Hebrews to identify who He is to them: YHVH–I am that I am (refer back to Chapter 3).
    • The Hebrews nor the Jews will believe Moshe: YHVH tells Moshe that He will work wonders through Moshe. For through Moshe YHVH would provide a demonstration of Yah’s power and authority.
    • Recall that the Jewish leaders of Yeshua’s day demanded of Yeshua a sign so that they may believe that He was who He said He was and had the authority to teach and do what He had been doing. Recall Shaul (Paul) reminded the Corinthians that he did not come to them with eloquence of speech, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and Power (2 Corinthians 2:4).
    • Which leads to Moshe telling YHVH he was not an eloquent speaker (suggestive that Moshe was a stutterer which YHVH knew.
  • YHVH revealed His overall plan for deliverance of the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage:

And Yahuah said unto him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I Yahuah? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall say. And he said, O my Adonai, send, I pray you, by the hand of him whom you will send. And the anger of Yahuah was kindled against Moshe, and He said, is not Aharon the Leviyiy your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he comes forth to meet you: and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. And you shall speak unto him and put the words in his mouth: and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be your spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be  to you instead of a mouth, and you shall be to him instead of Elohiym. And you shall take this rod in your hand, wherewith you shall do signs (vss. 11-17).

 

And Yahuah said unto Moshe, When you go to return into Mitsrayim (ie., Egypt), see that you do all those wwonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand: but I will harden his (Pharaoh’s) heart, that he shall not let this people go. And you shall say unto Pharaoh, Thus says Yahuah, Yisrael is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto you, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, even your firstborn (vss. 21-23).

  • Moshe is reunited with his brother Aaron and Moshe and fills Aaron in on the plan and they travel back to Egypt to brings the news of deliverance to the Hebrews.
    • Moshe performs some of the wonders of YHVH for the Hebrews.

 

Exodus 5

  •  Moshe has his first set of confrontations with Pharaoh and demands Pharaoh release the Hebrews to go out to the wilderness to worship YHVH.
  • The Hebrews had stopped working.
  • Pharoah responds to the work stoppage by increasing the labor demands on the Hebrews (making brick without providing them the straw they needed).
    • Pharaoh recognized that Moshe had the great potential of inciting the Hebrews to resist and revolt against the authority of their Egyptian overlords.
    • Pharaoh thus put forth a heavy hand against the Hebrews to dissuade the Hebrews–to soften them/their resolve.

 

Exodus 6

  •  Moshe finds himself between a rock and a hard place:
    • The people had stopped listening to Moshe because of the increase labour demands Pharaoh placed upon them.
    • Pharaoh stopped listening to Moshe because he wanted to show them that Pharaoh was the authority to be heeded, and not Moshe (politics).
  • YHVH reaffirms with Moshe that He held the ultimate authority in this world. Thus He reiterates His Name (His authority) to Moshe and to the Hebrews:

Then Yahuah said unto Moshe, Now shall you see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And Elohiym spoke unto Moshe and said unto him, I am Yahuah: And I appeared unto El-Avraham, unto El-Yitschaq, and unto El-Ya’aqov, by El Shaddai, but by my name Yahuah was I not known to them (vss. 1-3).

Themes:

  • Deliverance

  • Redemption

  • YHVH claims Israel for Himself as His Son

  • YHVH will be Israel’s God

 

Exodus 7

  •  YHVH moves Moshe into the next phase of the plan to free the Hebrews.
  • Before this point, it was reasoning.
  • Now YHVH moved the strategy into the realm of wonders.
  • YHVH starts out with the demonstration of Moshe’s staff being turned into a serpent (vs. 11), which the magicians–Jannes and Jambres are recorded to be the ones (2 Timothy 3:8).
    • At least one sect of Gnosticism that the evangelist Timothy was contending with held Jannes and Jambres as the founders of their religion.
  • When this and other demonstrations fail to sway Pharaoh, vs. 15 takes us into the series of 10 plagues.

 

The 10 Plagues of Egypt

 

Judgment Against the Gods of Egypt–The People of Egypt–The Might of Egypt–YHVH would show the world (including the demigods of Egypt) who He was and what He was all about (Exodus 7:15-11:10).

 Jews throughout the world this coming Wednesday will rehearse the 10-plagues as they celebrate Passover.

