Reclaiming the Original Faith - Part 3 - Torah Revival

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Reclaiming the Original Faith

Part 3- Torah Revival

Introduction: 

We have recently discovered how the journey that the Torah of YHWH had undertaken was an extremely harrowing path. When the people of Yahudah (Judah) were taken into captivity Yisrael suffered by subtle means whereby the people were indoctrinated into a new culture and were reluctant after 70 years to leave Babylon. Thankfully we saw how the young men brought up under intense Torah observance had developed such a love for YHWH and the Torah that they inspired their Nation. One notable truth however is that while Yahudah was in Captivity they developed a real hunger for the things of YHWH and even in much later years Babylon became a centre for Torah learning. During this time it is worthy of noting that the Modern Hebrew Aleph-Bet was developed and the Hebrew Calendar that is still used today was also adopted.

Following the Captivity we saw this small Nation gradually being revived and observant to the Torah until the Greek empire under Antiochus ruled Yisrael and through great evil began the horrific destruction of all Torah observance and Covenant faithfulness with the purpose of purging every aspect of Judaism from the Nation and replacing their Religion with the Greek Religion. We discovered that this period in Israel’s history saw much blood spilt to keep the Nation of Yisrael faithful to YHWH. 

It was during this time that we saw the Great battles of the Maccabean wars which saw great heroes emerging being inspired by a love for YHWH and his Torah with the result that finally the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) and the National faith in the Torah known today as Judaism restored, with the Feast of Chanukah (Hanukah) being the Feast of the dedication of the Temple observed yearly in remembrance of this difficult but victorious time in Yisrael’s history.   

The Treaty of Friendship with Rome:

A notable truth that emerges in the Book of the Maccabees is found in the following:

1 Maccabees 8: 17- 21 Judas accordingly chose Eupolemus son of John and Jason son of Eleazar and sent them to Rome to conclude a treaty of friendship and alliance so that the Romans might rid them of tyranny for it was clear that the Greek empire was reducing Yisrael to slavery.

What we can conclude from all this is that Rome became an ally of Yisrael and due to the successes against the Seleucid rulers Yisrael finally gained autonomy and at the collapse of the Seleucid (Greek) Kingdom the Yahudim gained independence. 

This however only lasted about 80 years due to corruption within the Hasmonean family that produced infighting which eventually resulted in Roman rule being established.

Rome then appointed Herod King of Yahudah (Judea) who also appointed his own man as the High Priest though often this was achieved through bribes paid to Herod. 

King Herod did however enlarge and beautify the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) as well as build Fort Antonio on the Temple Mount.

In accordance with the will of YHWH and his promises through the Prophets we come to a time when Yisrael had all the fundamental tenants of the faith of the Fathers, making it ripe for the coming of the Promised Moshiach (Messiah) so it is to this time and the coming of Yahshua that we turn to establish the significance of the Torah. 

Now that Yisrael was ruled by Rome its Religion is once again able to function since Rome was more tolerant and allowed Judaism to flourish with the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) performing all the functions it was designed for and the Nation as a whole able to be Torah observant. 

In this Religious climate we find King Herod appointing the Cohen Ha Gadol (the High Priest) who was often not even of the line of Aaron or the tribe of Levi. The group known as the Sadducees were Priests but even these were often political appointees. The other Major group was the Perushim (the Pharisees) whose name means separated ones and though they were more favoured by the people because of their religiousness they also burdened the people with their many added rules & regulations called “takanot”: 

Yisrael & the Torah:

Since we are on this journey of reclaiming the Original faith we need to begin firstly to observe the significance of Torah in the life of Yisrael, Yahshua and the Talmidim (Disciples). It is our endeavour to establish what the faith of the earliest Kehilot (Assemblies) was before the rise of compromise that came with Ignatius of Antioch in about (98 CE) and finally the emergence of the Roman Assembly under Pontifex Maximus or Emperor Constantine who solidified all the changes to separate Christianity from the forms of the early Hebraic Nazarene Assemblies.  

It is only by the restoration of the faith of the forefathers that sees Yisrael fulfilling its call to establish YHWH as their Elohim and the restoration of all the Torah that makes sense of the coming of Yahshua for without Torah he would come to a grossly Pagan Nation and be unable to fulfil his divine purpose as this promise reveals:

Yochanan (John) 1:17 For the Torah was given by Mosheh (Moses) prophesying favour (grace) and truth to come to fulfilment through Yahshua the Messiah. (Hidden Truths Hebraic Scrolls N.T.)

However at the time of Yahshua the faith of the Torah had been greatly distorted so we see Yahshua doing many things contrary to the customs of the Elders as it is often called but we know he was making a point to reveal the true Torah which was never as burdensome as the many regulations the Perushim (The Pharisees) implemented. 

e.g. The Perushim (Pharisees) enacted over 500 laws concerning the keeping of the Sabbath including what was work, how far one could walk etc;

Talmud Shabbat 108b:19-25 details the prohibition of putting saliva on one’s eye on the Shabbat.

