I am a "baby Christian" more or less, although I call myself a Messianic believer.

I feel I am being lead and my whole life has prepared me to take exactly this path.

One thing I believe everybody seems to overlook though is this.

All of my life I have declared myself Agnostic, I had looked many times for truth (as I know many others who have). The problem was everytime I looked I would run into these Pagan Rituals. I was looking for something that was 100% truth and was run off many times because I couldn't find 100& truth in any church I looked.

To make a long story short, eventually I had given up. Nothing left me feeling fullfilled, and somehow I knew finding G-d was the only answer for me. I prayed to G-d (not knowing who he was) and the spirit took care of the rest.

All I think about is serving G-d, all I do is study both Hebrew language culture and scripture. I know it's what I am supposed to be doing right now. I am fortunate because I was not raised into any religions (other than the worship of money). This allows me to study the Bible without any preconcieved predjuces.

I have a friend who runs a school here in Michigan, her father is a bible scholar and I have been given the opportunity to study under him in the near future. They have also contacted me and asked to serve into their ministry! (without saying a word we all felt the same!)

What I am saying is this is waaay bigger than maybe all of you realize. Most intelligenbt people I know not raised in a "G-d household", I feel are also waiting to recieve this same truth. I estimate the potential to grow this church to possibly one of the biggest in the world is simply a matter of time.

There are countless people out there just waiting for a religion to present be presented to them that is 100% origional and 100% Truth.

I don't know where my journey will lead me, but I am finally able to enjoy every step.

I would like us all to stick together and possibly start an organization of some sort. At times it seems to me that because I want to learn from the Bible and my Spirit and ONLY from those 2 things that it makes me the minority. The Bible is my instruction book and it is complete.

My point is for those of us that feel this is their calling lets get together, share our ideas and give each other help and prayers in any way we can.

G-d bless you all,
Matt

msanow@comcast.net

Thanks for the article. Interesting to read your thoughts.

I am teaching the bible from a Torah point of view. My teachings go out each Shabbat from www.sightedmoon.com and www.sightedmoonnl.com to groups and people around the world. And iin many languages.

I am wondering if you are interested in working together and how we would do this.
My web site focuses on the Sabbatical and Jubilee year curses and the Prophecies of Abraham. Any way I am trying to make contact with many groups in some sort of league. Please drop me a line and let me know. admin@sightedmoon.com

Shalom
Joseph F Dumond
www.sightedmoon.com

If we believe God exists at all, we must give Him credit for knowing which way we need to go. It makes no sense to think He gave man one way long ago and now wants to change that way. It only makes sense that He still wants us to continue the original way. Forgive my frequent quotes from Enoch, but it can't be helped, I must quote here from book one of our three part Bible. Enoch calls The Lords rules, "the eternal law". Clearly The Lord gave this information to man in the first Age of the world, otherwise it would not have been fair to kill most all of them. And The Lord is always fair, He created fair and put it into our heads. The point is, the spirit or meaning of the law has not changed since the beginning and it clearly will still be in effect after the Judgement. The only difference in this Middle Age is we don't have the proper understanding or the proper regard for His eternal laws. Evil has become so common in this world it is difficult to imagine what is good. It has become like conditions in Egypt when Moses was following the commandment of passover. In those days it was illegal to kill animals in that fashon. Nowadays, if you catch someone defiling themselves with a beast and kill the beast according to the law, you will go to prison and the beastiality person will be given support, against the law of God. Things in this country are upside down the way they were prophesied to be at the end of days.

Ron Cash
roncash326@gmail.com

Hello, my name is Daniel i am 22 years old, i was born and raised in Massachusetts, was raised being taught about the pagan jesus. Until the real Jesus, or His real name, Yeshua, showed me who He really was, and gave me His TRUE LIFE. He revealed Himself to me (a gentile) as the Hebrew Yeshua the Messiah not the greek jesus christ and when i brought this revelation into my church when i was 18 they rejected the teaching. I was also rejected when i gave them a reason for them to accept it was showing the Son of Man reverence. So now im like all these churches suck, they are powerless, they don't do anything but waterdown and washout the TRUTH in GOD'S word. they rape it's people for money, even the churchs that claim to be good are full of greed and judgmental ignorant Pastors who c laim God wont bless you if you give money; their eyes are in eachother and no ones eyes are truly on the King and what He has really done. They are pretending to be of God but not really of Him. MERRY PAGAN CHRISTMAS

I was reading basicly the same thing in an eBook called the "Two natures of the child of God." It mentions everything that is in your blog. It seems the Greek way is full of good works, and not following Y'shua. No wonder the Western Church is so screwed up. If it be possible to go back to the way, it just might settle things down, and we won't act like a dog chasing his tail.

Once again, Please forgive the length of this. It took me about 30 years to get these questions resolved and this is the best I can do to report to you.

