Month: January 2017

Shalom.

Our teaching will continue from Torah, The Law of Moses from Numbers 26.1-7.

AND THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE IS, THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR.  THE LORD IS HIS NAME.

So with that said, let’s read Numbers 26.1-7.

NUMBERS 26.1  The plague killed 24,000 Israelites. NUMBERS 25.9

The LORD leveled a plague upon the Children of Israel for their whoring with the Moabite women that led GOD’S People to idolatry, bowing down to their Moabite gods, infuriating The LORD their GOD.

GOD’s Name is Jealous for GOD is a Jealous GOD.  GOD is a Jealous GOD because He is Offended and Furious when His People worship another god other than Himself.  That is idolatry.  And for their sin of idolatry, The Children of Israel lost 24,000 dead in the plague.  EXODUS 34.14

After the Children of Israel made the golden calf, an idol of a god they thought for some reason would lead them to the Promised Land, GOD’S wrath was so hot with anger that He told Moses He would consume the Children of Israel and make of Moses a greater Nation.  But of course, GOD changed His mind.  EXODUS 32.7-10, 30-35

Continuing with NUMBERS 26.1-2  The LORD spoke to Moses and Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest and said, Take the sum of all the Congregation of the Children of Israel from twenty years old and above, all that are able to go to war in Israel.

The Children of Israel were in Moab in a place called Shittim just before crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land Canaan.  And The LORD was preparing His People for war to fight against the ten nations of Canaan, nations greater and stronger than them: the Kenites, the Kenizites, the Kadomites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. DEUTERONOMY 4.37-40, GENESIS 15.18-21

And the total number of Jewish men twenty years old and above who were able to go to war in Israel was 601,730. NUMBERS 26.51

GOD IS A MAN OF WAR.

GOD prepared His People for war to defend themselves against their many enemies who had and today have NO cause to fight Israel and the Jewish People except for their anti-Semitism and jealousy.

EXODUS 14.30-31  The Exodus, some 3,400 years ago from Egypt, began after 400 years of Jewish slavery under the yoke of the Egyptians.  The Exodus was a miracle of GOD. Some three million Jewish People with a mixed multitude of Gentiles called the Host of The LORD began their journey to the Promised Land.

It was a night to be greatly observed to The LORD for bringing His Jewish People out from the land of Egypt. EXODUS 12.40-41

(EXODUS 12.40)  Thirty years with Jacob’s son Joseph, the Governor of Egypt, was not slavery.  400 years was slavery. GENESIS 15.13

But immediately after The Children of Israel left Egypt, GOD hardened Pharaoh’s heart making him stubborn and courageous.  So Pharaoh decided to chase after the Children of Israel with his mighty army to annihilate GOD’S People from off the face of the earth.  It didn’t work. And never will.

And we know what happened.  GOD IS A MAN OF WAR.

With the Red Sea in front of the Children of Israel, and the Egyptian Army charging after them, The LORD GOD opened the ocean allowing His People to cross on dry ground.

But when the Egyptian army followed after them into the open sea on dry ground, GOD THE LORD dropped the ocean on the Egyptians, and their chariots, and the horsemen killing them all.  Not leaving one Egyptian alive.

And The Children of Israel praised The LORD, and they sang this song.  I will sing unto The LORD for He has triumphed gloriously.  The horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea.  The LORD is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation.  He is my GOD, and I will prepare a House for Him.  My father’s GOD, and I will exalt Him.

THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR.  THE LORD IS HIS NAME. EXODUS 15.1-3

And the Children of Israel continued on their journey to The Promised Land.  But not without many hateful wars from nations who hated them for no reason.

And just before the Children of Israel came to Mount Sinai, the Amalekites attacked them.  And the Children of Israel had just come out of 400 years of slavery.  EXODUS 17.8-9

So Moses told Joshua to choose out men to fight Amalek. Tomorrow, Moses said, I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of GOD in my hand.

And Israel fought with Amalek.  And Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  And when Moses held up his hand, Israel was winning the battle.  But when Moses let his hand down, the Amalekites prevailed.

But Moses’ hands grew heavy and tired.  So Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under Moses and he sat on it.  And Aaron and Hur held his hands up until sundown.

And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people and killed them with the edge of the sword.

And The LORD said to Moses, Write this in a book for a memorial, and speak My Words to Joshua.  For I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

And Moses built an altar and called it, YEHOVAH NISSI, THE LORD IS MY BANNER.  For Moses said, Because The LORD has sworn that The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

The Amalekites are no longer a people.  Nor do the Amalekites exist any more or any where on the face of the earth as so many will experience that fate who hate Israel and the Jewish People.  EXODUS 17.8-16, GENESIS 12.3

The LORD is like a Mighty Man of War.  He goes to war against His enemies.  He has held His peace for too long. And GOD will destroy His enemies.  ISAIAH 42.13-17

Let GOD arise.  Let His enemies be scattered.  Let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

GOD’S ENEMIES AND THOSE WHO HATE HIM ARE EXPLAINED IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

GOD’S ENEMIES BOW DOWN AND SERVE IDOLS.