It was because the Pharisees so misrepresented Torah that Yahshua also warned his followers to be wary of “the Leaven of the Pharisees.” Matt 16:6

This can be often a great challenge for us as well that in our passion we impose many of the “Halachah” which have great merit as though they are Torah much like the Perushim (Pharisees) with their “Takanot.”

One particular example that caused a confrontation Yahshua had with the Scribes & Pharisees was over the washing of hands which he does not address but Yahshua’s rebuke goes far deeper to show how the Pharisees were overruling the true Torah which Yahshua was always in his ministry reviving:

MattithYahu Matthew 15: 3-6 But Yahshua answered & said to them, why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim by your tradition? 4 For Elohim said respect your father and mother and he that curses father or mother let him be put to death ( Sh’mot 21:17). 5 But you say whosoever shall say to his Father or Mother, it is a gift to Elohim by whatever you might have been helped by me 6 and does not respect his father he shall be free. Thus have you made the word of Elohim of no effect by your tradition.

To those however who disregard the Mitzvot (Commandments) there is a grave reminder to establish the truth of obedience to the Commands since scripture details those who are the Set-apart believers in:

Hitgalut (Revelations) 14:12 Here is the steadfast endurance of the Kedoshim (the set-apart saints); here are they that guard and keep the commandments of Elohim (G_d) and the faith of Yahshua. 

This verse shows that Yochanan (John) clearly reveals that the true set-apart Saints or believers are those who display the evidence of Keeping the Mitzvot (Commandments) of Elohim as well as having the faith of Yahshua but even more thought provoking is this next verse:

Hitgalut (Revelations) 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  

Yahshua & the Torah:

To fully grasp the significance of Torah we need to look at the life of Yahshua and understand some truths that are clearly revealed in his Ministry that demonstrate his desire to restore the Torah in many ways since the Torah had by then been grossly mishandled.

1. The Torah as Defence

We read that Yahshua was led by the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) into the wilderness to be tempted by Ha Satan and he reveals that he used Scripture to defeat Ha Satan as we should also:

Matthew 4:2- 4 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of Elohim, command that these stones become Lekhem (bread).” 4  And Yahshua answered and said, it is written; Man shall not live by Lechem (bread) alone but by every word that proceeds out of the Mouth of YHWH.

It is interesting that Yahshua did not use experience as his defence when Ha Satan questioned his identity since we know that forty days earlier a voice from heaven verified that he was the son of Elohim at his Mikveh (immersion). In this confrontation we see Yahshua quoting directly from Devarim (Deuteronomy) two times and Tehillim (psalms) once showing that the word that proceed out of the Mouth of YHWH to all Yisrael was the Torah and the writings as written by Mosheh and the Neviim (Prophets). This teaches us that we like Yahshua should use the Torah in defence of the onslaught of the enemy.

1. The Misunderstood Statements of Yahshua:

Now we come to the statements that Yahshua made which have so often been misunderstood in order to impose a meaning that they were not intended to bring. One particular verse that many today fall over is the following:

MattithYahu (Matthew) 5:17 Think not that I have come to destroy the Torah (Law) or the Prophets: I have not come to destroy but to reveal its full intended meaning. (Hidden Truths N.T.)

Many versions use the term Fulfil or complete which has brought much misunderstanding to this verse. This verse needs to be understood as an Idiom. To destroy from a Rabbinical point of view meant to misinterpret or misrepresent the Torah while to fulfil would mean to correctly interpret or represent the Torah. The language of Yahshua indicates that he was well versed with 1st Century Judaism and the Rabbinic ways of saying things. Yahshua in speaking to the Multitudes was saying that nothing would change until all the prophecies of Torah would come to fulfilment meaning until the last day “hoshanna Rabbah” the Great day also called Shemini Atzeret or Simcha Torah (the Joy of Torah).  

To fully appreciate Yahshua’s meaning we read further a word with regards keeping of the Commandments (the Mitzvot):

MattithYahu (Matthew) 5: 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments and shall teach men to do so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of the heavens and whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of the heavens.  

We know that the entire ministry of Yahshua was meant to culminate in him taking the sins of the whole World upon himself which was only necessary, in compliance with Torah that mankind could have relationship with YHWH renewed but he also spent much of his ministry correcting and opposing the “Takanot” or added commandments of the Pharisees that would often override and smother the True Torah which was truly quite liberating. In so doing Yahshua was bringing the true understanding of Torah and in no way casting it aside.

What we find of Yahshua is a perfect picture of complete obedience to the Torah through obedience to all aspects of the Feasts, the Shabbat and through his preaching which was in perfect accordance to the Torah so the verses in the Letter of Yochanan (John) truly demonstrates the importance of Torah Keeping for every believer:

Yochanan Aleph (1 John) 2:4-6 He that says I know him and does not guard his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. 5. But whoever guards his word, the love of Elohim is made whole in him; this is how we know that we are in him.