  1. Blood (Directed to gods of Egypt)–“Hapi” was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egyptian religion. Hapi was greatly celebrated among the Egyptians. This plague likely took place with the flood or rising of the Nile which took place between June and September each year. So we see that the 10 plagues that Father heaped upon Egypt took place anywhere between 6 to 9 or so months.
  2. Frogs (Directed to gods of Egypt)–“Heqet” was an Egyptian goddess of fertility represented in the form of a frog. To the ancient Egyptians, the frog was a ancient symbol of fertility, related to the annual flooding of the Nile.
  3. Lice or gnats (directed against the well being of the people)–a great deal of uncertainty as to what Moses meant in terms of lice or gnats. It is certain, however, that this plague involved some form of biting insect. And despite the magicians’ attempts to vanquish this plague, they were unable to reverse what YHVH had set in place (Exodus 8:19, 20).
  4. Flies–(directed against the well being of the people) “Khepri” was the god of flies having what is described by at least one website as a having the head of a fly. (www.stat.ric.edu). According to blogs.ucl.ac.uk, flies were worn as protective amulets as well as symbolising persistence: soldiers were awarded golden flies by the pharaoh as reward for heroic efforts in battle.
  5. Livestock–Apis–The mighty bull. At the foot of Mount Sinai, the Israelites worshiped the Golden Calf. The other thing to take note of here is that Yahweh extended His grace upon the people of Egypt and tested them to see if they would heed words–as YHVH gave the Egyptians advanced warning of what would before the livestock of Egypt.
  6. Boils–(directed against the well being of the people) festering–referred to as Zaraath; seen as a form of leprosy.
  7. Hail–first of the plagues taking effect in the heavens, showing YHVH controlled all areas of universe. YHVH said that “I will send all my wonders to his (pharaoh’s) heart” (Exodus 9:14). Moses had instructed the Egyptians to “send all animals into their houses.” This was an extension of the grace of YHVH towards the Egyptians. For YHVH offered Pharaoh and the Egyptian nation an escape route. Thus, those that feared YHVH’s words removed their livestock from the fields and those that didn’t take to heart Father’s word, left their slaves and animals outside and they were harmed (Exodus 9:20). This was an opportunity for the Egyptian people to turn themselves away from the god they knew and worshiped, none of which could stand up to YHVH, and turn to Him–the one and only true God (Elohim). Now, we learn that some of the Egyptians did heed the word of YHVH and took their livestock in doors, while of course, other Egyptians did not heed YHVH’s words. However, we see here that YHVH is a God that searches the heart. For we see later on down in verse 27 of the same chapter where Pharaoh makes a rather surprising pronouncement regarding the series of plagues his nation has endured: “This time I have sinned, God is righteous, and I and my nation are wicked.” Interestingly, Moses informs Pharaoh that he and his people did not in fact fear YHVH. For “it is only before the removal of the plague that you possess fear. In other words, once the plague was to be removed, the Egyptians would revert back to their old ways and serve their false gods. At this time, the barley was in an aviv state of maturity while the wheat and spelt were still in an immature throughout the land of Egypt (Exodus 9:31,32). Barley, when it is aviv, the stalks are brittle, while wheat and spelt, when it is immature, the stalks are very pliable. Thus a principle grain crop of Egypt, barley, was destroyed by this 6th plague, showing the Egyptians that YHVH is in control of everything. Remember: grain was one of Egypt’s major source of commerce and wealth. In fact, Egypt was the breadbasket of the known world at that time. And by Father striking at a major source of Egyptian commerce, He showed forth to the world that He was the Creator of the Universe and no demigod could match Him. We see this very thing being played out today with this coronavirus pandemic. Could this thing be YHVH’s judgment upon the various sectors of our world. For Father informed the Egyptians with this plague: “I will send all my wonders to your heart, and in your servants and in your people, in order that you shall know that there is none like Me in all the land” (Exodus 9:14). Thus when such things as happened to the Egyptians, and now the world around us, these are extensions of YHVH’s grace as He educates us of His sovereignty and power and might. Regardless which road one takes (ie., to fear Him or not) YHVH is either going to get the glory or His going to get the glory.
  8. Locust–And because the people refused to fear YHVH despite the devastation left behind by the hail, that which the hail did not destroy would be destroyed by an invasion of locust from the east between the Nile and the Red Sea. And since this plague essentially devastated Egypt’s commerce and world power status in the region, Pharaoh was brought to a place of full acknowledgment of YHVH’s sovereignty and greatness (Exodus 10:16). Yet again, we see that once the locusts were swept away by the winds, Pharaoh’s heart showed forth its true colors.
  9. Darkness–described as a darkness so thick that “people could not see one another.” In fact, it was darkness that could be felt (Exodus 10:21-23).
  10. Death of firstborn which leads to the establishment of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