Christianity is a lot like Jacob's ladder without the steps and everyone thinks of it differently. We know it contains the Truth, but it seems to be missing a lot that needs to be explained. It turns out we have only been looking at part two and three of a three part Bible. In order to understand, we must look at all three parts, which correspond to the three Ages of the world.
Part one was the beginning of the world and is recorded in a document titled after it's author, Enoch, or more correctly, Hah-no-k. It is cleverly camouflaged among a group of false writings called pseudoepigraphic and mostly overlooked today. Yet, within the text is the proof of it's validity. It reveals 200 angels who chose to depart from God and explains their agenda toward mankind. The writing exposes the origin and circumstances of the leader and his host with all their children in the world known as evil spirits. They were commissioned to watch mankind and punish sins, but they cleverly conceal their oppression in favor of their children and kill many more of God's people than necessary. The Rebel Gods would never have written something giving away this information. An unbeliever would never understand enough to fabricate the writing, and a believer would sooner have died than write something false.
Part two begins in the Second Age of the world and was clearly written by prophets like Moses who understood the writing of Enoch and believed it. In fact, the traditions given to the Jews do not completely make sense unless one understands the book of Enoch. The first five books of the Tanak or Old Testament were written by Moses, who met with God and received the Written Law. The Oral Law was later given to King David by God and became known as the Jewish traditions. The Hebrew people became known as Jews only after they accepted the law or the Ketuba, a marriage contract, at mount Sinai, thereby taking on the name of the Spouse as in any Jewish wedding. These books focus on the rules of conduct or law of God. The use of clear statutes, examples and stories of success and failure leave no doubt about the meaning of either the spirit or the letter of the law.
The last part of the plan is called the New Testament. The Savior and His commandments are the central focus of the writings, but compliance to the Law now is more like that of the First Age than that of the Second, and punishment is postponed until the end of the world or the last harvest of the world. The first, called the First Fruits occurred when the Lord arose from the grave, left the planet, and took with him many who had died. The second will occur at an event called the rapture or Judgement Day or Rosh Hashanah, when the Lord will take His bride to His fathers house. .
Christ did not start a new religion. He took a new bride and showed her how to fulfill the rules that were already in place. Otherwise, He would have made it plain and given it a new name along with the new followers. The true meaning of the Bible has been confused with modern ideas about freedom and pagan ideas about religion. Many word definitions have changed and much understanding given to the Jews, that allows the Bible to make sense, has been put away. The Bible is very unique in its composition because in order to understand it, we must believe it; but much of the meaning is contained in ancient traditions and customs. Originally given to king David by God, the ways of His people are a key to unlocking the mystery of the Gospel. We cannot believe what makes no sense and only after learning the truth does the three dimensional picture of the Kingdom appear. When the picture of God's plan appears, many mistranslated words become obvious, so it is necessary to discover the original meanings in the Hebrew and Greek languages. The refugees of a whorish religious cult, our forefathers did not understand that freedom does not include creating a home-made religion. The mere idea that religion and culture can be separate causes a schism in the mind. Our new world was molded with a confusing legacy of pagan holy days, idolatry and merchandising the Kingdom of God. Consequently, most all denominations nowadays stumble along worshiping what and how they know not. Preachers seeking their own glory speak of themselves and preach from their imagination because they cannot explain what they do not understand. It will be more difficult for us to get back on the right track with God from where we are now than it was for those ancient Hebrews wondering in the wilderness of Seen.
Some confusion begins with the name of our Lord. The Hebrews were punished many times for worshiping the wrong God. Considering one such scripture, "Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.", we still have a high degree of responsibility to worship the Lord only and to know His name. The Lord's Name is Yeshua. Yeshua means savior. It is the only name that gives meaning to what Gabriel said, Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Yeshua: for he shall save his people from their sins." The word Jesus is a Greek rendering of the word savior, instead of the proper name of a person. Why not just call the Lord by His name? The idea of changing God's name is not new. Jeremiah 23:26, "How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal." The word 'Christians" comes from the Greek word 'Khris-tee-an-os', or the singular 'Khristos' meaning Messiah. While the word Jesus refers to Christ by translation, I know of no culture or community in the world where people are called by a translation of their proper name. Changing The Lord's name may be the first step in the very wrong direction our culture and our religion progressed from the original plan of God. Suspiciously, our customs today resemble those of the Greeks, Romans and Babylonians more than those of the Jews whom God personally trained. This becomes more significant when we understand most of the commandments of God deal with customs. It is even more significant when we understand who is a Jew nowadays.
Something very important happened after Christ arose that many tend to miss, yet it is the key to understanding the world and the Kingdom. The definition of who is a Jew changed when God changed brides. Paul describes our new situation in Romans 2:28, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
When Yeshua died the marriage was over with the Hebrews. He also took back His Name at that time as He promised. Matthew 21:43, "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." My people who are called by My name" now refers to all those who believe on Yeshua and follow God's commandments. God changed brides. He did not change His name or His way of living. When those old Hebrews rejected God's ways they rejected His Jewishness. They were never called Jews until the marriage ceremony at Mount Sinai, and notice the same things happened both then and at Pentecost like; the visible, cloven tongs of fire, the rushing mighty wind and the people of one accord. So, betrothal and Jewish-ness is now a spiritual thing in the Kingdom. If we want to be called by His name and to be His new bride, we need to be better Jews than the last ones. Paul reminds us in Romans 11:24, "For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?"
Remember what Yeshua said to the Samaritan woman beside Jacob's well, St John 4:22, "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." Notice He said 'is' not 'was.' He reaffirmed this after he rose from the grave and sat down in heaven by a statement to John on the isle of Patmos when He said, Rev 2:9,"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."