6. He that says he abides in him ought also to walk just as he walked.  

The Hebrew word for guard is “shomer”which is like a Soldier guarding his post in time of War.  According to Yochanan (John) the true measure of a person that is saved is whether he guards his Word the Torah to the best of his ability and walks in Torah as Yahshua did. 

Another challenging Scripture that Yahshua spoke is found in:

MattithYahu (Matthew) 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in the Heavens. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in your name and done mighty works in your name? And then I will say to them openly I never knew you; depart from me you who act wickedly [disregarding My Commands].”  (Amplified Bible)

Who then are those that the Master does not know! We find here that the ones the Master rejects are defined by their action of lawlessness or as the Torah would say walking in Torahlessness. What particular people today can be seen doing mighty works in his name without the obedience of Torah?

Many also will tell you that there are only two Commandments that are needed and this understanding comes from the following: 

MattithYahu (Matthew) 22:36- 40 Rebbe (Teacher) which is the great commandment in the Torah (Law)? 37 Yahshua said to him “Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu YHWH echad” And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the Torah & the Prophets.  

From this has come much teaching that all that one needs to obey is these two yet Yahshua is simply quoting Torah and not making anything New and then revealing that the love of YHWH and one’s neighbour is the foundations that the Torah & Prophets are built on. Torah without love becomes legalism and love without obedience is disobedience and selfishness. Nothing Yahshua ever said ever negated the Torah so we always come back to these words of Truth:

Yahuchanan (John) 14:15 “If you love me, keep my Commandments (Mitzvot).”

Yahuchanan Aleph (1 John) 5:3 For this is the love of Elohim, that we guard his Mitzvot (Commandments) and his commandments are not burdensome. 

In Summary:

In this Journey that the faith of YHWH has taken we now have discovered that if we view the many miracles and confrontations that Yahshua had, there is a thread that pervades them all. In truth he was often confronting the Takanot (added commandments) of the Pharisees in order to reveal the truth of Torah which had so often been hidden to make the commands of men superior. In so doing he was revealing the heart of the Father which was compassionate thereby establishing Torah as a blessing and not a burden. The Torah was always meant to bring us to understand that we need Yahshua who is the perfect sacrifice for sin as Shaul (Paul) puts it but even this has been grossly misunderstood by making it sound as though the Torah has ended:

Romi’Yah (Romans) 10:4 For Messiah is the goal of the Torah for everyone that believes.

In the Greek it is “telos nomou Chrestus” which has a more accurate meaning of to reach a desired place or goal. When we reach Moshiach (Messiah) we do not stop doing Torah but rather we learn to do it afresh and from a heart filled with gratitude. To the gentiles it was the entry point into the Covenant that would prevent contention over who was better since Shaul (Paul) also says:

Romi’Yah (Romans) 3:9-10 What then? Are we better than they? No in no wise: for we have before proved that both Yahudim and Greeks are under transgression.

10 As it is written “there is none right ruling (Righteous) no not one.

Quoted from Tehillim (Psalms) 14:3 & 53:3

 The aim of this discussion is simply to establish one of the central purposes for Yahshua’s Ministry. We find apart from acknowledging that his Purpose was to give his life for the World he also came for the purpose of revealing the True Kingdom of Elohim:

Luke 4:43 He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of Elohim to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

What then was he teaching? Was it that he would die so all might live free of the Torah. If this was his teaching why did none of his disciples understand when he was crucified! Was he teaching however the understanding of true Torah that revealed a true love of Elohim and by so doing was he revealing the True heart of the Father whose words were given to Mosheh and the Neviim (Prophets) to bring liberty and cause Mankind to know true freedom!

It was in fact a “New Heart” that Mankind needed and not a watered down law and so by Yahshua’s sacrifice Man through faith in him received a change in heart that his Torah could be written on the heart.  

The Truth of the Matter

1. The Torah of YHWH has undergone many hard fought challenges to come to us.

1. With the Revival of the Beyth Ha Mikdash (The Temple) and the faith of Yisrael restored the coming of Yahshua Ha Moshiach (the Messiah) was fully prepared.

1. Yahshua did not come to destroy the Torah but to see it fully revealed.

1. To say we know Him we must also walk as he walked. 

1. The goal of Torah was to bring us to Moshiach (Messiah).

1. If we believe the Torah is good we need to be uncompromising and zealous to see his truth revealed.

1. Finally based on all we have seen we can now truthfully investigate what the early Kehilot the Assemblies believed and how they walked out their Faith. 

Amein. 

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The Obligations of the Student - Part 9 - Spiritual Wardrobe

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The Obligations of the Student Part 9

Spiritual Wardrobe

Introduction

Since the fall in Gan Eden (Garden of Eden) clothing, the application of a foreign object to provide man with warmth, dignity and protection, has been a staple part of human existence. 