Exodus 12:1-36

 

  • Establishing the calendar–Opposing the Egyptian calendar (vss. 1, 2).
  • Hebrews select an unblemished male yearling lamb on the 10th day of the month of Aviv (vss. 3-5).
  • On the 14th day of Aviv the lamb was to be slaughtered at twilight. Some of the blood from the lamb was to be smeared upon the doorposts and lintel of each Hebrew’s home (vss. 6-7).
    • The blood covenant discussion of ancient near east practices.
  • YHVH institutes the Passover meal (vss. 8-11):
    • Roasted lamb
    • Unleavened bread
    • Bitter herbs
    • The meal was to be eaten in haste with the participants dressed to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.
  • YHVH reveals His plan to judge the gods of Egypt and to kill the firstborn of Egypt (vss. 12-14) and the commandment to keep Passover as a feast for all generations. The blood was to be a sign that He will pass over the homes with that blood on its doorposts and lintels and no harm would befall the members of that home.
  • YHVH institutes the Feast of Unleavened Bread (vss. 15-20).
  • Moshe instructs the Hebrew elders to do all that YHVH had revealed to Moshe and that this would be a commandment for the Hebrews to keep in perpetuity (vss. 21-27).
  • The Hebrews did as they were instructed (vs. 28).
  • YHVH as promised goes throughout the Land of Egypt and strikes down the firstborn (vss. 29-30).
  • Pharaoh calls Moshe before him and releases the Hebrews (vss. 31-32).
  • The Hebrews are rushed out of Egypt with the wealth of Egypt in their possession as the Hebrews had curried favor with the Egyptian people despite what had happened to the people of Egypt (vss. 33-36). The Hebrews took with them for food unleavened bread.

 

 

Rosh Hashanah Happy Biblical New Year and Guarding the Month Aviv

by | Mar 26, 2020 | Blog, Podcasts

Rosh Hashanah Happy Biblical New Year and Guarding the Month Aviv

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

The Command to Guard the Month of the Aviv

First Day of the Month of the Aviv and the head of the Biblical New Year–Rosh Hashanah; Month of Nisan in Jewish circles.

We must first understand what it is we’re guarding. Why is it important? What it’s composed of.

We find in Exodus that the month of the Abib is the start of the biblical year for us; the head of the year; Rosh Hashanah:

” This month (Hebrew=chodesh; also new moon) shall be unto you the beginning of months (Hebrew=Rosh chodeshiym=months or seasons); it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2; KJV).

Abba commanded us to:

“Observe (Hebrew=shamar; to keep; to guard) the month of Abib and keep (Hebrew=asah; to do) the  passover (Hebrew=pesach) unto YHVH, thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib YHVH thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night” (Devariym 16:1; KJV).

The Aviv state of the barley is central to the start of the Biblical Month of Aviv

How to Guard the Month of the Aviv 

So how should we keep the Month of the Aviv? (See our post on observing and guarding the month aviv.) First order of business is to prepare:

  • Pray and consider maybe a day or two of fasting in preparation for receiving the upcoming Spring Feasts of YHVH. Getting in the right frame of Spirit and mind is essential for the upcoming Holy Days to be as meaningful as they possibly can be for us.
  • Start cleaning out the leaven from our homes.
  • Purchase unleavened bread products, in particular matzah.
  • Arrange for the time off from work for the first and last day of Unleavened Bread.
  • Hosting celebrations might be a little challenging this year given the situation the world is facing now with the Coronavirus pandemic. But generally we would look to having at the very least a commemorationof what is typically referred to in Christian circles as the Last Supper. Some prefer to commemorate the time with a traditional Jewish Seder or formal dinner. So planning is something we might want to begin right now.
  • First Fruits is generally the time-framewhen we send financial support to those ministries that feed us. So it may be something to begin praying about. 

Both calendars are in sync for the month of Aviv (aka Nisan)

  • Passover–4/8/2020–This year again falls on Wednesday  (Judaism keeps 2 Passovers–add 4/9/2020)
  • Feast of Unleavened Bread–4/9–15/2020
  • Day of Firstfruits–4/12/2020 (Sunday–1st Day of the Week)
  • We begin the count to Shavuot on the Day of Firstfruits. (Judaism begins the count towards Shavuot this year on Day 2 of what they call Passover which would actually be day 2 of FUB for us.)