AND GOD’S ENEMIES REJECT GOD’S COMMANDMENTS, ALL HIS LAWS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES. PSALM 68.1-8, HEBREW BIBLE PSALM 68.2-9, EXODUS 20.2-6

GOD said to the Children of Israel, I send an Angel before you to guard you on the way and bring you into the Place which I have prepared.

THE ANGEL WAS GOD HIMSELF.

And GOD said to the People, Beware of Him, and obey His Voice.  Do not provoke Him for He will not pardon your transgressions, for My Name is in Him.  But if you will indeed obey His Voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.  EXODUS 23.20-25

And The LORD said to Israel, “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, and people more than you, do not be afraid of them.  For The LORD your GOD is with you which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

Today GOD says to His Jewish People in Israel, When you go out to battle against your enemies and see tanks, and planes and ships, and people more than you, do not be afraid of them, for The LORD YOUR GOD is with you which brought you up out the land of Egypt.  DEUTERONOMY 20.1-20

The LORD fights for Israel, and The LORD fights for all those who obey His Voice and do all that He speaks. DEUTERONOMY 8.3, MATTHEW 4.4, LUKE 4.4

When the Children of Israel saw the Egyptian army charging after them, and the Red Sea in front of them, these are the words that Moses Shouted to the People.

DO NOT FEAR THEM.  STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD.  EXODUS 14.10-18

THE LORD IS THE KING OF GLORY, MIGHTY IN BATTLE.   PSALM 24.8

Jericho was a walled city in Canaan that Israel had to defeat when they crossed into Canaan.

And when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and there stood a Man before him with His sword drawn in His Hand. And Joshua went to Him and said, Are you for us or for our adversaries?  And The Man said, No, but as the Captain of The HOST of the LORD I am now come.

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped Him. And said to Him, What does my LORD say to His servant? And the Captain of the Host said to Joshua, Take off your shoes, for the place where you stand is Holy.

AND JOSHUA DID SO FOR THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

THE SAME LORD GOD ALMIGHTY WHO WRESTLED WITH JACOB, WHO SAID TO JACOB, YOUR NAME SHALL NOT BE CALLED JACOB ANYMORE BUT ISRAEL.  FOR AS A PRINCE YOU HAVE POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN, AND YOU HAVE PREVAILED.

AND JACOB CALLED THE NAME OF THE PLACE PENIEL, FOR I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE AND MY LIFE IS PRESERVED.

AS JOSHUA’S LIFE WAS PRESERVED FOR HE ALSO SAW GOD FACE TO FACE.  JOSHUA 5.13-15

Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the Children of Israel.  None went out, and none came in.

And The LORD said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho into your hand, and the King of Jericho, and the mighty men of valor.

You shall march around the city once, all your men of war. You shall do that for six days.

And seven Priests shall go before the Ark of the Covenant carrying seven Shofars.  And on the seventh day your men of war shall march around the city seven times and the Priests shall blow their Shofars.

And when they make a long blast on their Shofars, and when you hear the sound of the Shofars, all the People will give a mighty Shout, and the city wall will collapse and fall down flat.  And the People will advance and go forward.

And Joshua called the Priests, and said to them, Take up the Ark of the Covenant and have seven Priests carry seven Shofars before the Ark of The LORD.  And march around the City.  And those who are armed shall go before the Ark of The LORD.

So the seven Priests marched before The LORD and blew their Shofars.  And the Ark of the Covenant of The LORD followed them.  And the armed men went before the Priests who blew their Shofars.  And the rear guard came after the Ark.  And the Priests went on blowing their Shofars.

And Joshua commanded the People not to shout nor make any noise with their mouth until the day he tells them to Shout.  Then you shall Shout.  So the People did this every day.

And on the seventh day, the Priests and the men of war rose up early at daybreak and marched around the city in the same manner seven times.  That was the only day they marched around the city seven times.

And on the seventh circuit around the city, when the Priests blew their Shofars, Joshua said to the People, SHOUT for The LORD has given you the city.  And the city shall be cursed and all that are in it, to The LORD.  Only Rahab the harlot shall live.  She and all that are with her in the house because she hid the messengers that we sent.

So the People SHOUTED with a great voice when the Priests blew their Shofars, and the wall fell down flat.  And the People went in and took the city as The LORD said.  JOSHUA 6

A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES.  OUR GOD IS A GOD OF MIRACLES.

THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR.  THE LORD IS HIS NAME. DEUTERONOMY 1.30, DEUTERONOMY 3.1-6, 22, DEUTERONOMY 6.4, MARK 12.29

When the Jewish People returned to Israel from the 70 year Babylonian Exile to rebuild The Temple and Jerusalem, The LORD GOD frustrated the plans of the enemy.  That is GOD made their plans useless to prevent the Jewish People from their work in restoring Jerusalem and The Temple. CHRISTIAN BIBLE NEHEMIAH 4.13-15, HEBREW BIBLE NEHEMIAH 4.9

The LORD defends those who put their trust in Him. CHRISTIAN BIBLE PSALM 5.11-12, HEBREW BIBLE PSALM 5.12-13, CHRISTIAN BIBLE PSALM 31.1-5, HEBREW BIBLE PSALM 31.2-6

President Trump and Israel are considering moving the American Embassy to the Jewish Capital Jerusalem where it belongs.  Let them trust in The LORD Who defends, delivers, and preserves Jerusalem.  ISAIAH 31.5

The King of Assyria came against the Cities of Judah, sending his General to speak foolishly, saying to the Jewish People, Do not let King Hezekiah make you trust in The LORD.