The first fashioner of clothing was the Creator Himself. “Yahweh Elohim made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)” 

Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) who’s slogan is “Animals are not ours,” an animal rights movement who protest and lobbies against the use of animals for just about every purpose, appose the use of animals for producing clothing made with fur, leather, wool, or silk. It also opposes the use of down from birds and the use of silk from silkworms or spiders. The group notes on its website: “Every year, millions of animals are killed for the clothing industry—all in the name of fashion. Whether the clothes come from Chinese fur farms, Indian slaughterhouses, or the Australian outback, an immeasurable amount of suffering goes into every fur-trimmed jacket, leather belt, and wool sweater.”

This organisation’s stance on the use of animals for clothing and food is a direct affront to the natural order and the will of the Almighty Himself who sanctioned these practices for human kind.  “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. (Genesis 9:3)” 

If Peta and many similar organisations had their way, it would be against the law to manufacture and own kosher Torah scrolls, mezuzot, and Tefillin (prayer phylacteries), three objects made from the hide of sheep, goats, oxen, cows or donkeys. 

Wearing clothing is the fulfillment of a command and is seen in our faith and Orthodox Judaism as a vehicle for religious observance. 

We are also commanded in the Torah not to wear clothing that is a mixture of different material. “Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. (Deuteronomy 22:11)” The wearing of non-kosher clothing is called Shatnez (mixture).

Many fabrics today have mixed fibers and are not 100% any particular one material, and this is usually permitted, unless wool and linen (or wool products and linen products) are mixed.

“Wool and linen attached to each other by any means is forbidden. It does not matter whether they are sewn together, spun, twisted, glued, or any method of attaching whatsoever. Any method of combining wool and linen is forbidden. Wool that has linen thread through it, linen that has woolen thread through it, wool and linen fabric sewn together by silk (or any type of thread), wool or linen held together by a needle or pin - all these are forbidden. However, it is permitted to wear a linen garment over a woolen garment, or vice versa, since they are not attached to each other.” Source - www.beingjewish.com

The first and most striking feature of clothing of the male Netzri or Yehudi (Nazarene or Jew) is the tallit, a prayer shawl, which is designed to support four tassels or cords made of wool. The first and most impactful thing a Christian notices about a gathering of true Netzarim (Nazarenes) is the wearing of these garments. At the point of donning these vestments a newcomer is either in or out. They’re either intrigued or they’re looking for the door as the room fills with ghost like images. 

The tallit is a garment one can wear to create a sense of personal space during prayer - the name comes from two root words: TAL meaning tent and ITH meaning little. Thus, you have a ‘little tent” or a mini mishkan (tabernacle) By wrapping yourself in it, you create a buffer zone between you and the outside world. In doing this your prayers, conversations and reflections are given privacy.

King Messiah Yahshua said “when you pray, enter into your chamber, and shut the door…”  (Matthew 6:6) This passage refers to the Jewish practice of using one’s tallit (prayer shawl) to create a private chamber over one’s head in which to pray with some privacy even in a public location. According to the Book of Jasher Enoch often concealed himself in his “chamber” (same word in the Hebrew) and his soul was “wrapped up” in the instruction of Yahweh (Jasher 3:2, 5)

Interestingly the tallit is not mentioned specifically as a command to wear it, however, the tzitzit (fringes) are commanded, which rely upon the staging of a four cornered garment.

“Yahweh said to Moshe, 'Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come,  you are to make tassels on the corners of one's garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so will remember all the commands of Yahweh, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all My commands, and will be consecrated to your Elohim. I am Yahweh your Elohim. (Numbers 15:37-41a)”

We’ve talked about the symbolism of the tallit in the past, mentioning its relationship to the tabernacle and its symbolism of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) and even its Kabbalistic link to the Cloud of Glory that adorned the first humans before the fall, but there is yet another significance to its design. 

In Judaism it is taught that wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) combats depression, protecting an occupant from tormenting spirits. But in what way? In Isaiah 53:5 there is mention of Moshiach’s afflictions and the final form addressed is an interesting word. It’s usual English rendering is “stripes.”

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)” This is interesting, because we can see symbolism not only on the tallit with its customary stripes, but across several religious icons, such as the mishkan (tabernacle), Israeli flag and the matzah bread (unleavened bread).

But I still haven’t answered the question. In what way does it combat evil. Well, the blue stripes represent the wounds, the blue bruises and the blood of Messiah rising to the surface.  What does the word say?  “…when I see the blood, I will pass over you. (Exodus 12:13)” 

The notion of a powerful mantle, robe or cloak is imbedded in the psyche of every human being. A special garment or ‘mantel’ that enwraps is a feature of nearly every wise and powerful figure throughout ancient history. So ingrained is this feature that it has risen up through the ages as a chief article of adornment of specially empowered individuals, even fictitious superheroes.

Next up is the tzitzit (fringes or tassels).

Tzizit also called gadilim, which means ‘twisted tassel with a knot,’ is a lock, a fringe, a tassel, or a forelock of hair.

As we’ve said, wearing of a tallit is a commandment by proxy, because though it is not officially directed, the tzitzyot, which are commanded, are supported by it. Note Numbers 15:38; “…they shall make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments…affix a thread of tekhelet on the fringe of each corner.” And in Deuteronomy 22:12; “You shall make tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.”