The difference being that Shavuot or Pentecost will occur at 2 opposing times on our calendars: For us Shavuot will be Sunday, 5/31/2020; for the Jewish Calendar it will be Thursday, 5/29/2020.

It is important to know when the count towards Shavuot begins so one will keep it on the correct day–Thursday or Sunday.

Closing Thoughts and Reflections

We have the opportunity during these difficult times which happens to be occurring during the Month of the Aviv, to make the most of this Spring Feast season. Many of us are sheltering in place in our homes in what many see as self-quarantine. So instead of focusing on the situation that the world seems to be obsessed by these days, let us use the time to get closer to Yah as we recognize that which Yeshua did for us; the elimination of sin from our lives; and the work of the Ruach HaKodesh operating in our lives.

Be joyous yet solemn. Sound the shofar. Meditate. Pray without ceasing. Study every passage related to the history and instructions YHVH gave us for Passover and study the Passion story. Ensure we look at this thing from a Yeshua-focused perspective while being obedient in our keeping of the Spring Feasts.

Shalom and Blessings

The Coronavirus Pandemic in Relation to God’s People

by | Mar 21, 2020 | Podcasts

The Corona Virus Pandemic in Relation to God's People

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Fear and uncertainty has gripped the world.

  • Widespread infections (Italy just announced 600+ deaths in one day; politicians and celebrities infected)
  • Civil liberties are at risk of being severely curtailed or eliminated altogether.
  • Personal and business incomes and wealth are being devastated (Stock market; loss of jobs; etc).
  • Schools being closed for the remainder of the school year.
  • The health-care system reaching critical capacities.
  • Travel Restrictions
  • Q uarantines (mandated and self-imposed; Keith Johnson)
  • Government spending to check the financial loses of citizens and business during this pandemic (ie., stimulus package) threaten to explode the nation’s economic deficit.
  • And it appears to me that the governments of this world are jockeying for position to assure the world’s citizens that they can put their trust in them. They are fostering fear and uncertainty through a media that is willfully twisting truth and going about with an apparent agenda.
  • There’s widespread fear and uncertainty throughout—hoarding; price-gouging.
  • I saw first-hand the fear and uncertainty–masks; hording; lines; ridiculousness.
  • There is a fear of death and sickness; loss of income, jobs, careers and possessions. (Not reached the stage of panic yet; but there’s concern.)
  • The present situation suggests the only people to turn to for help during this pandemic is the government. Sadly, the media is controlling the narrative of this emergency.

Sadly, there is no thought given to Yah (spiritual things). Several missed opportunities.

We are truly living in interesting times, if not perilous times. However, I’m personally not of the thought that we are living in the end of days at this point.

We Are In a Unique Position as Children of YHVH

As Children of Yah, we have received training in separating ourselves from the world; in trusting Yah our Abba; in walking in His ways and living holy and righteous lives. In taking care of these temples of ours ahead of any calamity such as the Coronavirus. So we must not buy into this man made fear that is being perpetrated upon us by the governments and media of of this world.

The Origin of the Coronavirus

Where is CoronaVirus coming from? What does it mean for the world? What does it mean for Netzari?

Governments of the world preparing the citizens of this world for the Coming One World Government or New World Order? A response to the world’s Godlessness? God’s punishment of the world? Just an unfortunate situation?

Some contend this whole thing is man made and the virus has been weaponized to cause worldwide harm. Some contend that it is derived from the consumption of bats by Wuhan residents.

All indications are that the virus originated in Wuhan, China. But lately China has disavowed this information and the media seems complicit in a major disinformation propagation campaign.

There is no way for the everyday person to verify what is true. How many deaths; how many souls have been infected by the virus; the severity of the virus and how many people will be affected by this pandemic? Does the U.S. Government and the other governments of the world have their citizens’ best interests at heart? Seems as though politics running much of the narrative.

Curses?

As obedient, holy and righteous children of YHVH, we should be immune and set-apart from this scourge. We should not be subject to the effects of this illness. We are protected.

The Role of the Enbemy in Crisis Situations

We should recognize that the enemy’s sole purpose or existence is to steal, kill and destroy (Yochanan 10:10). If we stay within Abba’s perfect will and obey His instructions and adhere to the teachings of our Master Yahoshua, we will be protected from the destroyer. Even this scourge and the byproduct of it. For Yah is on the side of abundant life as our Master taught us.