If the status of being a Jew were one of blood when Yeshua said that, a Jew would still be a Jew no matter what they said. But He points out that one may say he is a Jew and not be one. So, since The Lord confirms Paul's definition of who is a Jew and salvation is of the Jews, it's time we recognize our status as the New Jews. Because the promise to Abraham was the father of many nations, not just the Hebrew nation. Romans 9:6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 4:13 "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." 4:17 "(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" means they are not necessarily spiritual Israel which were born of Jacob. But now, Israel, the bride of Christ, is an invisible nation made up of many different peoples and spread among the nations of the world. This is easier to accept now that we understand we are part of it. It is very clear the Lord calls His people Jews. Why make up a new name if not to mislead people and by-pass the rules? Yet there is still a group of people who call themselves Jews and are not. Strangely enough, there are also many people who claim to be of God's family but reject His name. Instead, they choose a Greek name because they do not understand. Notice the following scripture was written long before the term Khris-tee-an-os was coined by the Greeks. 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." If God's people do not know who they are today, they cannot understand their Biblical role in this world or that all those blessings and promises of God to his last bride now apply to them.
Now we should be able to understand the assembly during the Pentecost event when they were all gathered in the Temple, Acts 2:5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." So there were Jews from every nation under heaven, not just Hebrews. Hymmmm. The status of being a Jew has never been only one of blood, but one of faith. Remember - in Isaac, who was the son of faith, shall thy seed be called. The nearer we get to the end of days the more clear it's all becoming.
God did not create a religion. The religion concept was apparently created as a device to make heathen worship practices legitimate by putting God in a box, so everyone can choose the box they like. Once the concept of religion was created, it was easy to break God's plan into many different and incomplete parts, each with its own name as a separate religion. So there arose many fragmented religions which eventually grew into a bazaar set of choices. If we examine the original instructions and plan of God, we find it is the only one clear and complete, as would be expected from a Creator. What we know as religion is a very poor and limited substitution for the comprehensive culture God commanded. The set of rules God gave the Jews can be separated into many different categories and amounts to an entire culture with all the laws, boundaries, norms, and special occasions in place. Yet even the Hebrews failed to follow His instructions in the past and fell into the trap of greed, idolatry, and oppressing the poor. So He finally divorced them and adopted any that would believe and follow His commandments; hence came many nations. But, it is most important for us to understand that throughout history His basic rules never changed. His promises never changed, and the way He wants us to behave has not changed.
Now we come to the point. If we be Jews, How should we live? It's very important that we understand our relationship to God's commandments. Paul said we are the wild branches grafted into the original vine of Israel. If so, we have the same obligation to the root as the original vine. So all those commandments of God to the Jews belong to us. Notice the two requirements of God's people at the end times, Revelation 12:17," And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Yeshua." We must notice that when Yeshua married His new bride He did not present a new Ketuba or marriage contract, because He said the last one is still in place, Matthew 5:17. The law is still our guide to the way God wants us to live. It should be our cultural boundary now because we are the new Jews. Let us not make the same mistake as those ancient Hebrews; We are not here to earn righteousness through the law, We are here to learn righteousness using the law as a guide, in contrast with evil that is the opposite. But who among those of Old who understood the law thought such an obvious thing needed to be copied into a New Testament? Those who fashioned the Christian religion did not understand the law. Then, in the complicated process of time, politics and the evil that sits in Judaea, the obvious was missed or covered over and the effect has been disastrous, evidence; the world.
One sign of this disaster appeared when I discovered we have changed God's seasons and holidays from those commanded to ones mixed with rebel-ism and ideas contrary to His teaching. Jeremiah 10:3 "For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for it is but a tree which one cutteth out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." Doesn't that sound like a Christmas tree? This custom did not come from anything associated with Yeshua or the ways of His people, but from the Baalim. The Scandinavian Baal, Odin, was said to bestow special gifts at Yuletide to those who approached his sacred firtree. In Rome, the firtree was decorated with red berries during the Saturnalia or winter festival and gifts were exchanged. Yet Yeshua was born during Sukkot between September and October, when there were shepherds in the field. Similar problems exist with Easter, St Patrick's day, and Halloween. Sunday, Monday, etc. are all Baalim names and our calendar is Roman, January for the Baal of beginnings, Janus. Even if people claim it's all directed to God, He said to not worship Him in the same manner the heathens worship their gods. Deut. 12:30 'Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; If there is one thing that will get people condemned to the lake of fire forever, it is worshiping the Baalim or in the same manner as their worshipers. Changing the name of God and changing His festivals into enemy festivals may be all that is needed to get most people too far down the wrong path.
In the early days, after Christ died, many Gentiles believed The Lord's message even though all the writers of the Bible were Jewish. There were many Gentiles around the country and this was their first chance to hear long kept secrets of the kingdom of God. The unbelieving Jews, who killed Christ, wanted to remain in power and mostly chose ways leading to power and profit. They continued to operate the Temple, business as usual, for another 40 years, even with the miracles that happened - the ones we never heard of in our partial religions. Four miracles were reported in the Temple after the death of Christ. The Menorah in the Holy Place would never stay lit again. The red cloth tied to the horns of the Ahzazel goat never turned white again on the Day of Atonement. The lot for the Adonai goat never came up in the right hand of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement again (for the next forty years it came up in his left hand at the drawing). Finally, the Nicanor Gate opened by itself allowing the Roman army into the Courtyard of the Priests and the rest of the Temple. With such obvious clues, How could those Hebrews not understand or believe that Yeshua was the Messiah? It appears they just chose power and profit instead of God, like the rich man who wanted to follow Yeshua, but put down his head and walked away.
If we plan to have oil in our lamps when the Bridegroom arrives, we cannot continue to ignore the things of God. While we abandon those Hebrews who did not believe, the Jews who did believe are the branches of Israel. Our best recourse now is more understanding. We must understand what is most important and pursue it while identifying and avoiding the deadly ways of the Baalim so widely endorsed by our culture. Interestingly, there is a wonderful level of understanding that occurs when we physically take part in the plan of God. Ezekiel 20:11 "And I gave them my laws, and taught them my rules, by the pursuit of which a man shall live." JPS Tanak.