That was a huge mistake.  Because the Angel of The LORD went to Assyria and killed 185,000 of the Assyrian army. And then moved two of the Assyrian King’s sons to kill the King. ISAIAH 36.1-2, 13-15, ISAIAH 37.36-38

And at some time in the future when The LORD GOD brings the armies of all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, GOD, MESSIAH YESHUA at His Return will kill them all. Their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their holes, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth.

AND THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, YESHUA THE MESSIAH WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL

And the heathen will know that GOD sent the Jewish People into exile throughout the world because of their transgressions.  But The LORD will bring His Jewish People back to their Land, the Land of Israel to live safely in the Kingdom of GOD to the Euphrates River for 1,000 years that will be like the Garden of Eden.  And Messiah will be King over all the earth from Jerusalem.

And after the 1,000 years, Eternity in Heaven will follow. Where GOD will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there will be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.  For the former things will have passed away.  ZECHARIAH 14.1-3, 12, EZEKIEL 39.25-29, MATTHEW 24.29-31, ZECHARIAH 14.9, ISAIAH 51.3, REVELATION 20.7-15, REVELATION 21.4, REVELATION 22

TRUST ALWAYS IN THE LORD.  FOR THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR.  THE LORD IS HIS NAME.

Shalom.

Ira Weinstein, Congregational Leader

www.bethelohenu.org

bethelohenu@gmail.com

Shalom.

Our teaching will continue in Torah, The Law of Moses from Numbers 25.1-9.

AND THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE IS, MESSIANIC JEWS SHOULD FOLLOW THE TRUTH OF HA SHEM, ALMIGHTY GOD, AND NOT THE LIES OF MEN.

And with that said, let’s read Numbers 25.1-9.

NUMBERS 25.1-3 The Children of Israel, some three million People were staying in Shittim, their last camping place before crossing the Jordan River to the Promised Land Canaan.

But before the time came for them to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, the Children of Israel got themselves into a whole lot of trouble with The LORD THEIR GOD that brought huge curses upon themselves.  Because they sinned. They transgressed GOD’S Covenant that GOD Commanded them.  They transgressed His Word and His Law by profaning themselves, whoring with the Moabite women, and attending the sacrifices for their gods.  And they worshiped their gods committing idolatry.

I think of the Words that GOD said through the pagan prophet Balaam, “The People shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”  NUMBERS 23.9.

And here’s why The Jewish People should dwell alone, and that GOD does not include them among the nations.

The Bible says, “The People began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.”  Moab was an ancient nation.

Whoredom in Hebrew is ZAH’NAH meaning in this case, certain men of the Children of Israel committed fornication with the daughters of Moab.

And the Moabites called the Children of Israel to the sacrifice of their gods.  And the Children of Israel ate and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself to baal-peor committing idolatry with their pagan god.

THOSE JEWISH PEOPLE ABANDONED THEIR GOD, THE GOD OF CREATION, THE GOD OF ISRAEL.  AND GOD IS MARRIED TO ISRAEL.  GOD IS THE HUSBAND OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. AND IN GOD’S EYES, HIS WIFE, THE JEWISH PEOPLE COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH ANOTHER god.  JEREMIAH 3.14,  JEREMIAH 31.32

AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD BURNED AGAINST ISRAEL.

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IMITATED THE NATIONS BY FORSAKING GOD.  THEY BROKE HIS EVERLASTING COVENANT, GOD’S WORD AND HIS LAW BY HAVING IMMORAL SEXUAL RELATIONS, AND WORSHIPING OTHER gods.

GOD’S COVENANT IS HIS WORD AND HIS LAWS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES THAT HE COMMANDS HIS PEOPLE TO OBEY FOREVER.  TO KNOW, AND BELIEVE, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE.  AND NO OTHER GOD EXISTS BESIDE HIM.  1 CHRONICLES 16.15-17, DEUTERONOMY 6.4, MARK 12.29, ETC.

ALL PEOPLES, NATIONS AND LANGUAGES ARE GOD’S PEOPLE IF THEY OBEY GOD’S EVERLASTING COVENANT.

AND SEEING THAT THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAYS, THE UNIQUE SON BORN TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE IS THE MIGHTY GOD, AND THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THAT UNIQUE JEWISH SON BORN TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE IS THE MESSIAH YESHUA, WHO IS GOD ALMIGHTY, HA SHEM ELOHIM, THE GOD OF CREATION. HEBREW BIBLE ISAIAH 9.5, CHRISTIAN BIBLE ISAIAH 9.6

Continual disobedience to GOD is the reason for all punishment and all curses.  Not only for the Jewish People but for all people.

And Israel’s punishment for their disobedience to THE LORD THEIR GOD is told in NUMBERS 25.4-9

The LORD said to Moses, Take all the Heads of the People, implying that the Leadership both guilty individuals and innocent ones are liable for the People’s actions.  And hang them facing the sun before The LORD that the fierce anger of The LORD will turn away from Israel.