Observing the mitzvah of tzitzit is equivalent to all the mitzvot in the Torah, because it reminds us of all of them based on Numbers 15:40; “So that you shall remember and perform all My commandments, and you shall be holy to your Elohim.”

The colour of the tzitzit are also mandated in Scripture. “…and that they shall affix a thread of tekhelet sky-blue [wool] on the fringe of each corner. (Numbers 15:38)”

The observant eye will notice that the commandment to wear tzitzit is accompanied by mention of a colour, תכלתtekhelet, usually translated as ‘blue wool’ and yet most Orthodox Jews refrain from wearing a blue colour in their tzitzit. Why is this?

There are a myriad of reasons. The most common is that the sea animal that provided the unique royal blue coloured dye is in dispute. The Murex trunculus, a type of sea snail is said to not match various descriptions given by certain Rishonim (leading rabbis of the past). Some rabbis around the 19th century believed the Sepia Officinalis (the common cuttlefish) fulfills the requirement of tekhelet. There are other species of sea animals as well and the debate is very complex.

According to the Talmud, the dye of tekhelet was produced from a marine creature known as the kḥillazon (also spelledchilazon). And according to the Tosefta (Men. 9:6), the khillazon is the exclusive source of the dye. Which animal is the khillazon is an ongoing debate.  

The means of obtaining the techelet dye is from the cuttlefish call  Chilazon: “The Chilazon is this: its body is like the sea, its creation is like fish, it comes up once in seventy years and with its blood one dyes techelet - consequently it is expensive”.(Menacchhot 44a) 

The main argument Jews have against wearing tekhelet is over false sources, but there are other excuses. Here are some:

* Haredi rabbis: We don't deviate from the previous generation's mesorah, even if they call left "right" and right "left".

* Haredi layfolk: Because my rav doesn't wear it.

* Modern rabbis: We probably should, but it's not my mission.

* Modern layfolk: Eh, not interested. Plus, the people who wear it tend to be, er... "eccentric" types.

Encouragingly, many Orthodox Jews are beginning to reincorporate the wearing of tekhelet in their tzitzit, but as we can see the debate over the source of the dye and the other reasons given should not discourage the observance of a clearly exhibited commandment. 

Photo at Kotel (discuss)

Tzitzit teach us to make spirituality a part of our daily reality. In seeing the tzitzit, we have a tangible reminder of an incorporeal Elohim, in this way we catch a glimpse of the Divine in all things. This idea is evident from Song of Songs 2:9, where it says “Behold, says the maiden, he stands behind our wall, looking in through the windows, and peering through the lattice work.”

The Hebrew words May’tzeetz min ha’chah’rah’keem,  are translated as ‘peers’ or ‘peaks’ through the lattice work. The implication of this interpretation is that through the mitzvah of Tzitzit, Elohim peeks at His people, constantly keeping an eye on them, watching out for their benefit and well-being, reminding them to be faithful and good.

(Slide) Worshippers kiss the Tzitzit when they are mentioned in prayers. Since the Tzitzit points to Messiah, kissing it reminds us of Psalm 2:12, ‘‘Kiss the Son lest He be angry.’’ With this rightly understood, kissing the Tzitzit is in obedience to this commandment. This is proper because we see the Messiah in the fringes.

(Slide) Each Tzitzit consists of 7 white strands representing the number of perfection and the tekhelet (blue thread) makes 8, the number of new beginnings. The numerical value of tzitzit is 600. This combined with the 8 strands and 5 knots makes a total of 613, the total number of commandments in the Torah. 

Did you Know?   When people wear tzitzit they are literally donning the 613 commandments of the Torah. This in effect places spiritual armour over all the 248 organs of the body and its 365 sinews, which add up to 613.

(Slide) The tzitzit that hang from the four corners of the tallit contain numerical values that teach and re-enforce Torah principles. This is what’s called gematria (Hebrew) a form of ‘Biblical numerology.’ Every thread, twist and tie of the thread that make tzitzit is pregnant with meaning. 

Each tassel (tzitzit) should have 39 windings (7+8+11+13), which are separated by 5 lots of 2 double knots (7+8 =15 + 11 = 26) 26 is the total numerical value of the name of Yahweh. 13 is the value of Echad (one). Therefore the windings of each Tzitzit say “Yahweh is one.”

Each tassel (Tzitzis) should have 39 windings (7+8+11+13), which are separated by 5 lots of 2 double knots (7+8 =15 + 11 = 26) 26 is the total numerical value of the name of Yahweh. 13 is the value of Echad (one). Therefore the windings of each Tzitzit say “Yahweh is one.”