Today, those trying to sit in Moses' seat tell us we are not under the law any more, which is partly true. The redemption process changed so that Yeshua is the sacrifice once and for all. But the spirit of the law is still the same even though adherence to his commandments has suffered mightily nowadays. When Paul says, Romans 3:20, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.", he means the law cannot save us any more than a roadmap can get us to our destination. In order to reach a location we must have the directions, and be willing and free to follow them. We must follow the spirit of the law in order to qualify for heaven, Matthew 18:3, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." In order to walk in the spirit of the law we must understand it. When they were of one accord and wanted to do the will of God, the Jews considered everything they were instructed by God as a commandment, not just the ten given at mount Sinai. Some of these had nothing to do with the statutes for redemption but were designed as holy convocations, a perpetual covenant, a memorial or a remembrance; like the Sabbath and the feasts of the Lord. Some were 'social commandments' that would help us stay on the right path, and we need those social guidelines to know how to live today. The earth will not swallow us immediately if we choose to ignore God's ways and focus on pleasure. But since Yeshua came, our choice has been to follow His commandments to the degree that we love Him, or to impose on His grace until the Judgment Day. Yet we can only follow His commandments in spirit if we understand the ways of the people He trained, as scripture clearly says we must. Jeremiah 12:16, "And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people."
Even after Christ arose and sat down in heaven, Paul and the disciples still attended the festivals and supported the keeping of the ordinances of God according to God given Jewish tradition. Acts 18:18, "And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. ( a Nazarite vow of the law ) 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus." Acts 21:26, "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them." Additionally, in the following discourse, Yeshua infers that in the last days the Sabbath will still be a special day as in the old covenant, which means it should still be so today. Matthew 24:20, "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
We are far off track nowadays. Our culture is so far from God even the churches ignorantly support the Baalim, departing from Truth to become social and entertainment centers like the ziggurats of Old. It is easy to separate those trying to justify themselves from those trying to align themselves with God's will. The former are those who teach from their imagination and speak of themselves. Teaching we are not under the law in general implies to many that we may disregard it, yet the Lord never said any such thing. Yeshua said, Matthew 5:17, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." The Greek word used here for destroy is mistranslated. katalusw, Ka-ta-Iu-o only means destroy when associated with a physical object. When referring to a government or an ideal it means 'to deprive of force, to abrogate, annul or discard.' Thayers Greek Lexicon, Mt. v. 17, p 334. What Yeshua said is, I have not come to deprive the law or the prophets of force. The word used for fulfil, plhrow, play-ro-o, means "universally and absolutely, to fulfil, i.e. to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment; Mt. v. 17." Thayer's Greek lexicon p 518.
What He is saying about "but to fulfil", is one of those hidden things from the beginning of time. There was only one person in each age of the world able to fulfil the Law. In the first age it was Enoch, in the second it was Elijah, and in this last age, it is Yeshua. Otherwise, at the Judgement, it might be argued that God's laws were impossible to fulfill and unfair. But not so now since someone in each age of the world has done it.
Again the Lord explains the status of the law, Luke 16:17, "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." The word fail, piptw, Pip-to, when used to describe sayings or precepts, means "to lose authority, no longer have force" Thayer's Greek lexicon, p 511.
Further He said, Luke 24:44, "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."
Additionally, In order to understand the New Testament we must understand the Hebrew meaning of the word faith because the speaker is Hebrew and it has a very different meaning than people in the west understand. It is not a license to make up our own free-style religion. There was no concept in Hebrew of blind faith. Such an idea is regarded as gambling. In Hebrew, faith means confidence, and that based on knowledge and understanding. The faith of Abraham was confidence in God as he had past experience and believed God would act according to the principles He had spoken before. Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all..."
In order to get our heart right today we must follow the spirit of God's commandments. If Abraham had not known God, he would not have had faith that God would provide a substitute for Isaac. To understand His commandments and ways is to begin to know God. Similarly, many years later, if there were things in His observance of Jewish ways that we should not embrace, Yeshua would have shown us when He was here. We should notice when He was confronted about breaking the Sabbath by picking corn, He did not argue about the rule, He simply noted an exception like king David used in the past. When confronted about healing on the Sabbath, He did not argue about the rule, He noted the scope of the rule did not include what He was doing, like getting an ox out of a ditch. The Lord was not angry with those scribes and Pharisees because they were trying to hold to the letter of the law, but because they were not keeping the law themselves. He noticed they made changes that brought themselves profit and took away from others. They were fleecing the people and breaking the spirit of the law. Many of the commandments are still not negotiable if we intend to get to heaven. Many of them we already do and automatically know in the heart, but what are His ways? What if we want to do His will today? Just how can we know for sure that we are doing the right thing? Yes, we can know, It is not true that we cannot know. God's plan for us is not a mystery. 'Mystery' means a deeper meaning, not something unknown. There were four levels of understanding in Jewish grammar in those days; Paschat, literal interpretations; Ramas, alluding to; Darash, interpretations; and the last was Soad, (mystery) the Deeper Meaning.
Notice the Lord attended the Festivals, the New Moons, and the Sabbaths after His rule began, and He said, "follow me". The festivals are a blessed gift to God's people. They outline His plan for the world and identify His people as separate from the Gentiles. The times and seasons described in Genesis are fixed on the heavens where God framed the festival times. The sun marks the day, the moon marks the month, and the stars always mark the sign of His coming.
Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" Exodus 12:14 "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." The original Hebrew word for seasons here in Genesis, Mydewm, mow-ah-dim, literally means appointed times or festivals.
These times and seasons are festivals that are a foreshadowing and rehearsal of God's plan. Some of them foreshadowed the coming of Christ and some are for things still to come. Col 2:16, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." To be judged for respecting a holyday or a new moon and the sabbath days is to be judged for following God's commandments. It has always been understood that these things are a shadow or foreshadowing and a rehearsal of God's plan both past and future.