Paul writes in the New Testament that these things happened to the Children of Israel for examples as a warning.  

Reminding us of the things we must not do, including idolatry.  That we, Jew and Gentile should not turn away from GOD’S Written Word in the Bible, and His Laws that are written in the Law of Moses.  1 CORINTHIANS 10.1-11 

And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Kill every one of those men who is guilty who joined themselves to baal-peor their false god.

And just then, one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman to his friends in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the Congregation of the Children of Israel who were weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

And when Phinehas, the Priest, the grandson of Aaron saw this, he left the Congregation, and taking a spear in his hand, went after the Israelite into the tent and stabbed both of them, the Israelite and the Midianite woman through their bellies.

Then the plague against the Children of Israel was stopped.

And those that died in the plague were 24,000.

We who live in the United States live in a Christian Nation. And like all religions, Christians serve and worship GOD, and are committed and devoted to Christian faith by its Christian system of beliefs and practices of the Christian religion that are taught to their people.

And Christians are taught from The Bible that is written by Jewish People from Genesis through Revelation.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY CHRISTIANITY DOES NOT TEACH OR DO WHAT JEHOVAH TEACHES AND COMMANDS IN THE BIBLE.

THE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF THE BIBLE ARE THAT ALL MANKIND, NOT JUST THE JEWISH PEOPLE, BUT ALL MANKIND MUST LIVE THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO EVERY WORD GOD SPEAKS IN THE BIBLE.  AND THAT INCLUDES HIS LAWS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES.  THAT IS ALSO THE WORD OF GOD.  

AND JEHOVAH TEACHES THERE EXISTS ONLY ONE GOD AND NO OTHERS.  

JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE THE ONE GOD.  THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME GOD.  JESUS IS GOD THE FATHER. JOHN 10.30

GOD IS THE GOD OF ALL MANKIND.  

PAUL WROTE IN ROMANS 3.29, IS HE THE GOD OF THE JEWS ONLY?  IS HE NOT ALSO OF THE GENTILES?  YES, OF THE GENTILES ALSO.

THEREFORE GOD’S WRITTEN WORD IN THE BIBLE IS FOR ALL MANKIND.  FOR EVERYBODY.  YOU AND ME.

THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE HIS WITNESSES TO TELL THE NATIONS ABOUT GOD AND WHAT HE REQUIRES OF HIS CREATION.  AND IT’S ALL WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE THAT JEWISH PEOPLE WROTE FROM THE LIPS OF GOD AND HIS PROPHETS, AND HIS MESSIAH YESHUA WHO IS GOD HIMSELF.

But unfortunately the nations of the world other than Judaism do not teach the truth of GOD.  Some may teach ONE GOD but no nation other than the Jewish Religion teaches obedience to The Word of GOD that includes His Laws, Commandments, Teachings and Instructions that are written in The Law of Moses.

And that is perhaps why GOD said,  The Jewish People shall dwell alone and not be counted among the nations because the nations do not do what GOD Commands in The Bible. And the nations may very well turn His People away from following Him to serve other gods.

Let’s look at DEUTERONOMY 7.3-4.

MESSIANIC JEWS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT FROM EARLY AGE THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.  CERTAINLY NOT A TRINITY OF THREE DIFFERENT gods.  WE JEWS NEVER HEARD OF A TRINITY OF THREE DIFFERENT gods UNTIL WE ENTERED A CHURCH OR SOME MESSIANIC CONGREGATION THAT BELIEVED IN THE TRINITY.  

THE TRINITY IS PAGANISM.

AND MANY MESSIANIC JEWS READ THE BIBLE, I’M SURE.  AND READ THAT TORAH, THE LAW OF MOSES MUST BE OBEYED AS COMMANDED BY HA SHEM, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.  

BUT IN A NUMBER OF MESSIANIC CONGREGATIONS, THE LEADERSHIP, EITHER CHRISTIAN OR JEWISH, TEACH FALSE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE THAT THE LAW OF MOSES IS NO LONGER IN FORCE, OR IT’S BEEN ABOLISHED, OR IT’S OPTIONAL, OR PRAY ABOUT IT, OR IT’S ONLY FOR JEWISH PEOPLE.  AND TEACH THE CHRISTIAN LIE OF A TRINITY OF gods, OR A TRIUNE TRINITY OF gods. 

MESSIANIC JEWS SHOULD FOLLOW THE TRUTH OF HA SHEM, ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS WORD WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE, AND NOT THE LIES OF THE CHURCH.

MESSIANIC JEWS, ALONG WITH ALL PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD, WHO BELIEVE IN MESSIAH YESHUA SHOULD CERTAINLY LIVE BY GOD’S TORAH, HIS LAWS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES.  AND BELIEVE IN ONE GOD AS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD.  AND THAT ONE GOD IS YOUR JEWISH MESSIAH YESHUA.  IT IS WRITTEN.