Father declared to us in His Torah: And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of YHVH Elohayka, to guard and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that YHVH Elohayka will set you on high above all nations of the earth. And all these blesssings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall hearken unto the voice of YHVH Elohayka:

  • Blessed in the city and in the field.
  • Our children will be blessed.
  • Our finances and possessions will be protected.
  • We will receive traveling mercies.
  • Any who would present themselves as our enemy shall be brought to nothing.
  • We will be established as a holy people and an example to the nation peoples of this earth, bearing the Name of our God upon our person. We will be respected by the nation peoples of the earth. 
  • We will be prosperous even in the midst of a situation such as we are seeing transpiring around us today. (Not speaking of persecution, however.)

And of course, Father tells us:

if we you will not hearken unto the voice of YHVH Elohayka, to guard to do all His commandments and His statutes which He command you this day; that curses shall come upon you and overtake you. And those curses tend to be directly opposite the blessings that come through obedience to Yah’s instructions and living holy and righteous lives. And those curses include being susceptible to the fright and concern being lived out and experienced by the non-believing citizens of this world as well as being subject to disease and illnesses (Devariym 28; Cepher).

Is This The End of Days?

Not necessarily the Pale Horse of Revelation (6:7, 8) but this could be a precursor or even a variant of it:

When He stripped the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast shout, Go! I looked, and I saw a pale horse. The name of him who sat on him was Death, and the grave followed him. Power was given to the four of them over the fourth of the earth, to exterminate with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with living things from the earth (Rood).

What should we do as Messianics during this so-called Pandemic?

Trust no man

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation (Psalm 146:3; ESV).

It is better to trust in YHVH than to put confidence in princes (Psalm 118:9; KJV).

Yah through the Prophet Jeremiah warned:

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from YHVH (Jeremiah 17:5; KJV).

No worrying allowed

Mashiyach instructed us that our only concern must be that of:

Seeking first the kingdom  of YHVH, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Do not be distracted about the concerns of tomorrow; tomorrow will have its own concerns. Sufficient to each day is its own problems (Matthew 6:33, 34; Rood).

That means there is no reason for us to act like the rest of the world: hording food and material products; spreading gossip; whipping up anxiety within our families; etc. We must be the voice of reason and calm and Truth and peace.

None of this is to say that we don’t use wisdom and seek understanding of the things that are going on around us. We must learn to take everything in its proper context and know what things to put into Yah’s hands and what things we must do for ourselves and our families and fellowship through the leading and obedience of Yah’s Ruach. We simply must do that which we’ve been instructed to do by our Master, Yahoshua Messiah.

Yes, we take care of our families and ourselves; we be obedient to those who are in positions of authority over us and we pray for them to exercise wisdom and lead justly and righteously. But we don’t involve ourselves in the chaos that the enemy has put forth around us through their rhetoric.

We live under a different set of rules. Our provider and sustainer and protector is not the governments of this world, but YHVH our Elohim. The writer of Psalm 37 wrote:

I have been young and am now old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his seed is blessed ( 25; Cepher).

Be spiritually prepared for what may come ahead: prayed up; fasted up; and studied up!

What will you do if: Mandatory vaccine? Restricted rights

Fear nor worry not

Fear and worry is a primary tool of the enemy to cause us to act contrary to the Will and instructions of YHVH. And if we are going to be successful at defeating the work of the enemy, we must learn to control our fears and concerns.

The writer of Psalm 91 wrote:

He that dwells in the secret place of El Elyon shall abide under the shadow of El Shaddai. I will say of YHVH, He is my refuge and my fortress: my Elohiym; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings shall you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come nigh you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made YHVH which is my refuge, even El Elyon, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling. for He shall give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. Because He has set His love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my yeshu’ah (Cepher).

In trying to allay the concerns of Timothy, who had been sent to the Ephesian Messianic Assemblies to bring Godly control to those fellowships, Rav Shaul (aka, the Apostle Paul) counseled the Evangelist Timothy:

God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me his prison: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the of Yah who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Mashiyach Yeshua before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Yeshua HaMashiyach, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:7-10; KJV).

Some Things Belove to Yah Exclusively

There are things that are going on around us all the time that we are unaware of and that we just don’t understand. And there are a lot of talking heads and self-proclaimed experts who claim to have all the answers to everyone’s questions. Yet although these individuals claim to know the answer to all things, they really don’t know anything. Yah knows what is going on and has full control over what is going on.

Moshe declared:

The secret things belong to YHVH our Elohim, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Torah (Devariym 29:29; ESV).