For example, Shavuot commemorates the giving of the law to the world at mount Sinai, which was the first Pentecost. It was then the word went out to all the people in the world and settled on those at the mountain in a visible form asking each person if they accepted it. It is also the Ketuba or marriage contract between God and His people, and the event was the first half of the Jewish marriage ceremony called kiddushin or betrothal. The second half is called nisuin , traditionally, a year later when the groom took his bride to the house he had prepared for her. So, many years later, when God ended His espousal with the Hebrews it was necessary to have another betrothal, hence Pentecost. The second half of God's wedding, nisuin, will be when He returns and takes His bride to His heddar in heaven at the beginning of the tribulation. As He pointed out, we will not see Him until then and we say blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord and the nisuin begins. It has always been the custom in Jewish weddings when the groom enters the room, everyone stands and says "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord". It is part of the ways of His people given by God, and in the blessedness of pure honesty, followed by Him.
Another example is when Christ was standing in the Courtyard of the Women in the Temple during the feast of Sukkoth, and there were sixteen great lights burning (during that event the Temple was called The Light of The World) it was then He said, "I am the light of the world." So, the fashion of those lights and that event was to foreshadow who He is that we might understand Him better. It is also where the statements originated that we associate with His birth like; Luke 2:13 "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" which is a part of the Sukkot liturgy they had rehearsed for hundreds of years. And briefly, the Passover sacrifice process was followed explicitly in the crucifixion of Christ including the place of His birth, the time of day, the preparation, the inspection, and it was called the Crown Sacrifice. The New Years Day or Judgment Day called, Rosh Hashanah, is a picture of the last days including the tribulation with the Day of Atonement 10 days later representing the final end of the world. There is a place for the whole family in the festivals of God leaving no room for fables, fairy tales and home made holydays. The things given to we Jews are to help us understand God's plan and keep our feet on the right path. When we understand these things, the Bible resembles a symphony written across time with unlimited scope and filled with meaning, and we should be taking part in it.
Another covenant between God and His people is the Sabbath. There are wonderful blessings associated with keeping this covenant that we are missing. It is not an optional holyday. Before grace came people were killed for not keeping it. The Sabbath has nothing to do with forgiveness of sins and redemption. Separate from all of that and very briefly, it foreshadows the millennium when we will join God in His rest, as He rested after creation.
The Bible is written like a family history because the Kingdom is a family affair. What is more, God is somebody. He has feelings like us and can become angry and joyful. An analogy to His commanded festivals would be like our birthday parties. Is it really necessary to have a birthday party if we have the birthday spirit in our hearts? Next time your child has a birthday tell them that you don't believe in a lot of ritual business and you're going to stop having parties with friends and cake and presents. Tell them you have freed yourself from that tradition and observance on the outside and will now be observing the birthday spirit in your own way, in your heart. See how they respond.
Jewish things are as things will be in heaven. For example, the coming Judgment Day is going to be a day of harvest. This is the Last Trump, on this day The Bride of Christ, known as the Zadakim or Saints - living and dead, from the Book of Life, will be taken to His heddar in heaven - leaving behind on earth those who have not yet decided who to follow. Isaiah 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in." "Open the gates" is an expression that always refers to Rosh Hashanah, the Judgement Day, and here it is used to point to the new Bride, the righteous nation, going into the Heddar just before the tribulation. A few very troublesome years later, He will return to earth with the Zadakim and there will be another gathering, The Great Trumpet, a Jewish wedding feast, and a slaughter. So everyone will go to a feast, either as the Bride of Christ, or as the main course at the feast of Leviathan, where all those who are sealed for Gehenna will be killed and the birds will eat them at the Tophet in the Hinnon valley near Jerusalem; Matthew 24:28 "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." But in the Old Days only the Jews knew all this. Ironically, today with the new definition of who is a Jew, it is still only the Jews who understand.
Notice Paul never called himself a Christian, He called himself a Jew. Acts 22:3, "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day."
Another excerpt from the last days is in the book of Zechariah. Here the Lord is telling us what will happen during the tribulation. Zech 14:13, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour." 8:23, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." 'In that day' and 'In those days' refers to the last days. Notice God's people are still called Jews during this time. If they have been called Jews in the past, and will be called Jews in the future, Why would they not be called Jews now?
It seems clear the following text, written by Moses long ago, is a message from God to us scattered among the nations now. Deuteronomy 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee (in the future), the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, (Notice how long a time it was before He had driven them among all the nations and note where we are now) 2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day (the same rules), thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, (He cannot be speaking of the Canaanite nations because those were destroyed to become the nation of Israel.) whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. 4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, (they had no space travel then either) from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. 8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. 9 And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: 10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
The world is very confusing now. What appears is not what is. The greatest kingdom ever created is about to be completed with mankind as this world is nearing the end and many devices of the enemy are being revealed. But the worst danger ever faced by mankind is upon us in this present culture fashioned after Babylon and Rome. The danger of not knowing one's own identity is failure in any kind of war. The victory of convincing a person he can abandon his God or live and worship however he wishes in a decadent world is the last stroke needed by the enemy. We may choose life or death, the blessing or the curse, but we cannot change the rules. It appears likely many people may be judged for ignorantly following the Baalim and our culture may be considered as our religion; like the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Greeks, and Romans, who were making an ignorant mistake. It appears God has not changed the rules at all in these latter days, but only placed His court in recess. Now we must find those life-giving rules again. Only this time, instead of getting them from a fiery mountain, we must seek them amid an ocean of misdirected, grandstanding preachers, money mongers, devils and distractions. It will not be as easy this time because time is short and the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Ron Cash
roncash326@gmail.com