I CAN SAY THAT WITH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE THAT IS THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE IN ISAIAH 9.6 IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE, AND ISAIAH 9.5 IN THE HEBREW BIBLE, AND IN MICAH 5.2 IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE AND MICAH 5.1 IN THE HEBREW BIBLE, AND IN JOHN 10.30, JOHN 12.45, 49 AND JOHN 14.8-9;  ADD TO THAT DEUTERONOMY 6.4, DEUTERONOMY 7.1-6, DEUTERONOMY 10.12-13, DEUTERONOMY 32.1-4, ISAIAH 43.10-12, MATTHEW 4.4, LUKE 4.4, MARK 12.29, 1 JOHN 2. 3-6, ETC., ETC., ETC.

THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF ONLY ONE GOD.  IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, ASK THE LORD FOR UNDERSTANDING, AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING.

Paul wrote that all those punishments and curses happened to the Jewish People in the wilderness because they broke GOD’S Covenant by committing whoredom, and bowing down to false gods and committing idolatry..

The Hebrew word for bowed, as in they bowed down to their gods, is VAH’YEESH’TAH’KHA’VOO.  Also meaning, a large number of the Children of Israel worshiped false gods. They committed idolatry.

IF, AS MUCH OF CHRISTIANITY AND CERTAIN MESSIANIC JEWS BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS GOD BUT NOT THE FATHER, THUS MAKING JESUS ANOTHER god, IS THAT NOT BELIEF IN MORE THAN ONE GOD?

AND IS THAT NOT IDOLATRY, PAYING DIVINE HONOR TO ANOTHER god OTHER THAN GOD ALMIGHTY, THE ONE AND ONLY GOD?

WHOM CHRISTIANITY CORRUPTS WITH THEIR FALSE DOCTRINE THAT THE LAW OF MOSES WAS VALID UP UNTIL THE CROSS.  AND THAT JESUS FULFILLED AND ENDED THE LAW.  AND BY HIS DEATH, JESUS ABOLISHED THE LAW.  AND THE LAW WAS TAKEN AWAY COMPLETELY AS VALID INSTRUMENTS OF WORSHIP.

THAT JESUS IS NOT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE. THAT JESUS IS ANOTHER JESUS OF CHRISTIANITY. 

Paul explains the path to Salvation and Eternal Life to Gentiles that also applies to Jewish People in Ephesians 2.11-22.  And I will paraphrase.

In the past , Paul writes, you were Gentiles in the flesh.

Gentile comes from the Greek word ETHNOS meaning non Jewish, Pagan, Heathen, Gentile, and Nation.  In the flesh, meaning you were carnal.  Because the carnal mind is enmity, that is hatred and opposition against GOD.  For the carnal mind is not subject to The Law of GOD (which is The Law of Moses) neither indeed can be.  ROMANS 8.7

That at that time you were without Messiah. You were alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no hope, and without GOD in the world.

But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who were far off are made near by the blood of Messiah.

For He is our peace with GOD Who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us.

The middle wall of partition that separates Gentiles from GOD is rejecting GOD’S Laws that are written in the Law of Moses that includes belief in One GOD.

That wall of partition is broken down when the Gentile receives and obeys GOD’S Law of Moses, doing that which is lawful and right, thus no longer sinning against GOD.  And believing in ONE GOD WHO IS MESSIAH YESHUA.  1 JOHN 3.4, ROMANS 3.31, ISAIAH 9.6, HEBREW BIBLE ISAIAH 9.5, JOHN 10.30, JOHN 12.45,49, JOHN 14.9

And Paul continues, Having abolished in His flesh the hatred and opposition that you have been taught to reject GOD’S Laws that are written in the Law of Moses.

For to make in Himself of two, One New Man.  The New Man or New Woman believes in Messiah Yeshua, having Atonement for your sins.  You are now learning to live according to all GOD’S Laws that are written in The Law of Moses.  Thus you no longer sin against GOD.  So making for yourself peace with GOD. 1 JOHN 3.4

And that He would reconcile both Jew and Gentile to GOD in one Spiritual body by the cross.  How?  By receiving Atonement through Messiah’s death on the cross, and living your life according to His Laws that are written in The Law of Moses.  Messiah killed the hatred and opposition you have been taught for so long to refuse GOD’S Law of Moses.

And Messiah Yeshua came and preached Peace to you.

Messiah taught you how to have Peace with GOD by Living according to every Word THE LORD YOUR GOD speaks in The Bible.  Every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of GOD.  To observe and do GOD’S Laws that are written in The Law of Moses.  TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND DO IT. That is what Messiah Yeshua taught you.  And that is having Peace with GOD.  LUKE 8.21, MATTHEW 4.4, PSALM 119.165

For through Messiah, Paul writes, we have access by One Spirit to The Father.  That One Spirit is The Holy Spirit.  And The Holy Spirit is received by having faith in Messiah Yeshua, living by every Word GOD speaks in The Bible, and every Word GOD speaks in His Law of Moses in the first five Books of The Bible.  ACTS 5.32

ACTS 5.32 reads, “And we are His witnesses to these things. And so also is The Holy Spirit Whom GOD has given to them WHO OBEY HIM.”

Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the Saints, the Jewish People.  And you are now of the Household of GOD because you believe in MESSIAH YESHUA for your Atonement, and you obey Torah, The Law of Moses that prevents you from sinning against The LORD YOUR GOD.  For sin is the transgression of The Law of Moses.  1 JOHN 3.4.