 

As Torah clearly teaches, there are things that belong to Yah that are none of our business, as well as there are things that Yah wants us to be aware of that we must be prepared to work through in accordance with His instructions and commands. Regardless, all such things are meant to bring Yah the glory. And this Corona Virus I feel is something that has come upon the world to bring glory and honor to Yah. He will get the glory in the end, regardless what the heathen may say or think to the contrary.

A Good Time to Evangelize

Thus, it becomes our responsibility, as Yah’s beloved children, to use this opportunity to point people to Mashiyach so that they too may have a true and substantive relationship with the Almighty and become true citizens of heaven. It is not our business to worry about such things that we have no control over. Yes, we must be informed, but we are not to consternate over these things. It is our business, however, to do the works of Yah while we still have light in the day to do so.

Time to Learn to Trust Yah

So we have to learn to Trust Yah in all things. We must be wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves as our Master taught His disciples. And we must do those things that are prudent to do; consider the consequences of our actions—are they in accordance with the leading of Yah’s Ruach? We must take care of our families; take care of ourselves and make sure we are doing the things we’re supposed to be doing to ensure we don’t create any unnecessary burdens upon our families if anything happens to us.

Be real men and real women of Yah.

Stand up for what’s right. Do the right thing all the time. Take care of our business. Put others before ourselves.

Yah Will Give us Strength to Endure

Know that Yah will give us the wherewithal to get through this and all other such challenges that may come our way: Anani (a prophet of Judah) stated to Asa King of Judah:

the eyes of YHVH search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…(2 Chronicles 16:9; NLT).

Yah is in Complete Control

Recognize and rest in the fact that YHVH is in control. He is allowing this thing to happen. And He is surely more than capable to stop this if He so chooses. And if by chance Yah chooses not to stop the current situation, let us rest in the knowledge that Yah is sovereign and leave it at that.

Prayer and Supplications

Paul wrote to the Ephesian Assembly of Messianics:

And take the helmet of yeshu’ah and the sword of the Ruach, which is the Word of YHVH: praying always with all prayer and supplication (needs; requests) in the Ruach, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all qodeshiym(saints) (6:17, 18; Cepher).

In other words, pray in the Ruach regarding this present situation. Allow the Ruach to lead and guide our prayers.

 

Turn to Yah fully through Yahoshua HaMashiyach.

Repent. Walk out the Faith that Mashiyach taught and modeled for us.

Live Peaceably

Rav Shaul single-handily put forth teachings that counseled Messianics to live in peace within the societies they reside (Romans 12:18; 14:19). Which also means to heed the warnings given by our community and national leaders. Use commonsense. Take reasonable precautions. Yet it falls to us to trust but verify in most instances.

Seek the leading of the Ruach HaKodesh (aka, the Holy Spirit).

Seek after and practice discernment

When some Parashiym (pharisees) and Tsadoqiym (scribes) demanded Yeshua show them a sign from heaven to certify that He (Yeshua) did indeed have the authority to do and teach and do the things He’d been doing, Yeshua chided them as being of a wicked and adulterous generation always seeking after a sign. So Yeshua told them that they had no ability to determine the signs of the times in which they were living. If they were indeed in tune with YHVH as they believed themselves to be, they would recognize the man standing before them as their Mashiyach and understand the authority that He (Yeshua) had been given by YHVH, His Father (Mattithyahu 16:1-5).

  • Study
  • Pray
  • Meditate

 

Seek after and practice Godly Wisdom

Paul declared unto the Messianic Assembly of Believers in Corinth:

their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of YHVH (1 Corinthians 2:5: KJV).

Exploit every ministry opportunity

Paul counseled His apprentice Timothy that he:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:2-4; KJV).

Lead by example.

In Master’s teaching His disciples about the Keys to the Kingdom, He counseled:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16; KJV).

 

 

Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

Friends: given the state of our nation and the world today, this is not the time for us to blend in with the rest of the world around us. Nor is it time for us to disappear into obscurity and await for this thing to blow over. We must be at work, even during these trying times.

It was at the time of Hanukkah in 27 C.E. that Yahoshua explained to His inner circle of Talmudiym (disciples):

We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4; Rood).

It is during times like these that the world is most open to solutions to their problems and to the Word of Yah (recall 911). Let us not squander the opportunity and work the works of our Father while it is still day. We don’t know what it will be like in the days ahead when things get to a place where we cannot effectively work for the Kingdom because the night will have come and hindered our work.