Pentecost our Wedding Ring

or Shavuot our Mohar

To the Hebrews

We must always remember that the Bible was written for the most part in the culture and history of the Hebrew peoples. So it goes that the engagement Gift or as it is a called in Hebrew the Mohar, is the first step in a betrothal. It is a promise of good things to come. 

In Jewish betrothal tradition the mohar or bridal present can be almost anything from camels to cattle etc., however it usually was coins which were sewn onto a woman’s clothing. In our western culture there is only the kind of gift, that of an engagement ring. [c.f. Gen 34:12; I Sam 18:25]. 

In this ancient tradition a man must give at least a small portion of the agreed upon amount to the bride as a shadow or promise of the full value that has been agreed upon. When she takes it into her hand, she is betrothed. From then on she is treated as if she were actually married.  This arrangement cannot be broken except by divorce. When the full amount has been collected, then the actual wedding is announced by the blowing of a shofar i.e. trumpet.

Which bring us to an interesting notation in Rabbinic tradition that says, God gave the Torah to Israel on the very first Pentecost/Shavuot, [Ex 19-24].

And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Ex. 19:20

This was their Mohar or engagement ring. As the years went by they received more and more of the promise until Moses had written down the entire Torah (except that last chapter in Deuteronomy).

To the Congregation of the Lord

Most people are familiar with Pentecost in Acts 2. On the same appointed time (or mo’adim) as the giving of the Torah. This day God gave the Holy Spirit to the chosen in the upper room. So it is at Pentecost/Shavuot that God gave His gift of the Holy Spirit, over the next few years the Gospels and Epistles where written for the congregation’s encouragement and exhortation.

The Word and the Spirit are our Mohar. These we must cling to. They are the only uncorrupted sources of information we have. The Bible is the foundation of all knowledge and Spirit leads those that are submissive to greater understandings of God’s plans and purposes. 

We listen for the trumpet to sound. The night has been long and it has been difficult to keep ourselves pure and our garments white. Is our oil full and our wicks trimmed? 

I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7:14

(“Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!”) Rev. 16:15

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matt. 25:1-13

Sabbath

So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; Heb. 4:9 

No priest, king, or emperor could or did create Sabbath.

When our nation was still a moral Christian nation there were blue laws that enforced a Sabbath on all. But as the nation left our founding we have left these old laws along the way. (Yes, they had the wrong day. But their hearts were in it.) With the disappearance of the blue laws the inherited churches did not step up. They did not teach the truth to the people.

It all comes down to selfishness and greed. They would rather go out to eat after Sunday Services, making someone else work, than to make the traditional Sunday Supper the night before. Would it not be better if we were all taught to hallow this day in our hearts, and in our streets? Those who continued in their selfishness should be shamed for the greed.

The Law and the Church

The inherited churches have gone a whoring after dispensational lies. They claim that the law has passed away in direct opposition to the plain reading of the Text.

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Rom. 3:31

They believe that they no longer need to be salt and light to the world. The world as they teach it, will soon have seven years of judgment. This fiction destroys the true teachings of Messiah.

All who came before 1830, kept Sabbath. They taught the Ten Commandments, they understood that the book of The Revelation was about judgment on the apostate church, not the world. But the false teaching has worked its way through the whole congregation.

Those that hate the Sabbath hate their fellow man. For we all need a day of rest. We should be making our Sabbaths to be cherished by all, as far as influence, example, and advice can reach. The Sabbath is our gift.

27 And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

Don’t let the dispensationalist take your gift. They are selfish and greedy, not preaching the whole word of truth. But tickling the ears of God’s people by telling people what they want to hear, and not what the Lord has said.

Precious is the Gospel of Yeshua/Jesus precious is the Bible that contains that Gospel, precious is the Lord of the Sabbath.

“. . . so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:28

Let us glory in our Sabbaths and rest from our labours.

Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement

Then and Now

There is a New Testament passage that is all about Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement. But because the church never studies the Old Testament they have never noticed that Yom Kippur is in the New Testament. Most Hebrew Roots/Messianics have come out of these churches and as we stumble our way to the truth we build on what we already know. And sometimes that is too much church, other times it is too little.

Most of us, as part of our worship for this day, read the passages about Yom Kippur in the Old Testament. We know what was sacrificed and when. We vaguely understand that Messiah’s sacrifice replaces them all. But we have yet to start to put the whole picture together. Here is one of those pieces of the puzzle.

When reading the book of The Revelation few notice this particular verse.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet Rev. 1:10

The Seventh Day Adventist go on and on as to this meaning of “the Lord’s day” and conclude that it is the Sabbath. Since the emergence of the Seventh Day Adventist the inherited church commentators have had to respond and have written at great lengths about it being Sunday. However it is clear from the rest of the book of The Revelation that this “Lord’s Day” is Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement.

This becomes quite clear when one looks at Chapters 4-5. The 24 elders are dressed in white, they have golden crowns and golden censors. They represent the 24 courses of high priests that served in the temple. And it is only on Yom Kippur that the High Priest wore white and a golden crown and used a golden censor. [I Chron 24:7-18]

All of The Revelation happens on Yom Kippur. Till chapter 20 when the day is over and the books are opened and final judgment is given. Till then, not matter what judgement is going on it is always Yom Kippur before the Throne. We can always “make it right” before a just God. As far as the Throne is concerned it is always the day of Salvation for who-so-ever will.

So why are we fasting on this day, when they are rejoicing before the Throne? Why are we attempting to afflict our souls when the 24 elders and the four living creature are singing the praises of the Lamb?