And you are built upon the foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets, and Yeshua The Messiah Himself being the Chief Cornerstone.

The Apostles, the Prophets, and Messiah Yeshua all lived by The Law of Moses and the Prophets.  And they taught The Law of Moses and the Prophets.  And The Law of Moses and the Prophets teach belief in ONE GOD and No others.

MESSIAH YESHUA IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, HA SHEM ELOHIM.

In Messiah Yeshua all of you who believe according to Biblical Teaching and not man’s false teachings are fitly framed together growing into a Holy Temple built together for a Dwelling Place for GOD.

That is the path to Salvation and Eternal Life.  Also the formula for a good life on earth for you and your family with THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, YESHUA THE MESSIAH.

Shalom.

Ira Weinstein, Congregational Leader

www.bethelohenu.org

bethelohenu@gmail.com

Shalom and Happy Hanukkah.

Today is the seventh day of Hanukkah.  Hanukkah is an eight day Jewish Holiday.

Hanukkah in Hebrew means Dedication for the Rededication of the Second Temple to The GOD of Israel in 165 B.C.E.  The result of victory and heroism of the Jewish People and the Maccabees who heroically fought a guerilla war and won against a mighty Syrian army that ruled Israel with an anti-Semitic iron fist.

Maccabee in Hebrew means Hammer.

And although Hanukkah is not a commanded Festival of The LORD, Hanukkah is Prophesied in The Bible.  Which we will address in this study.

Hanukkah is celebrated by the Jewish People throughout the world as a great Festival of joy and happiness.  It is a Celebration of Jewish heroism, and an important time of remembrance for Jewish People and all peoples.

Why is Hanukkah important for non-Jewish people?

Because, had the Syrians succeeded in destroying the Jewish People and Israel from off the face of the earth as so many nations have tried and failed, the Sacred Writings of the TNAKH, The Old Testament Scriptures would have been destroyed by the enemies of GOD, along with the Jewish People who wrote The Bible.

And without the Jewish People there would be no Jewish Messiah Yeshua.  No Atonement.  No Salvation.  And no New Testament.

The only writings about GOD would be the fictions of men.

Without the Jewish People and without The Bible, there would be no understanding of GOD.  There would be no Biblical Teaching of GOD.  There would be no Biblical Teaching of The Word of GOD.  No Biblical Teaching of GOD’S Laws, Teachings, His Instructions, and Commandments.  And there would be no Biblical Teaching that THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD AND NO OTHERS.

There would be no Messiah Yeshua for Atonement.

No Salvation.  No Eternal Life.  But Eternal Death and hell for all mankind if there were no Bible to learn the Truth.

But fortunately for the world, GOD has ordained His Jewish People to be an Eternal People.  Because GOD protects His Jewish People from the hands of all her enemies.  ISAIAH 66.22

THE ENEMIES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND ISRAEL ARE ENEMIES OF GOD.

AND GOD SAYS, ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH ARE BLESSED IN THE JEWISH PEOPLE.  GENESIS 12.3

HOW ARE ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BLESSED IN THE JEWISH PEOPLE?

All the families of the earth are blessed in the Jewish People when they Bless the Jewish People and Israel.  All the families of the earth are blessed in the Jewish People by having Atonement in The Jewish Messiah Yeshua.  And all the families of the earth are blessed in the Jewish People when they live their lives according to all GOD’S Laws that are written in The Law of Moses that GOD gave to Israel for all the families of the earth to live by.  Thus preventing the families of the earth from sinning against The LORD THEIR GOD.

And that is GOD’S Formula for Salvation and Eternal Life in Heaven.  And that is how all the families of the earth are blessed in the Jewish People.  The reason Messiah says, Salvation is of the Jews.  JOHN 4.22, ISAIAH 43.10-12

THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE IS HANUKKAH, A STORY OF HEROISM TOLD IN JEWISH FAMILIES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION FOR 2,181 YEARS.

Hanukkah is not taught in The Bible, though The Bible Prophesies of the coming events of Hanukkah, which we will look into.

Also The Messiah Yeshaua was in The Temple during the days of Hanukkah.  And He was asked the question, If You are The Messiah, tell us plainly?

MESSIAH TOLD THEM PLAINLY.  MESSIAH TOLD THEM THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH.  AND HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY, SAYING, “I AND MY FATHER  ARE ONE.”  JOHN 10.22-33, HEBREW BIBLE ISAIAH 9.5-6, CHRISTIAN BIBLE ISAIAH 9.6-7, HEBREW BIBLE MICAH 5.1, CHRISTIAN BIBLE MICAH 5.2

Hanukkah, or the Rededication of the Second Temple took place on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, 165 B.C.E., some 2,181 years ago.

This year, the first day of Hanukkah was on Christmas Day, December 25th.

The Temple was Rededicated on the first Day of Hanukkah because the madman King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Jew hater who ruled Israel at the time, polluted The Temple of GOD into a pagan shrine with his Greek gods and his Greek goddesses and their Greek statues and Greek idols. And their pig sacrifices on The Temple altar.

And the Jewish Rededication of The Temple took place immediately after the Maccabees defeated the Syrian army.