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Reclaiming the Original Faith - Part 2 Against All Odds

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Reclaiming the Original Faith

Part 2- Against All Odds

Introduction: 

We saw in our last teaching how upon the captivity of the people of Yahudah (Judah) that the Babylonian empire employed some very successful strategies in the hope of totalling changing the faith and thinking of those they had removed from their own Nations. However we experienced the dynamic strength that Daniel and his friends had which can only be attributed to their powerful Torah based upbringing and their love for YHWH which enabled them to withstand all these highly skilled strategies. The rather amazing final result we read in the Book of Daniel is that these young men through their great faith and determination to remain faithful to the Torah changed this mighty King who finally esteemed the Elohim of these young men rather than them in any way being conformed. These epic tales became a great inspiration for many Yisraelites and for us it has revealed how the true Original faith as delivered to the Forefathers was able to be carried by the remanent that survived the onslaught of this Pagan Empire. It was my hope that through these epic stories we gain a greater appreciation for the Torah and the unique path that Yahweh’s truth has taken in order to be fulfilled in the later days. I hope also that from a personal point of view that the stories inspire all of us to renew our dedication to do all that YHWH has spoken to his people. Today however we will continue on this great journey of the faith, to see what further assaults the Torah of YHWH would need to endure & how the love of YHWH and his Torah could endure and by what means it would endure. 

The Unveiling of a Hidden Truth:

The process of being uncompromising as we saw in the life of Daniel, ChananYah, Mishael & AzarYah was truly an inspiration because this Empire utilized a more Passive or subtle approach to compromise the lives of its Captives whom it removed from the lands they dwelt, in order for them to be assimilated into a New culture.

 In the Book of Ezra it is noted that only a small remnant of 42,360 Yisraelites had in fact returned to Yerushalayim indicating how efficiently the Pagan Empire of Babylon had employed its strategies causing many to desire to retain their wealth and prestige that Babylon had afforded them. This is the same challenge that we all face when the World offers us much comfort, wealth & pleasure because the ways of YHWH can be very costly as we noted with Daniel but also so gratifying. Yahweh through the hand of Ezra was once again able to establish the Torah which by then was waning, as well as re-establishing the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) so that it would once again be central to the life of Yisrael & could be used after being rebuilt to perform the prescribed Feasts and sacrifices under the Cohen Ha Gadol (the High Priest) Ezra. 

There is however in most scriptures a large vacuum covering more than 400 years that is conveniently absence being a period that traces a time of unprecedented affliction for the land of Yisrael and especially the Torah and the faith of the Forefathers. This period becomes our focus today to reveal its importance in maintaining the Original faith which was greatly tested and we will see what it took to see the faith established that was evident in the time of Yahshua as verified throughout the Brit Chadashah (the New Testament). 

Much of the Book of Daniel revolves around prophecy like the following:

Daniel 9:25 Know then and understand; from the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Yerushalayim until Moshiach (Messiah) the prince is seven weeks and sixty two weeks. 

 Knowing that this prophecy determines the time of the first coming of Moshiach (Messiah) it is in no way strange that the ferocity of the assault upon the faith is intensified through a period preceding his first coming just as we can expect before his second coming. Prophecy always has multiple applications so it is to that which we are drawn since the verses relate to the coming of Antiochus Epiphanes the son of one of the generals following the breakup of Alexandria’s kingdom and also to the coming of the Anti- Messiah in the end times according to Eschatological thinking.   

The Coming of Gross Compromise:

Our Journey to highlight the need for an increase in Zeal for the things of YHWH comes when Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) came under the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes when lawless Yisraelite men came to the King to make a compromising Covenant with the Goyim (the Gentiles). 

The Book of the Maccabees speaks of Antiochus in the year 143 of the Kingdom of the Greeks (169BC) taking Yerushalayim and arrogantly carrying offthe Golden Altar, the Lamp stands, the Table for the bread of the presence, the sacred cups, the golden censors, the curtains & the crowns etc. 

More than this he made a decree that all his subjects were to abandon their own Laws and Religion. Rather than the subtle re-education technique that Babylon employed we find that Antiochus Epiphanes took an extreme direct frontal attack in his desire to ruthlessly establish the Greek Religion in the entire domain under his control.

Today as we see the World employing many subtle ways to entice people away from the faith which also includes that of Christianity and Judaism we must realize that we are still balancing on the tip of the ice berg. There is far more to come before the coming of that great day as we will see happened before the coming of Yahshua. Under Antiochus escalation of the confrontation began with the purpose of destroying everything that was of YHWH and even all memory of him and his Torah which Antiochus wished to totally erase. 

Today we should be aware that the same is awaiting us but we are to not loose heart and that is what this entire story is all about. 

The Strategies that Antiochus employed:

1. Defilement of the Temple of YHWH:

Sadly upon the Decree of Antiochus Epiphanes threatening the people with violence, many people of Yisrael conformed to all his desires and all looked extremely grim for the Torah.

The first strategy that Antiochus employed was to attack the Kadosh (Holy) place, revered by the people of Yisrael the second Temple built under Zerubbabel and His ultimate insult finally came as we read in the following:

1 Maccabees 1:54 On the 15th day of the month Kislev (Hebrew 9th Month) in the year 145 (167 BC) “the abomination of desolation” was set up on the Altar of burnt offering and they built altars in the surrounding cities of Yahudah (Judah). 