i work as a Lutheran priest in Sweden but the last 4 years of my life have been a very interesting journey.

i would encourage any person who wants to have a deep relationship with G_d to explore the journey of opening the door to the Hebraic roots of our faith.

but before you do weigh the costs well. many well meaning believers will not understand you, even if they love you and are members of your family. many will accuse you of being legalistic or being false. Sometimes that can hurt.

Sometimes as messianic followers of Yeshua we can think that we are better or have a more true insight into life in obedience to G_d. we need to pray for those who do not understand.

okay, i am already on the journey but I have found out that if i allow the Scriptures to lead me it can mean a lot of changes in your life. it has for me.

i now stand on a precipice waiting for the next step. I know that Yeshua is Messiah. I cannot turn back. My faith in our G_d has increased and I have a greater sense of peace. The Bible makes more sense to me now more than it ever has.

This journey has led me to reject that Yeshua came to start another religion. But that does not mean that rabbinical Judaism is the answer either. sometimes I am aided by the Mishnah in understanding what Yeshua means but many times I see how the sages have gone far beyond
the scope of the text. But so has mainstream Christianity.

so how much of Yeshuas life do I follow? If he lived perfectly and in everything he did he pleased G_d, then should I not follow him in all of his ways? do I not follow some of his practices because it would cause me great distress or even my job?