The Jewish People quickly took back their Temple which was disgusting from the pollution of Greek idols and pig sacrifices.  The People took back their City, the City of Jerusalem, and their Country, The Land of Israel.  And they kicked the Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes and his armies out of Israel.

The Jewish fighters were led by the Maccabees who were a Priestly Dynasty of Levites of the Hasmonean family.

As a point of information, the Hasmonean period in Jewish history began with the Jewish rebellion against the anti-Jewish atrocities of Antiochus Epiphanes that brought on Israel’s great Hanukkah victory.

It was also the emergence of the three main Jewish sects of the day.  The Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes.

The Pharisees accepted the Oral Law, the commentary of Torah, The Law of Moses.  They maintained the belief in the immortality of the soul.  And they taught the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and Divine Providence, GOD’S care and guidance over all His Creatures.  And they believed in freedom of will and not predestination.

The Sadducees were a Priestly aristocracy who refused to believe in angels, in resurrection, and in the immortality of the soul.  And did not accept the concept of a binding oral law, but adhered only to those Laws written in Torah.

The Essenes were a Religious group that flourished in Israel from the mid-second century B.C.E. to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E.  Most scholars believe that the Dead Sea Scrolls, that are pre-Christian, were written by the Essenes.  The Essenes held eschatological beliefs, the doctrine concerning the fate of human beings after death, and the end of history.  They believed in predestination, the community of the Elect for Salvation, and the children of darkness for destruction.

The term Maccabbee is taken from the Hebrew Mah’kah’vah meaning Hammer.  Or Mah’kah’veem, meaning hammers.

So this Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian King set out to destroy, kill, and end Judaism.

Among his insane edicts, Antiochus ordered the end of all Torah observance for the Jewish people.  Thus for Jews, ending all GOD’S Laws would make us like every other nation.  Lawless in the sight of GOD.

But GOD says,  I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.

GOD cursed Antiochus Epiphanes, killing him one year after the Jewish People Rededicated The Temple to its rightful owner, THE KING OF ISRAEL, GOD ALMIGHTY.  GENESIS 12.3

The reason Hanukkah is an eight day Holiday is because when The Temple was rededicated to The LORD, the pure Holy Oil found in The Temple that was used for the burning of the great seven branch Temple Menorah was only sufficient to burn for one day.  But miraculously, the oil burned for eight days until more oil was provided for the Menorah to burn continuously.

Today the Hanukkah Menorah, called in Hebrew, Hanukkiyah, has nine branches, as compared to the Menorah’s seven branches, the design that GOD revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The nine branches of the Hanukkah Hanukkiyah are for each day of the eight day Hanukkah Celebration.  And the middle candle called the Shammash, meaning Servant, is used to light the candles.  Starting with one candle on the first day and adding a candle each day for eight days.

Let’s look at the Biblical Prophesy that GOD gave to the Prophet Daniel some 374 years before Hanukkah that is written in DANIEL 8

DANIEL 8.1  King Belshazzar was the last King of the Babylonian Empire.  He was the King who became famous for the handwriting on the wall in Daniel 5.  His Empire consisted of current day Iraq, Syria, half of Turkey, much of Iran,  Lebanon, the northern portion of Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

And GOD gave Daniel a Prophetic vision.

GOD gave this vision to Daniel some 374 years before Hanukkah that Prophesies of the King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Jew hating King, and the events leading up to Hanukkah.

DANIEL 8.2-8  The ram is explained later in the Prophesy as being symbolic of the Great Persian Empire of 2,500 years ago.

The two horns of the ram are symbolic of the Kings of Persia and Media.

Today’s Iran is a combination of those two ancient countries.

The Persian Empire was huge.  It included the entire Middle East from Ethiopia to India.

And the one horn higher than the other is symbolic of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire.

The ram, or the Persian Empire was so powerful, no army could stand against it.

But appearing on the scene is Greece, the male goat in the Prophesy.  The notable, or remarkable horn is symbolic of the King of Greece, Alexander the Great.

And the Greek armies led by their twenty year old King Alexander the Great destroyed the great Persian Empire.

And this Prophesy was given some 200 years before Alexander was born.

GOD rules in the Kingdom of men, and He will give it to whomsoever He will, good or bad, weak or strong.  DANIEL 4.17, DANIEL 5.21

Greece became a great Empire spanning three continents. Asia, that included the entire Middle East to India.  And Africa, and Europe.

But the great horn that was broken was its King, Alexander the Great.  He died at the age of 33.

And the four notable horns that replaced Alexander were four of his Generals who ruled the empire.  And one of those Generals was Seleucus who ruled Syria, and Babylon which is current day Iraq, and Phoenecia, current day Lebanon. And Israel.

Toward the four winds of Heaven perhaps means that GOD gave those four Generals the power to be the most powerful Kingdom on earth in its day.

DANIEL 8.9-10  The little horn that descended from General Seleucus years later was Antiochus Epiphanes, the ruthless, Jew hating King of Syria who brought on Hanukkah.  A madman who persecuted and killed Jews, desecrated The Temple in Jerusalem with his idols of Greek gods and goddesses, and pig sacrifices on the altar.  And hated Torah, GOD’S Laws that are written in The Law of Moses.