What is most significant, is that this defilement was purposefully planned to coincide with the leading up to the winter solstice or the birth of the Pagan Sun Elohim to further bring insult and make the Temple a place of Pagan worship. It is believed that a statue of Zeus was erected and dedicated which is referred to as the “abomination of desolation” referred to in Dan 11:31 & 12:11. 

In the days of Yahshua we discover that the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) was so vital to the honouring of Yahweh and we see the response of Yahshua in the following verses to the actions of those in the outer Court of the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple)in: 

Yochanan (John) 2:17 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”[ quoted from Tehillah (Psalm) 69:9]

What we see of Yahshua is how passionately zealous he was for the House of YHWH to the point that his passion so consumed him that he had to release his righteous anger on the Merchants. Is it any wonder that the agent of Ha Satan being Antiochus in the time of the Maccabees would do his utmost to defile the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) and fill it with an image of Zeus and so desecrate the Temple since the Yahudim prized it and considered the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) as the most Kadosh (Holy) place and the place of YHWH’s presence! 

Even today we find the same since that most Kadosh place is occupied and houses a Foreign place of worship right on the Temple Mount and we should therefore be like Yahshua & be greatly grieved. However Yahshua also reveals a further truth about the Kadosh place when he answers the Religious leaders:

Yochanan (John) 2:18-20 So the Yahudim (Jews) answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”

19 Yahshua answered and said to them, “Destroy this Beyth Ha Mikdash (temple), and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 Then the Yahudim (Jews) said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this Beyth Ha Mikdash (temple), and will You raise it up in three days?”

21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

Since his body is the true Beyth Ha Mikdash (Temple) then we come to understand that he is our meeting point with Yahweh the Elohim of all Creation and that believers are referred to as the Body of Moshiach (Messiah) which then lends so much more weight to the verses of Shaul (Paul) when he says: 

Qorint’Yah Aleph (1 Corinthians) 6:19 Do you not know that your body is the Beyth Ha Mikdash (Temple) of the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy spirit) which is in you, which you have from Elohim and you are not your own? 20 for you were bought with a price: therefore esteem YHWH in your body. 

By allowing the Worldly thinking & the desires of the flesh over YHWH it is equivalent to putting false Elohim in his Temple which we are. If we have the same Zeal not to defile his Temple then we should do our utmost to keep ourselves from all forms of defilement and remember how passionately Yahshua was and how he wants us to be. This means to honour our personal bodies as well as the fellowship of believers which he calls his body. This in no way removes the importance of the place that Yahweh deemed to honour as his resting place which is the Sanctuary or the Temple Mount in Yerushalayim.

1. The Total Annihilation of the Covenants of YHWH:

This has to be one of the greatest attacks on the Original Faith in that the next Strategy that Antiochus employed was to deprive the entire land of every aspect of the knowledge of YHWH and all participation in the Covenants which surely the people of Yisrael were not deprived of under Babylon which used much more subtle approach:

1 Maccabees 1:56-60  

All Scrolls of the Torah (The Law) which were found were torn to pieces & burnt with fire. Anyone discovered in possession of a book of the Covenant, or conforming to the Torah (the Law), was put to death by the King’s sentence. 

59 On the 25th day of the month they offered sacrifice on the pagan altar which was on top of the Altar of burnt offering. In accordance to the decree they put to death women who had their children circumcised, their babies, their families and those who had circumcised them they hanged by the neck. Yet many in Yisrael (Israel) found strength to resist taking a determined stand against eating any unclean food. They welcomed death rather than defile themselves and profane the Kadosh(Holy) Covenant and so they died. 

As horrific as all this may seem it is important for us to see how relentless Antiochus Epiphanes was, to totally destroy all the evidence of the Original faith of the Fathers and supplant it with the Greek faith. We also see again the reference of an offering which was a swine offering, about 25th of December or the birth of the sun a High Pagan feast, the winter solstice. 

Though many resisted and paid severely he did gain success because many in the Kingdom did compromise. 

When we look at these stories it should not surprise us that these books have been deemed unacceptable and are not in most translations of Scripture but what they should do, is make us consider the importance of all these aspects of the Covenant of YHWH that these faithful people suffered so much to preserve.

The Turning of the Tide

In this sad tale however comes new hope when finally the King’s representatives came to the town of Modin:

1 Maccabees 2:17-18 The Kings officers spoke to Mattathias: you are a leader here, they said, a man of mark and influence in this town, with your sons and brothers at your back. All the Nations have done so, as well as the leading men of Yahudah (Judea) and the people left in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). Then you and your sons will be enrolled among the King’s friends; you will all receive high honours, rich rewards of Silver & Gold and many further benefits.   