It would be noble to spend some time praying for the lost sons of Adam, maybe even fast for their salvation. For the Jews, the Muslims, and any other group that comes to our hearts, but then there should be a celebration of our own salvation. That the Lamb was Worthy is the greatest news that has been given for all mankind.

And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; Luke 2:10

The Thanksgiving Proclamations

 

For your Thanksgiving Celebrations.

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever! 1Chr. 16:34 

 

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

–William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony 1623

 

New York, 3 October 1789

By the President of the United States of America: a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me `to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord — To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

 

 

The Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence [sic], have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

Buying Christmas

Another negative paper about christmas. The only thing that makes the inherited churches more angry with Messianics then our teaching on Sabbath is our stance against christmas.

Christmas is pagan, an anyone telling you different is selling something.

Imagine that there is a wonderful married couple. But every year on one of the spouses birthdays nothing is done for them. No present, no cake, no party, just nothing. However 2 months later on the day of a previous lover’s birth the other spouse throws a lavish party for everybody. There is feasting and gifts for everyone. How long will this marriage last? That is what christmas is to Jesus/Yeshua. It is someone else’s big day.

For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. 2Cor. 11:4

The true Messiah was born at Tabernacles.

What Year is It?

Every Rosh Hashana people become aware of the conflicting calendars and ask well then what year is it really?

Gregorian Calendar we all use in our daily lives it is 2015

The Hebrew Calendar has it as 5776

Clinton’s AM i.e. Anno Mundi i.e. The Year of the World 6143

Lord of the Sabbath

The church has changed their minds on sabbath. The post modern church’s argument is now that the sabbath has passed away because it is not mentioned in the New Testament. Prior to this the church’s position was that the Sabbath was moved to Sunday. There was a time when the church’s teaching on this was so universal that everything was closed on Sundays in all Christian nations. Many in our congregation are old enough to remember when everything was closed on Sundays except churches. These were called blue laws, and only a few gas stations were allowed to be open on Sundays.

Neither position is on solid ground. We have already posted that it was Constantine who changed the days or worship to Sunday. Not a church council or a pope, nor any religious figure at all, but a Roman Emperor made the change before his conversion. If one is convinced that he was right to do this, then by all means keep Sunday as the Sabbath.

The idea that Sabbath has passed away because it is not in the New Testament is blatantly false.

For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.” Matt. 12:8 

. . . so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:28

And he said to them, “The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.” Luke 6:5 

What Messiah is addressing here is, who exactly is in charge of what is and is not permissible to do on the Sabbath. His claim is that He is Lord, not the Sanhedrin, not the Pharisees, nor the Sadducees. He and He alone decides what it means to keep the Sabbath.

See! The LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days; remain every man of you in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” Ex. 16:29 

“Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. Lev. 25:2 

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, every one who keeps the sabbath, and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant — Is. 56:6 

The Creator of Heaven and Earth gave us all a gift. Many apparently don’t want or understand this gift of a day of rest. This is not our problem! Someone can let us know how that works out for them.

The rejection of the Sabbath however comes from two sources; one is either too greedy to stop their business for one day a week or they are rebellious and the Lord is not really their Lord.

Is the Lord of the Sabbath our Lord, or not?

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46 

Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, 2 Th. 2:3

. . . do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, Heb. 3:8

Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain, and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error, and perish in Korah’s rebellion. Jude 1:11

Many live as if there were only nine commandments and one suggestion.

First Fruits and Pentecost

FYI: In Hebrew, First Fruits is Re’shit Qatzirim and starts off the counting of the omer which is enough gain to make two-tenths of an ephah of flour, and Pentecost is called Shavout, which means sevens.

First Fruits and Pentecost are connected, they are bookends to the annual barley harvest. The date of First Fruits is used to determine the day of the Pentecost, one is the beginning of the barley harvest the other is the end.

An often neglected Biblical Holy Day, for several reasons. First and foremost, most of us don’t actively harvest barley, and First Fruits is the beginning of the barley harvest. Then there is the main form of the ritual, that of bringing in a sheaf of barley to the temple every day for 50 days till Pentecost. (This is the Scripture behind the old hymn Bring in the Sheaves.)

Also, the Rabbis want to discourage anything that might demonstrate that Jesus/Yeshua is the Messiah. So they don’t even actually recognize First Fruits but just jump right into counting the omer which leads up to Pentecost/Shavout.

The church has neglected it because they see it as Jewish, and Jewish is a rejection of Messiah. However, it is Biblical and is, in fact, symbolic of salvation coming to the Gentiles. So if anyone should rejoice in this period, one would think it would be the Gentiles, which are the shelves that are being brought in.

Communion vs Passover

The inherited churches all have some form or formula called Communion or the Eucharist.

They have added all kinds of mystical, or superstitious meanings to these ceremonies. Anywhere from the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Messiah, to it must be grape juice, because Messiah never drank wine.

We would argue that none of this is true. None of these traditions have any connection whatsoever to what was said and done.

We all come out at Passover

Think back over your walk with God. No matter where we came from or how we got here, it is Passover that brought us out of bondage.

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before me. Ex. 20:1-3  

Some of you are saying, “but, I’m not Jewish, neither me nor my ancestors came out of Egypt.” That’s fine, but all of us were ourselves or have ancestors who were pagans. That too is bondage.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods; Gal. 4:8

Unfortunately the Gentiles have made the same mistake the children of Israel did at the Mountain. We mixed our faith.

. . . they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” Ex. 32:8