WHEN A PERSON FOR ANY REASON REFUSES TO OBEY GOD’S LAWS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES, THAT PERSON REJECTS GOD.

Antiochus hated The GOD of Creation.  And that is a picture of the future anti-Christ.  Anti-Christ means Opposed to GOD.

The Pleasant Land is Israel.  And The Pleasant Land Israel has been conquered numerous times by Gentile nations.

First Assyria conquered northern Israel in 722 B.C.E.  Then the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and southern Israel in 586 B.C.E.

Then the Persians, the Greeks, and the Syrians under Seleucus.  Then the Romans, followed by the Byzantine Empire, the eastern part of the late great Roman Empire. Then the Muslim Arabs in 600 C.E.  Then the Turks, the Egyptians, and then the Crusaders who slaughtered thousands of Jews and Muslims and outlawed Jews from living in Jerusalem.

Then the Muslims again under Saladin conquered Jerusalem.  Yet the Crusaders kept up their raids of death in Israel.  Then the Mamelukes, soldier slaves of Egypt.  Then the Ottoman Empire in 1517.

Even Napolean took his shot at Israel in 1798.  And he had some victories in Gaza, Haifa, Hebron, and Jaffa.  But by June of 1799, GOD laid upon Napolean and his French army a plague that decimated them.  And they left Israel and returned to Egypt.

And today the Palestinian Arabs yearn to conquer Israel, a Land that never belonged to them.

Thus the Palestinians are also headed to eternal fire because of their hatred of GOD’S chosen People, The Jewish People. And their hideous desire to kill Jews.  And their fruitless attempt to possess Israel the Homeland of the Jewish People that GOD gave to His Jewish People for an everlasting possession. GENESIS 17.8

And The GOD of Israel, Yeshua The Messiah will destroy all the enemies of Israel, past, present, and future when He returns.

ZECHARIAH 14.1-3, 12  NOT A PRETTY SIGHT.

DANIEL 8.11  Antiochus the madman magnified himself against the Prince of the Host Who is THE PRINCE OF PEACE, GOD ALMIGHTY, YESHUA THE MESSIAH, calling himself GOD.  Saying he is GOD manifested.

And Antiochus ended the sacrifice at The Temple.

The future anti-Christ will also call himself GOD.  And he will also stop the sacrifice at the future Temple bringing on great worldwide tribulation.  2 THESSALONIANS 2.1-4, DANIEL 9.27

The place of Antiochus Epiphanes sanctuary was The Temple.  And GOD cast his place down, destroying him because Antiochus polluted The Temple with his idols and pig sacrifices, and pagan worship.

As will the future anti-Christ.  MATTHEW 24.15-22

DANIEL 8.12  WHY DID GOD BRING THIS EVIL JEW HATING ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES UPON HIS CHOSEN, THE JEWISH PEOPLE?

BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSION.  BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN AGAINST THE LORD THEIR GOD, REFUSING TO OBEY GOD’S LAWS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN TORAH, THE LAW OF MOSES.

AND THAT BROUGHT ON THE KILLING OF MANY JEWS. AND ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES DESTROYED THE TRUTH.

DANIEL 8.13-27  Then Daniel heard a Kadosh, a Holy One, a Saint speaking to another in the vision.  How long will there be no sacrifice?  How long will The Temple be desecrated? How long will the Jewish People be persecuted and killed?

For six and a half years.  Then the Sanctuary will be cleansed and purified, and made right.  And Syrian rule in Israel will come to an end, and the persecution and killing of Jewish People will stop.

And the Angel spoke to Daniel while he was in a deep sleep on his face toward the ground.  And He touched Daniel, and set him upright.  And explained to him the reason for GOD’S anger against His Jewish People Israel.

Because of their many trespasses, following the abominations of the nations.

And the Angel explained the end of the persecutions that brought on Hanukkah.  And the meaning of the ram and the goat.  Persia, Greece, Alexander the Great, and his four Generals after his death.

Explaining that THE GOD OF ISRAEL brought upon His Jewish People judgment in the person of Antiochus Epiphanes because of their sins against The LORD. Continuously rejecting GOD’S Laws that are written in The Law of Moses.

BUT WE KNOW THAT GOD IS READY TO PARDON.  HE IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL.  SLOW TO ANGER AND OF GREAT KINDNESS WHO NEVER FORSAKES HIS PEOPLE.

And the Prophesy reads in Verse 24 that Antiochus’ power was mighty, but not of his own power.  And he shall destroy the mighty and Holy People (The Jewish People).

Antiochus Epiphanes’ power was demonic power.

Yet all power is of GOD.

1 CHRONICLES 29.12, 2 THESSALONIANS 2.9-10, ISAIAH 45.5-7

And Antiochus proclaimed peace to the Jewish People, but instead he killed them.

And Antiochus stood up to The Prince of princes, YESHUA THE MESSIAH, GOD ALMIGHTY.  But GOD killed him without hand.

History records that Antiochus Epiphanes died of disease.  A fatal disease that GOD gave him for his evil deeds.

So put on your Yarmalka.  Let’s celebrate Hanukkah.

Shalom.

Ira Weinstein, Congregational Leader

www.bethelohenu.org

bethelohenu@gmail.com