This is always the way that the World will entice the People of Elohim to be drawn to compromise. What we find in this story is the desire of the enemy or Ha Satan for the Yahudim (Jews) to break the most Kadosh (Holy) Covenants of the Almighty by:

1. The eating & sacrificing of unclean animals breaking the Adamic/ Noahide Covenant.
2. The banning on penalty of death the act of circumcising children breaking the Abrahamic Covenant.
3. The banning of the keeping of the Shabbat, the Torah & the Moedim (Appointed times –the Feasts) of YHWH which again violated the Mosaic Covenant. 

The response however that they received from Mattathias was truly inspired by a love for YHWH and his Torah:

1 Maccabees 2:19-28 To this Mattathias replied in a ringing voice: though all the nations within the King’s dominion obey him and forsake their ancestral worship, though they have chosen to submit to his commands, yet I and my sons and brothers will follow the covenant of our fathers. Heaven forbid we should ever abandon the Torah (Law) and its statutes. We will not obey the command of the King, nor will we deviate one step from our forms of Worship.  

As soon as he had finished a Yahudi (Jew) stepped forward in full view of all to offer sacrifice on the Pagan altar at Modin, in obedience to the Royal Command. The sight stirred Mattathias to indignation; he shook with passion, and in a fury of righteous anger rushed forward and slaughtered the traitor on the very altar. At the same time he killed the officer sent by the King to enforce sacrifice and pulled the altar down. Thus Mattathias showed his fervent zeal for the Torah (Law) just as Phineas had done by killing Zimri son of Salu (during the rebellion in Mosheh’s day). “Follow me” he shouted through the town, every one of you who is zealous for the Torah (Law) and strives to maintain the Covenant. He & his sons took to the hills, leaving all their belongings behind in the town. 

This began the great struggle as further detailed in the Books of the Maccabees that describe supernatural defeats of grossly superior Greek armies that can only be attributed to YHWH. In the following we receive a wonderful example of one of these great victories against insurmountable odds.

1 Maccabees 3:28- 29 The Next year Lysias mustered 60,000 picked infantrymen and 5,000 cavalry to subdue them. 29 They came into Idumea and encamped at Beth-zur and Judas met them with 10,000 men. 

The result of the ongoing war would finally see Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) & the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) restored & Yisrael (Israel) freed. The day we remember as Chanukah (Hanukah) or the rededication of the Temple commemorates this as the following text reveals:

2 Maccabees 10:5 The sanctuary was purified on the 25th day of Kislev, the same day of the same month as that on which foreigners had profaned it.  

This celebration also reminds us how much blood was shed to restore the Faith of Yahweh and his Kadosh (Holy) Covenants preparing it for the coming of Moshiach (Messiah).   

The question that should come to our minds through all this, is how passionate are we for the ways of Elohim and what would we do or give up to see him Esteemed and to maintain all that he has decreed. Without these heroes of the faith how would the Faith survive and we know that YHWH in every time is always seeking those of a pure heart as he spoke to YeshiYahu (Isaiah) in:

YeshiYahu (Isaiah) 6:8 And I heard the voice of YHWH saying “whom shall I send and who will go for Us.” 

The Kingdom is surely under affliction and the Master is challenging us to take a Pro-active part in seeing his Kingdom prevail as we read in the following:

MatithYahu (Matthew) 11:12 And from the days of Yochanan Ha Matbil (John the Immerser) until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

Slide N 14 Click again

Luke 16:16 “The Torah (law) and the prophets were until Yochanan (John). Since that time the Reign of Elohim is being announced, and everyone is doing violence upon it.

Since we know this is no easy road we need to understand that to stand for YHWH is not a passive stand but requires a heart Zealous for him and all that he has revealed as Shaul (Paul) writes in:

Slide N 14 click 2nd time

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already received, or already been perfected, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Messiah Yahshua has also laid hold of me. 

The Unveiled Truth

Through this study we come to some most profound truths:

1. The journey the Torah has taken to come to us has been filled with extreme violence since the world system is under the sway of the Devil but YHWH is his power and compassion has prevailed.
2. In every time YHWH has his Zealous people that he has anointed to carry the torch to victory and we now have been given his light and are challenged to become his dedicated torch bearers in a difficult generation. We therefore have a great challenge to be like those men of faith who prevailed against all the odds to bring the Torah of truth to us today.
3. If the Torah, the Covenant & the love of YHWH has undergone such assaults should we not hold dear all that YHWH has given us and not grieve him by compromising his truth.

The Final Most significant Question:

Though the most powerful & violent Empires of the World were not able to destroy or even change any aspects of the Torah like the keeping of the appointed times, the Shabbat, the Dietary requirements etc. this begs the Question:

What force in all of history was able to change all the fundamental foundations of the Faith as delivered to the Forefathers? Surely the manifestation of Compromise became ingrained with Emperor Constantine and we need therefore to take a closer look at the early Assemblies (the Kehilot) and be willing to make the necessary changes that would see us reclaim the Original Faith devoid of the Pagan trappings that we have inherited. 

May this teaching prevail upon us to read some of these often unknown books commonly known as the Apocrypha to enhance our love and commitment to all the wonderful instructions of Yahweh as revealed through the Torah & the Prophets?   

Amein.

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