Yeshua celebrated the feasts, Sabbath, ate according to the dietary laws of Lev 11 and never wore clothes that were sewn of different kinds of thread (only 100% cotton, or wool, or leather or linnen). which laws did he reject? I can find none of them.

so where do I turn? So many people make smug comments and look down upon us just because we want to follow Yeshua's footsteps, regardless where they lead.

for all of the troubles, it has been worth it. my only regret is that I did not do this earlier. i am striving to live maximally for G_d. I do this by following in Yeshua's footsteps.

take the plunge but do it mindfully.

shalom

Edward

Frustrating. Discouraging. Demoralising. But enough about how the 'church' makes me feel.
How much of the bible talks about Israel, the Jews, Yeshua (a Jew) or things Hebrew? 90% 92% 95%? Yet how often do I hear any of these mentioned in the baptist 'church' I attend? 0% 1%?
We have gone soooooooooo far off the course which this faith of ours was meant to be. Consequently the 'church' is lost and possibly/probably deceived, chasing after things which will be burned up like stubble.
Mention any of the foregoing to churchgoers (gently) and they either think you are an alien or are a poor soul. How patronising!
How I long for like minded people to fellowship with in my area (Stirling, Scotland). I don't tick the boxes. I am a square peg, I don't fit!
How long can the 'churches' go down the road of assimilating false teachers/teaching and trying to manufacture faith, experiences, 'worship', emotions, finances and whatever else tickles their ears.
I'll take the remnant every time - if I can find it!

I left church earlier this year when i was challenged by a fellow believer who has never attended the organisation of church.

I tried to get him to change his views, but he remained adamant after seeking Jesus' face, fasting and searching Scripture... I was surprised to find that he is right.

The Church, as an organisation definitely does have pagan roots; thus it seems that it is easier for them to accept the lifestyles of pagans than a lifestyle of holiness as is mentioned right throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The true Church is any believer who has Christ as their head and is therefore ingrafted to the Israel of God, i believe. This seems to me, to be the way.

I am a Jew well half, my Father was from a strict jewish background and my Mother Irish, and 22 years ago I became a Believer in Yeshua, so Yep im up for the Journey.

winklers7@optusnet.com.au

So many here in America are seeking... and finding... the Ancient Paths.

Count us in!! After growing up in denominational Christianity (35+ years).... and still hungering for something more.... we found that we could actually trust HIM to be our guide, and lead us and guide us into all truth.
If we really serve our Messiah, and follow Him... He may open our eyes to leave some of the very institutions who claim to bare his Name, yet who are mixing His WORDS with paganism, and vain philosophies....
Seems many from around the world are hearing the cry to "COME OUT from among them", and they are making "the journey OUT" of the mixed belief systems, and institutions, and denominations, and following our Messiah, who is faithfully leading us back to the ancient paths, THE WAY!

We are loving your website, and look forward to reading more.
Shalom!

Deborah D, Atlanta Ga. USA

Why if it important that you return [teshuvah] , you still use the Greek terminology?

Jesus?
Church?

hypocrites?

Shalom

I share your excitement- what we all see coming - the journey back to our roots. Don''t count us out here in the U.S. I currently live in Missouri where God is bringing unity to all the denominations of our small town. The ultimate unity of course will be to come together in the roots of our Hebrew background. I've never been so excited to study the Sriptures as I have since God has shown me that the "past" is the only way to move forward into spiritual unity with all God's people. We will soon be moving to Austin,Texas where we hope to find a place to worship with both Messianic Jews and Christians together. I visited a Messianic church in Kansas City last year, I was brought to tears more than once . The service was amazing. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord!

Happy to see Saltshakers having a resurrection! It was the place I turned to when I first began the walk away from Greek thinking and explored Hebrew thinking.

I live in Norway up high on the side of a mountain overlooking a fjord; it is truly a high place and a good place to learn about hinds feet.

I have had some devastating experiences in the past several years in local free churches. I have learned a measure of what Jesus spoke against in regards to religious life and mindset. Having now been exposed to spiritual abuse by those who not only do not understand how to correctly intrepet scripture, but use it to betray, trap and imprison believers, I am seriously concerned with what kind of biblical interpretations you will espouse.

IMHO the essential message of Christ to believers of The Way was summed up in His words regarding the first and greatest commandment. Those who are so concerned about returning to Torah practice, when and on what day to worship, what and how and with whom to eat and meet are missing Christ's message to His followers.

Truly "The Church" as it presently practices the faith has become little better than the old Synagogue complete with Sanhedrin etc. It is my sincere hope that your work will advance how to find, be in relationship with, live out and share Christ in a safe community of both believers and seekers. I am so weary of hearing about "sin" as the main topic and a specific way to salvation as the only valid thing. I am tired of criticisms, bible bashing, judgments, hierarchical systems and begging for money.

Count me in for an authentic study of scripture to discover what it is really saying and how to love, know and share the love Christ places in our hearts without needing to place burdens.

Leah Garhovd
Norway

I believe Torah observance is the key, but not Torah observance as understood in Rabbinic Judaism. I would believe that Yeshua summarized God’s teachings (Torah) in Matthew 5:3-12 and expanded on this in the rest of the ‘Beatitudes.’ Paul certainly gave a detailed summary of those that were not Torah observant in Romans 1:18-32. The ‘general’ revelation of God through Creation should lead man to ‘Torah observance’ naturally. Although Rabbinic Judaism has held the Jewish people together for nearly 2000 years it has perpetuated Pharisaic error for all that time. Hopefully, both Jew and Gentile will be able to see through the veil thrown up by the church and Judaism and find understanding through the plain sense of Scripture.

Blessings once again,

Ian Carter

Whilst I fully endorse the need to get back to the immediate 'post-pentecost' church which most surely embraced all the gracious attributes of resurrection power, and a remarkable 'agape' harmony mostly missing today, as Steve says - a lot of thinking will be necessary here. Yes, I know, God provides - but does He? Do we not have to exercise a level of faith to even begin to change things, because, in essence the Word already provides us with everything in Christ. The first awesome problem is that huge swathes of seekers after truth and thereby eternal security, are absolutely convinced that they are saved to the uttermost. They can barely be dislodged in their thinking. Secondly, 'post-pentecost' implies Baptism in (the) Holy Spirit essential for an empowered church, and what do we need more than anything in today's church (I use the word church loosly) I think Steve has mentioned in passing the author David Pawson - who has written two excellent books that dove tail well into this blog conversation. I'll finish here for the moment, am awaiting a new pass word from you!
Abraham East Midlands UK

my heart is thumping... i can feel the excitement rising in me. this is good, so very good. i wait in anticipation for what God is going to do. Oh Lord, Holy Spirit, move among Your people now. Move in power, and move us...By My Spirit, says The Lord...

I can't help feeling very excited about what the Lord has laid upon your heart. I belong to a small (in numbers only) Fellowship which has felt for some years now that the only way forward is to go back. Back to Acts 2 and the church of Acts 2. I've already read your book "The truth is out there" and intend buying your latest one. I feel also that you are a man of sincerity and integrity. I have also read a number of books and teaching aids from Chris and Lindy Hill and am on their mailing list so I know you have a good, sound network supporting you. We all need solid, sound Bible teaching and, with this in mind, I pray the Lord will bless and empower this website and the message of hope it will bring. The world needs it.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Gordon

You can sure count me in. You know that feeling you get during the opening frames of a movie or pages of a book that tells you, 'This looks good'. You hit the pause button, grab a brew and settle down with great anticipation as you continue with the adventure. Your writings have never disappointed me Steve and this latest edition is no exception. I lack the vocabulary to express how deeply I feel the frustrations with you of how much the church has lost 'The Way' and how clearly you have explained it in your book. [Tell Monica I will not pay for any door widening in your home!] Seriously, and my apologies if this should shiver your timbers, however, I think it is time for a return to 'The Way' type or style of meetings. To suggest starting up your own church or denomination would be to completely annul what 'The Way'was intended to be. So, what I feel inspired to suggest is 'House Groups' or meetings in one another's homes under the auspices of 'The Way'. Inspired volun-teers, Disciples, who are in full agreement, and are confident they can commit themselves, and have a deep desire to be a part of this Godly ministry, should register with you. This commitment would require the opening up of their homes for one evening on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on available resources, for a house meeting. As these people register with you from all over the UK, perhaps from other parts of the World, those unable to hold a meeting in their own home could be directed towards their nearest 'Branch'. Well, we are all branches aren't we! Sorry, am I going to fast for you! Each 'House Meeting' could follow suggested teachings from the studies you have done in the past concerning our Jewish roots. I know you are trying to get away from formal worship and 'Church' type get togethers and I agree which is why I feel the best way forward for this inspired ministry is to get it out on the streets and into our homes. This would provide great opportunities to get together in harmony. To worship, study and to pray for Israel and our Jewish brethren who continue to suffer throughout the world. To be united in Yeshua's Holy Spirit as we revive those awesome days of 'The Way' we read about in Acts. I hope this inspiration you have had for a return to 'The Way' will never subside through lack of support. If you recognise that God is completely behind you in this then you have all the support you will ever need. However, I would like those who read this to sit back and take a moment to reflect on how they prioritise the various aspects of their lives and how much of what currently occupies their lives do they seriously believe will make a difference to the world around them. What kind of a legacy will they leave behind for their children and grandchildren. There may be suggestions about spending their time more fruitfully in evangelism. Well, if they take a look at the account of the early church in Acts they will see the formula used by the followers came from their Godly inspired hearts and thus the church was being added to daily. I'm sure I will have further input later but for now I would urge people reading this to consider seriously their role in God's command for us to 'Make Disciples' of all nations and to return to our Hebraic roots as God intended for us all. Shalom my friends.